Laika is a Bournemouth based alt-rock/emo band that takes influences from the likes of Boston Manor, Microwave and You Me At Six. Their debut single, ‘Been Here Before’, has been well received with nothing but positive feedback regarding it. The first single from their upcoming EP (‘Going Nowhere’) has been released accompanied by a video, this single is called ‘Dead End’ and takes influence from the likes of Modern Baseball and Milk Teeth.They have played shows with the likes of Coast to Coast, Better Than Never, Death by Shotgun, Evertim, Wolf Culture and were supported by Delaire, The Liar at their Hometown Halloween Show on the 28th of October 2018 in Bournemouth. With plans to perform outside of the South Coast area in 2019 Laika are looking to extend the search for their lost pup…
Upcoming EP, ‘Going Nowhere’, was recorded at The Ranch Production House and mixed/mastered by Ancora Audio based in London.
The EP tells the story of the last 2 years as a band, from the oncoming of mental health issues (Dead End, Hates A Strong Word) to the struggle of a recent break up (The Holland Play) all the way to the loss of a family member in early 2018 (Rose Tree, Worst Nightmare).
Check out latest single ‘Dead End’ below!
We managed to catch up with lead guitarist Callum Gough as he talked abou t the band’s upcoming EP and more!
How pumped are you for the release of Going Nowhere?
We simply cannot wait for the EP to be out in the open world, the reception we have had from our first two single have been amazing so we are extremely looking forward to showing people what we have done with ourselves.
What’s your favourite track from the EP?
Personally, for me my favourite track is Worst Nightmare. It is an extremely personal and powerful track both lyrically and emotionally. Sammy wrote the song based around the sad passing of my mum back in March and told the story of what he went through during this time; from the simple questions he wish he could of asked to how he felt during the entire situation.
How was it recording at The Ranch, there’s a lot of bands that choose there, is there a reason for it?
The Ranch was a great experience for us all, getting to spend 5 days together just working on our songs. It bought all of us closer as a band, we all progressed musically and we all learnt that even through all the hardship in life your friends will always be there to catch you when you fall. To be perfectly honest, most bands choose to record their due to the atmosphere the place brings as well as the amazing producers they have. We worked with Dom Wright (of Death By Shotgun) on our EP, and from when we first met him to when we arrived at The Ranch it all just felt right. The place itself genuinely made us all so comfortable it almost felt like home.
So there’s a lot of meaning between each track, how hard was it to record the EP with so much emotion involved?
The first few days were fun, it was a new experience for us all so we didn’t really have time to step back and be other come by the emotions. It wasn’t until the final day when the lyrics were added that we realised how much these songs mean to us. The vocal sessions were the hardest part for all of us, you can hear it at some points during the songs where Sammy struggled to sing, it wasn’t planned but for us it added so much more raw emotion to the process.
If you could with any band on a song, who would it be and why? What’s next for you all?
Well this would change for all of us! Personally for me it would be a song with guest vocals from the singer of Casey (Tom Weaver). Where I Go When Im Sleeping is my favourite album of 2018 with the extremely raw emotion and power behind every single lyric.Sammy: Probably Basement as I think that we would see pretty eye to eye musically as well as Deftones for the shits and giggles. Just imagine that.Louie: Easy Life, because I think our combined alt rock style could yield interesting and unique results with there more jazz and pop influenced style. Ben: probably josh homme of QOTSA cause he’s a fuckin genius.
Have you got any shows lined up?
Oh boy do we have plans, but we can’t share any just as of yet. Lets just say we want to play all over the UK with some close friends of ours…Our first gig of the year is coming upon shortly on the 12th of January in my hometown of Gloucester. This is going to be a special one for me personally, especially as we are playing with out good friends in These Five Years!
What do you all get up to in your spare time?
Now this is an interesting one, for me I spend the majority of my time attempting to go to as many gigs as possible but crying when I realise that money is an issue.Sammy: how do I answer this without sounding like am alcoholic… I basically spend a lot of my free time playing guitar far too loud, watching movies into the wee hours of the morning and hanging out in a caravan or the pub. Sometimes both. Louie: I emerse myself in bettering my knowledge in all fields; biology, philosophy and religion in particular. As well as being completely and utterly obsessed with music.Ben: I do fuck all. At the field where I live cause we got bugger all to do so we resort to expanding our mind by finding our own fun.
If you could play at any festival in the would, where would it be and why?
Myself and Sammy are really the only festival goers in the band. But to be honest I think we would all say 2000 Trees. The line up for the past few years have been ridiculous including some of our favourite bands like: Boston Manor, Black Foxxes, Phoxjaw, Turnstile and so many more! In Sammy’s words: “It shows the best of the UK’s underground music scene, there are also no kids on Ketamine. Which is a bonus!”Louie: Reading, due to the huge audience potential and sheer mass of people that go, combined with the general mood and style of the festival, which I think would compliment our music.Ben: Id play any festival I can bring me nan to, just because.