“We’ve got our own unpredictability” the band VIOLA BEACH respond to all the hype around them.

Remember when earlier this week I was talking about the band Blossoms and how they played sold out London show with only one released EP and no album out yet? Well, I hope you do. If somehow, by any reason you’ve missed that or simply just forgotten allow me to refresh your memory.

Either way, what would you say if I told you the band who was supporting them have got only two (TWO!) released songs? They’ve already worked with one of the most talented producers out there. And they played Reading Festival this year. No biggie.

So what do you reckon? Are they good? Might be, right? Let’s find out.

A story about happy people and happy places. And never-ending summer.

River Reeves (Guitar), Kris Leonard (Guitar/Vocals), Jack Dakin (Drums) and Tomas Lowe (Bass)

Viola Beach, one of my favourite discoveries of this year, are very busy band. They have just got back from the tour with Eliza and the Bear, have got over 20 shows scheduled till the end of the year with a lot of writings and recordings in the middle. Worth to mention, they were formed in May. Yep, May. This year. And we’re having October. Let it sink in.

We’ve only been doing this together since May – Kris Leonard, the frontman of the band, explains. I’ve known Jack (drummer) since we were four. Tom and River probably around two years. But no fights – he clarifies. I think we’ve chosen the right people.

I catch up with the group just the day after their second track is released. After their debut banger Swings & Waterslides, the follow-up sounds even bigger. Cherry Vimto, premiered on Pigeons and Planes website, is everything you can possibly expect from a song to keep a little bit of summer in this cold weather. As the band unveils, there is more to the story. Apparently, the songs are connected.

All occurs on a romantic timeline – the lead singer starts. “Cherry Vimto” is just another love song, really. It is the beginning of a girl leaving while “Swings & Waterslides” is after she’s left. I can’t say which song is in the middle of them because I don’t think I’m allowed to. To be honest we were getting a lot of demand, I don’t want to sound arrogant, for another song before the release in January. We didn’t even know it was sort of coming out. But either way, it’s from the similar place as the first track. I think we just write poppy, soppy love songs.

Quite clear and bold statement as for this new and young band. So obviously, I want to know more.

Soundwise I think we make pop – Kris answers. People start saying we’re an indie boyband but I don’t know whether I’d go that far. There’s this ideology surrounding boybands and I’m sure we don’t, or maybe possibly do, fit. But just pop, really. I would never want to call it anything else.

And saying that all band members agree.

Viola Beach – rather unusual (in its simplicity) name, don’t you think? You can sense straight away there’s another great story behind it.

I feel like it’s gonna be me again – Kris begins. Sorry, I do talk a lot. Do any of you remember the story? So you can tell it. 

I get a few laughs and mentions about happy place. Yet again, seems like very simple theory. But is it though?

The whole concept of the band is escapism – Kris marks. But not only is being in a band a way to escape from where we lived. We come from very industrial town in the North of England – Warrington, you know and a lot of the songs are just about escaping. But the actual name is a hypothetical place, a state of mind to go to when you’re feeling down. It’s just that, a happy place people can go to. I guess it was a nice idea that, maybe when people are sad, they can listen to our tunes or come to our gig. But yes, that was me again ’cause I made that one up.

Of course I just need to ask about Ian Grimble. How awesome is that?! For those of you who have no idea who that person is.. He’s basically a super-producer and Communion Records founder with a career of producing records for over 20 years! He produced for Rhodes and..oh well Mumford & Sons. As you can see, this is a big deal!

Yeah amazing! – Tom (bassist) begins. Just that chill you know. A lot of producers would take control but he just lets you find IT.

I remember we went down to put on some vocals and we asked “Should we put on anything else?’ – River (guitarist) continues. And he just let us go through his box of instruments saying like “Yeah, just have a look in there and experiment”. He lets you go as far as you want to go, really.

But he captures the energy as well – Jack adds. Like.. you’re just having a good time and he just nicely captures that particular moment.

Hopefully – Kris comments.

To which all laugh. Not to worry lads I bet all is going to be amazing. Personally, I just can’t wait to hear more from these guys.

So what happens now? How long will we be waiting for the new material? I mean, come on! Two songs are definitely not enough.

If we were a marriage we definitely would rush into it far too much and too soon

We’ve got all these upcoming gigs and we’re going back with Ian to record four songs at the end of this month – Kris mentions. We’ve got releases scheduled for the beginning of next year. A lot of exciting possible tours, which are in the last stage, and obviously I cannot say more at the moment. There’s a lot of thrilling stuff going on and hopefully we don’t die of starvation before that happens. But just gigs really. 

Actually, our third gig was Reading Festival. We were playing BBC Introducing Stage, a little bit drunk but it was awesome. Ridiculous. All is happening very fast. If we were a marriage we definitely would rush into it far too much and too soon. You know, I just want to go to all those cities and see everywhere, and maybe shake a couple of things up and see what happens. 

What can we expect from tonight’s show?

Just fun and a little bit of dance. Have a laugh with each other – the lead vocalists says at the end. To be honest there are bands that plan their live sets a bit and have it organized whereas we just like to go on. It’s like the least rock ‘n’ roll music there is. Because we, by all means play anything anywhere near rock ‘n’ roll and we don’t have rock ‘n’ roll attitude and we don’t live rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle but we’ve got our own unpredictability.

Well, I really like that. And I love the marriage reference. Guys, just no divorce please. As the talk unravels and I get to known Viola Beach more I realise there’s a few more things I’d like to ask them. Unfortunately, the time is up. They are the first band to appear at the Village Underground in London tonight and are about to go onstage in 5 minutes.

I suppose it’s not the easiest job to play the opening set. Mainly cause – not that drunk crowd and not yet that full venue. But all the energy! Viola Beach meet all my expectations. My first impression is that you could never tell they’re 6 months old band. They’re seem so comfortable and confident onstage smashing the tunes. And I guess the crowd starts to realise that as well. I hear even some guy’s screams asking for their name. And you know what? I must admit, right now it’s me selfishly saying that I’m very, very happy I’ve got to meet them at this point of their lives. Because they are going to be huge!

Check the pictures from Viola Beach show at the Village Underground and stream their debut single below.

Photo: Kasia Osowiecka