The Hunna Interview | New Sound, Mental Health In The Music Industry and Story Behind 'We Could Be'...

I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing The Hunna before their sold out show at Lincoln Drill...

It feels as though The Hunna are in a very different place musically from the first couple of records, could you talk us through the change in direction?

For us it was a quite a natural development, even the first and second album we've always had those heavier elements present. We listen to a wide variety of music, rock, reggae, blues, anything that just connects. One of our favourite bands is Slipknot, Deftones all those kind of bands, as well as Foals, Bombay Bicycle Club. We've always had that and we've always been heavier live, even with our first two albums. The heavy stuff has always been there it just didn't feel like that on the actual records. The last album is the first album that really feels like it reflects us as a live band as well. 

Going forward do you expect the heavier vibe to continue?

I definitely think so, however, we aren't really putting any boxes on it. On the new record there will definitely be heavier stuff but we've also been writing stuff that has an edgy 100 vibe as well as some acoustic tracks which is really fun. I would call it an eclectic mix, just timeless music baby!

What is mental health like in the music industry?

I think in the music/entertainment industry it's difficult because there's so many opinions and the world in general is very much competition over connection at the moment, especially with social media. We have a really close-knit team and we are very fortunate because we are a band of Brothers. If we were just one artist on our own it would be even harder to go through the things that you go through, I mean we've been through a hell of a lot in the industry already. It's quite lonely as well, a lot of travelling which takes it out of you emotionally, mentally and physically. There's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes that people don't see on a day to day basis, we are a grass roots band I think the industry pushes you to not be one. All that really matters is the opinion of our fans. Life in general is a process you've got to get knocked back to see how much strength you can gain by getting back up again, that's how you unlock new areas of yourself.

What is the story behind 'We Could Be'

It's about a record label (I won't name which one it was) being a bit of a crook and screwing not only us but a lot of bands over. There was a label that were interested in us before we were The Hunna and they were going to come down to a rehearsal back home in Watford and we had spent weeks in the rehearsal room going at it and making sure we were the best we could be because it was an opportunity to get a record deal and making. It was all really good, like we nailed the performance, we even did a lighting show for them, we relentlessly practiced and it was perfect. I remember taking off the guitar and looking around thinking like we've done it, this was the moment. So we sat down and they were like I love the songs, I love the look blah blah blah, but we've just resigned the Sugababes so I don't think we've got the budget to take on another band. I remember sitting on the floor in the rehearsal room and them saying that and my heart dropped, all of ours did. It's one of those moments where you're up there and you come crashing down. They left and we went back to Dan's house and we were just listening to music and we were like we know that we're onto something and we won't stop, so yeah that's what it was about. So the song 'We Could Be' is basically when you hear us on the radio you're gonna kick yourself for missing out. Then after that the Sugababes signed and they broke up again in two months. The song still works even with other situations too.

In 'Babe Can I Call' which 1975 song do you reference?

Falling For You

Did you expect She's Casual to be as successful as it is?

We knew it was a good song, after we wrote it we were like this is awesome. However, we could never predict what it's done and the reaction it gets every night, like it's so loud everyone sings it word for word. It's taken on its own life, I think Bonfire falls in that category too, we didn't know it would do as well as it did, I think when you put those two together it's just magic. It's really hard to leave them both off a setlist because so many people love them. There has been times where we've left them off the set as we've been doing this for 10 years, with 4 albums it's not easy to pick a set. Sometimes we do take it out like at Download Festival because that's probably not the place to play She's Casual. 

Do you have any pre-show rituals?

Lots of stretching, sometimes we listen to some music, Ryan does his vocal warmups we warm up on the guitar and drums, then more stretching. We always do a huddle and our handshakes before going on stage and a few beers. We used to listen to a lot of Hip Hop and Trap music but it's taken a more chill vibe recently, when you've been doing it for 10 years you've got to realise it's a marathon not a sprint. We want every show to be the best so we can't go to crazy before a show.

What's your favourite show/festival you've ever played?

There's so many good ones, even last night the energy was amazing, especially after our cancelled flight and no sleep. We like the dingy, sweaty club shows. I think one for me was the first New York show because going over there and playing in such a big City it was a pinch me moment. I also really loved the Festival Republic stage at Reading and Leeds festival it was packed and people were trying to bunch in and it was when we were on the up and was one of our first major festival performances. Australia tour was amazing too, we sold out 5 shows, we didn't even know they were sold out and it was just packed, we were doing shoey's on stage and even before we went on the crowd were going crazy, it was amazing. Reading and Leeds main stage was awesome too 2019 and 2022, Community festival to, over 50,000 people in the crowd. Walking out was like Woahhhhh, it was the best and a dream come true. It's easy to let these moments pass you by because you hype it up all day and then you're on stage for maybe 40 minutes and in a flash it's over but, but it's important to take it all in. 

What's next for The Hunna?

Firstly this tour, hopefully we will also do another tour towards the end of the year, we are doing everything ourselves at the minute, obviosuly we've got booking agents booking our shows but we are chatting to a few record labels at the moment (All independent labels) we will figure that out at some point. We've got new music that we are working on and ready to go, with more to add and we're hoping to have a single or two out this year and then more writing. On from that next year HunnaMania, just get out there to as many places as possible, Europe, America, Australia, Asia, we will play anywhere, anytime.