Meet The Band: The Amazons

Junk Food Forever is the new single from Reading-based quartet The Amazons.

Finding themselves amongst a furor of industry-interest, The Amazons have been causing a stir whilst keeping their cards close to their chest. Something In The Water – the only track available online until now – attracted widespread interest in the band, and has left newly established fans and industry-ears with a fervent desire for more.

Ploughing into 2015 with unwavering momentum from an exciting end to last year, The Amazons have had a diary filled with live dates. Kicking off the year by supporting The Kooks throughout Germany, the band headed back to home shores with shows booked in nationwide.

Andy Howells puts questions to Matt from the band

How did the band form?
We just came together over a couple of years of thrashing it out in separate bands. Me, Chris and Elliot were in a band looking for a new drummer. We went through around 8 drummers before we found Josef, who was pretending to be a bassist in another band at the time.

Who or what has inspired you most on your musical journey?
Wouldn't be able to put a finger on one band or event. It's more like a series of events and bands that kind of form your taste over time really. Off the top of my head hearing bands like Arcade Fire, Bombay Bicycle Club and older bands that we introduced to first like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd changed things for us. I think your musical journey and life journey are very connected so events like break-ups, landmark gigs and even deaths all contribute to what we're doing now.

Can you give us some background about your new EP?
The EP is half a round-up of the songs we've released since the beginning of the band and half where we're going next. The two newer songs are produced and mixed by the amazing Catherine Marks who we came in to contact first when she mixed Junk Food Forever which is also on the EP, as well as Something in the Water which is the first song we released.

You’re touring shortly are you looking forward to that?
The feeling is a mixture of uncontainable excitement and crippling terror. The level of pressure between a headline tour and a support one is huge but we're really looking forward to stretching our legs and getting some game time around this pleasant green land in which we inhabit. I have been informed that tickets are selling in every city which is very exciting too.

What can people expect from your forthcoming Bristol gig?
A lot of hair, a ton of sweat and a bit of blood (sometimes). Tears are always on the cards but haven't happened yet. It's loud and heavy but I think the songs always cut through.

What are you enjoying listening to at the moment?
The new Tame Impala album 'Currents' seems to be currently on repeat in the Amazons camp for sure. Me and Joe love the new Florence and The Machine and new Gengahr record too.

The Amazons play Bristol Louisiana on October 15.

• A version of this Q&A by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide during October 2015.