Introducing... We're No Heroes

As part of a new series here on KMMReviews, I will be talking to and about my favourite up and coming bands that I believe are going to make it big in the future. What better way to start this series than with one of my favourite bands out there right now. Period. Despite being unsigned We're No Heroes have captured such a wholesome and warm sound, with many elements mixed into their music such as funk. groove and indie rock. Thankfully I had the chance to chat with We're No Heroes drummer, Luke Llewellyn about all things music, live shows and future collaborations.

Q. Who is your biggest influence?

Luke: We're real big fans of anything that grooves and riffs hard & deep. Particularly songs made during the golden era for groove around the 70's when all the really great funk and rock bands were in their prime. Mostly though I'd say we really influence each other the most musically as. Most of our live show and writing process is improvisational.

Q. What is a song you wish you'd written and why?

Luke: God, there are many. One that comes straight to my mind is If You Have To Ask by The Red Hot Chili Peppers. The whole of the album that tracks from is probably what WNH would love to capture in our own way. It's so free flowing, true and hearty not to mention it's jammed with mighty grooves and riffs from the second it starts to moment it ends.

Q. If you could collaborate with any artist, alive or dead, who would it be?

Luke: We've always had an affinity with hip hop so we'd love to cross our sounds with some of the hip hop artists we enjoy. There was talk between ourselves and local Cardiff artist Reuel Elijah of maybe hanging out and jamming. That would be real interesting and I believe we'd create something unique and full of fire.

Q. Do you go into the studio specifically working towards a song or do you go into the studio and spontaneously make songs?

Luke: We had a real varied writing process. We're always in the studio every week improvising and trying to better our live set to keep our tools sharp and ready. Out of those sessions usually come the bones of a song that we'll take into a quieter setting and arrange into something more solid.

Q. There are elements of Techno, Funk and Groovy Bass lines in your music, is that something you actively work towards or does it just naturally flow?

Luke: Definitely. It's a natural process mostly but it's something that we strive for together and make sure we're on the same page. It's that primitive beat that harks back to the primordial days where man may have first discovered music. It feels good. Sounds good and resonates deep down in you. That remains true to this day. If you can tap into that then you'll always cause people to move and have a great time.

Q. You're strong campaigners against the closing of the Womanby Street music venue in Cardiff, do you think the closing of venues is a problem that should be immediately resolved?

Luke: Without a doubt, and it's not only limited to Cardiff's Womanby Street. It's a problem venues all over the country are facing at the moment. For example King Tut's in Scotland is facing a similar problem and many venues have already gone because of it. Luckily for England they have regulations which help small music venues and we'd like to see the exact same thing put in place in Wales. If there are no small venues there will be no place for musicians to learn their craft and go onto to play those big venues and arenas. It's that simple. Every good band ever started somewhere small.

Q. Do you think these closures are going to affect the growth of up and coming bands?

Luke: Of course they will. This is where I have a theory that many disagree with. As much as I support the live music venues they are also losing money because people don't go to them. I had to ask myself why this is. Many music lovers who I have come across have become bored, going along with the same old format at live gigs. Bands play a set of songs in a dark room on a stage that you could probably just watch on youtube or listen to on Spotify. Where I see the future is putting on unique, exclusive and inclusive shows in exciting, weird and wonderful settings. Most people do this by going to music festivals to see bands now but if the spirit of this could be replicated in our cities I think music scenes may thrive again. I'm not saying musicians & venues don't already do this from time to time but on a grand scale, collaborating with other artists and spaces it could breathe life back into a limp old thing that people have been doing for years now into a vibrant and colourful community again. What we need is another renaissance. That's just my opinion anyway.

Q. Voodoo is my personal favourite song from yourselves, what is your favourite song you've written?

Luke: We have a new one we're playing live at the moment called 'Volcano Like You' we may release in the near future which we always seem to put a lot of energy into because it just rocks so hard. It has a lot of feeling in it and it seems to connect with the audience when we play it. Truth be told, it's about an ex walking all over me so always feels great to get that out there into the ether in a very positive way.

Q. I see a lot of your fans on Twitter (including myself) asking you to come to their city, is a big tour on the cards soon?

Luke: We would love nothing more than to tour constantly, meeting everyone and playing for all those people who say such nice things about our music and have supported us all the way. We really enjoy being out on the road and we can't thank those people enough for staying in touch and letting us know how they feel. It truly makes all the difference and in previous tours we've been able to play for some of them. The real troubling truth of the matter though is it all comes down to money. Money makes this business go round and tours cost a large sum of cash. Because we have no major label or financier everything we've ever done has come directly from the three of us. This has its pros and cons but we do it because we love playing live, recording songs people can listen to our and about, and we love making people feel good through music.

Q. You interact with your fans consistently on Twitter, is that something you all want to continue with as you get bigger?

Luke: It's something that will never change. The only reason we exist in the space we're in and seen whatever successes that have come are way is because of our fans backing us. Some musicians seem to me to have become blinded to this fact and either deal with their fans in a very contrived and ingenuous way because they pay their wages or look down on them totally. At the end of the day your job as an entertainer is to entertain your fans and give them what they want. Give them something new, something good and true.

Q. And finally, What's next for the band and when can we expect new music?

Luke: We've got some really great new music to release very soon. We're so excited because we know it's our best work yet so stay in touch all of you!