INTERVIEW: Westvale Prince releases debut EP

Nestled in the heart of Swansea in Wales, Westvale Prince, the musical moniker of Guy Nicholas Challenger, emerges onto the scene with a compelling debut EP that echoes with raw emotion and a profound exploration of life’s intricacies. Armed with a baritone guitar, electric guitar, bass, synths and vocals, Westvale Prince’s self-titled EP is a poignant dive into the realms of alternative rock and emo music, touching upon themes of mental health, relationships and the winds of change.

The EP unfurls its sonic canvas with “Sudden Downpour,” an opening track that immediately submerges the listener into an immersive soundscape. Deep, distorted guitar riffs churn, accompanied by a gently pulsating beat that sets the foundation. As the piquant guitar leads streak across the arrangement, Westvale Prince’s vocal delivery intertwines, delivering poignant lyricism.

The intensity escalates with “Bite Back,” a track that bursts forth with an energetic flurry of gritty guitar riffs. The verses gracefully descend to a bass-driven ambiance before surging back with relentless energy. In “Bite Back,” the artist captures the essence of moody rock, and his authenticity shines through in each note and lyric. “Amongst Stars” launches the listener into a driving rock soundscape, where a blend of crunching guitar and pounding drums form a backdrop of controlled chaos. As Westvale Prince’s melodic vocals soar above the tumultuous musical tapestry, there’s an undeniable resonance with the alternative metal ethos of bands like Taproot.

Closing the EP with “Paint and Boil,” Westvale Prince showcases his versatility and willingness to explore different musical facets. The track offers a more upbeat ambiance, with playful guitar work and a bouncy rhythm. Westvale Prince’s vocals remain the driving force, injecting a sense of catchiness and upliftment. “Paint and Boil” not only concludes the EP on an optimistic note but also highlights the artist’s potential to traverse various sonic territories.

Beyond the musical prowess displayed in his debut EP, Westvale Prince’s lyrics add a layer of depth and relatability to his compositions. His focus on mental health struggles, relationships and facing change resonates with listeners on a personal level. With this EP, Westvale Prince manages to create a musical connection that transcends mere melodies and harmonies.

We caught up with Westvale Prince to find out more about his musical journey so far, his debut EP and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Westvale Prince below.

Hey Westvale Prince, how’s things?

Hey! Things are good thanks! very excited to be talking with you!

What’s the story behind the name?

I named myself after my favourite Magic: The Gathering Card (Westvale Abbey / Ormendahl, Profane Prince) it’s a really cleverly designed card which definitely comes in handy! The card inspired the art direction of Westvale Prince too, I feature the same character on all my release covers kind of like a mascot or a nod towards fictional bands like Gorillaz

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

My first instrument was the bass guitar and I remember jamming along to parliament funkadelic constantly when I was 12. I wanted nothing more than to master slap bass and form a funk band. Maybe I’ll return to funk one day…

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from today?

I’m a massive fan of Biffy Clyro and have been since the release of their album Puzzle which was the era I first discovered the band. My other big influence for Westvale Prince is the guitar wizardry of Ian Dsa from Billy Talent. His riffs have always intrigued me, especially his ability to incorporate a lot of notes yet still sound heavily melodic

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

Alongside Westvale Prince I am a illustrator so I find a lot of inspiration within the world of art especially the fantasy works of Chris Riddell

What do you love about the Swansea music scene?

The Bunkhouse is one of my favourite music venues it’s run by Jordan McGuire and they always have time for every creative in Swansea that’s brave enough to get on stage. They also have a fantastic sound tech called Kalebh Speakman who is happy to send you your performance stems so you can make your own live albums! I also really love Elysium on the high street which is run by Scott Mackay, he’s always up for putting on an event and the venue is also an art gallery! Swansea Bay Records is also my go to for vinyl and they’re even kind enough to stock my cassette tapes that I produce through my record label Sgeti Records. They are always up for helping local bands and record labels.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

For me personally I would recommend a car drive with the music blasting or accompanying a coffee break. Ultimately though wherever and whenever they feel comfortable to listen. I don’t want to push my music on anyone. If it’s not for you that’s cool too!

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

I’d like to think I’m quite adventurous musically I like to try and stitch different genres and opposing ideas together to make something original and out of my comfort zone. When I started performing music I played it quite safe. I would write acoustic orientated music with simple structures and chords under the stage name ‘Normal Behaviour’ but now I try to stretch myself musically to new extremes daily. Challenging myself to write more interesting music has lead to a burst of creativity and lots of new material

How did you find making your new EP?

I sat in front of my laptop plugged in my guitar and recorded some improvised riffs. From there I had the bare bones of the third track on the EP ‘Amongst Stars’ I wasn’t quite sure what to do with the unfinished track but about a week after recording the guitar parts I decided I’d finally make a fictional one man band which I’ve always really wanted to do and that has developed into Westvale Prince. The other 3 songs on the EP closely followed. Everything has been flowing very naturally and I’ve really enjoyed writing these songs.

What message did you want to get across with this release?

I wanted to show myself that the ideas I have are worth documenting for my own mental health reasons, the lyrics I’ve been writing have helped me address recent changes in my life as well. I hope listeners can hear that the songs came from a place of vulnerability and by doing so the music might be relatable and interesting.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

I’ve recently been listening to a lot of Post Malone. I think his music is very inventive and genre stretching. He’s my go to artist currently when I need motivation or cheering up.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

I would love people to get a sense of how much fun I’m having behind the scenes of Westvale Prince, I really hope this comes across in each song

What’s been your favourite live performance so far?

As Westvale Prince is a solo project I don’t have any intentions of performing live currently. Perhaps when the time is right I may expand the project to a full band line up but currently I want to focus on the song writing without fear of judgement.

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

Opening Act: Noah and the whale performing their second album ‘The first days of spring’ in full

Main support:
Red hot chili peppers performing their debut self titled album in full

Headline:
Biffy Clyro performing ‘Puzzle’ in full

The gig would be at Nottingham Rock City as I saw the best show of my life their which was Biffy Clyro (no surprises there!)

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

If you don’t have a band yet I’d definitely recommend joining one or creating something solo! Writing music can be therapeutic and helps with confidence building. I myself have grown as a person massively because of the connections and experiences I’ve had writing, recording and performing Music.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2023?

I am currently in the process of writing and recording my Debut Album which will be released on all streaming Services Wednesday 20th December 2023 which is also my 29th Birthday.

Listen to Westvale Prince below