INTERVIEW: Alternative Rock from Loudness Wars

UK-based rock trio Loudness Wars is here to leave their own mark on modern rock, channeling the influence of legendary acts like Guns N’ Roses, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana and Foo Fighters while offering their own original sound. The band’s line-up boasts a tight-knit crew of musicians with long lasting connections.

Leading the outfit is vocalist and guitarist Jerome, who, born in Sri Lanka and raised in the UK, brings his experience in various bands and projects to the table. Joining him are bassist Rich, a friend from university and drummer Ian, a childhood friend of Rich’s. Together, they combine rock’s enduring energy with a modern style, generating a sound that’s at once nostalgic and unique.

Loudness Wars’ journey took them from jam sessions to Chesham’s local studio, where they linked up with London-based producer Jay to bring their debut single to life. The resulting track, “Withered Flower,” is a gritty yet soulful anthem that perfectly captures their original sound.

Kicked off with the intense chug of gritty guitar tones and the punching rattle of drums, the track flows with bright riffs and chords above splashing percussion before Jerome’s expressive vocals glide in. Threading engaging melodic leads cut with falsetto flutters, his voice hovers above the lively arrangement to deliver a thrilling alternative rock sound.

Full of memorable vocal hooks and shifting moods in the instrumentation, Loudness Wards pieces together elements of grunge, post rock and alternative stylings into an epic anthemic sound. Across the song’s five minute voyage, they deliver a powerful rock sound that’s at once rousing and melodic, resulting in a gripping sound from start to finish.

Putting their songwriting talent and performance panache on full display, “Withered Flower” serves up an enveloping and invigorating musical experience. Marking the arrival of Loudness Wards in spectacular fashion, we can’t wait to see where their exciting musical adventure will take them next.

We caught up with Loudness Wards to find out more about their musical journey, their debut single “Withered Flower” and what they’ve got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Loudness Wars below.

Hey Loudness Wars, how’s things?

Jerome: Hey! Good thanks. We’re quietly getting excited about the favourable feedback we’ve received off the back of the little bit of online exposure we’ve had recently. We have to thank Andrew Cooper at Total Rock for giving us our first major airing. What a gent! I hope we are able to carry on generating some positive interest as we release more tracks.

How did you get together as a band?

Jerome: Hmmm… mainly because I had been bending Rich’s ears for about 5 years about wanting to play music in a band again after the collapse of my previous band, My First Knife Fight, around 2004. I had carried on making music on my own but always missed the dynamic of being in a band; the banter, and sharing the music creation process.

Rich: Having known Ian since school – and knowing that he was very much a rock player – I was pretty sure he would be a good fit for the songs Jerome had been writing. When Ian subsequently showed up to our first rehearsal with a double kick drum pedal, I was quietly confident things would work out!

Ian: As only two drummers exist in Chesham, Rich persuaded me to join in..lol

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?

Jerome: That’s difficult to answer: I love lots of music. Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, Tool, The Cure, Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Radiohead all come to mind.

Ian: I also play in a cover band, so my drumming influences are diverse, but my primary inspirations have been John Bonham, Louis Giannamore, and Chad Smith.

Rich: In my parallel existence as a guitarist, my answer would basically include pretty much all the usual rock candidates! Moving to bass with these guys, however, I have found myself revisiting some albums that are maybe not so much in the rock sphere; records by acts like Beck and Air. That said, I have just recently been introduced to Skindred, whose heavier sounds I’m liking a lot. Whether any of these influences actually make it from my ears to my fingers, who knows?!

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

Jerome: In interviews, Keith Richards has often stated that “songs zoom through the air in the room; they come to me; I just sit around and play guitar,” Although I wouldn’t dream of comparing myself with Keith, I also feel the same way: I basically play the guitar most of the time, and I frequently get inspired to write new tunes by the different guitars I pick up and play. Sometimes flashes of songs just come out of thin air and other times I have to really work at it. Our current set includes many tunes that were influenced by my Les Paul. On other occasions, I have listened to other people’s songs that have influenced my mood, or that had an overall tone that inspired me.

Rich: I find that effects units can provide inspiration if a particular effect leads you to play differently. Also, weirdly, the parts you come up with can sometimes go on to actually sound better without the effect that originally inspired them.

What’s been your highlight of the year so far?

Rich: Finally being in a position to let some of our music out into the big wide world.

Jerome: The main highlight for me has been the positive exposure we have been getting on online radio and from magazines like Plastic.

Ian: Gettin on Total Rock Radio, which was pretty darn cool!

What do you love about the UK music scene?

Jerome: Historically, the UK music scene has been at the creative forefront of so many musical movements, including punk, Britpop, heavy metal, and grime. I’m always amazed by the UK scene’s ability to meld different influences and come up with something new.

Rich: I like the fact that it feels like punk’s DIY ethos has never really left us. No matter how polished pop’s current icons are, there are always bands grinding away in grubby rehearsal spaces, coming up with something raw and exciting.

Ian: On the downside, it’s getting harder for unsigned musicians to play anywhere other than the increasingly scarce venues in larger cities. Outside London, Manchester etc, it seems that pubs only want bands to perform cover songs and almost everywhere requires you to bring your own PA. I really hope we see some more regional venues take a punt on new music so that younger acts can hone their skills and gain experience.

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

Rich: We’re all a bit too close to the songs to see them from another listener’s perspective, having lived with them for quite a while now. All we can hope for, I think, is that anyone who hears our music simply gets some enjoyment, whatever the setting.

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

Jerome: When we first started, I had no idea what kind of songs the guys would be into but, since we could only get together once a month, I felt compelled to contribute songs that we could set to work on right away. Luckily these first few songs formed a good bedrock for what was to follow. Home life pressures mean that time is valuable for all of us. Jamming for hours like we did when we were sixteen or seventeen is no longer possible. Consequently, I have had to put in a lot of hours writing at home so that any rehearsal time we have together is used productively, getting the songs to a point where we can record them. This is also my first time fronting a band as a singer, and it has taken me more than a year to build up my confidence. Fortunately, as we have grown closer as a band, and as my confidence has grown, the songs have really come to life.

Rich: I’m still negotiating what sometimes feels like a bit of a steep learning curve playing bass. With guitar, often adding more of something fills the sound out and makes everything seem bigger: More distortion; more reverb; bigger chords etc. Playing bass in a three-piece band, there’s a definite balancing act between keeping the sound full but also trying to avoid playing stuff that’s too fussy. The latter does not necessarily come naturally to a guitarist, but I’m working on it! One thing that has really struck me is how important note length is within basslines: just playing around with that within a part can dramatically alter the feel of an arrangement.

Ian: I like to think my playing has become more refined. I use toms much more to colour the space between the bass and rhythm guitar parts. I also now use smaller brighter cymbals to reduce what I call the ‘earthquake effect’. All in all, I try to play in a more controlled manner whilst still trying to be a powerhouse style hard hitter.

Has your production process changed over the years too?

Jerome: I’ve learnt more about producing, mixing, and production over time with the aid of YouTube channels like Produce Like Pro, Warren Huart gives fantastic advice. Tim Wills – a producer, engineer, and keyboard player who is currently working with Shed Seven – also gave me a crash course in mixing. He really schooled me in the subtractive mixing approach. Over time, I have also been able to progressively buy better equipment, software, and microphones. I had a 16-track hard disc digital recorder for years, and it was excellent for its time but, in the end, I switched to a Mac running Protools and Logic. Better hardware, along with the availability of high-quality plugins, has been a revelation, opening up a variety of creative approaches that were previously only available at expensive studios.

Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

Jerome: For me, personally, it would have to be Radiohead. Sadly, I don’t think that will ever happen! Thom, give us a bell please..!

Ian: I would have to say Jordan Smith who used to be with Bring Me The Horizon. He has the talent to turn anything into an instant hit overnight.

Rich: I would like to see if we could be mates with Billy Nomates.

How did you find making your new single “Withered Flower”?

Jerome: When I wrote this song, it came to me from nowhere, and it was pretty much fully-formed within half an hour. I instantly had a gut feeling that this was a song with a good vibe and it embodied exactly how I wanted us to sound as a band. I was eager to play it to the guys, really hoping they felt as enthusiastic as me. Thankfully, I remember Ian saying straightaway, at rehearsal, that he thought it was our best song yet.

Rich: It can be a little frustrating that we have to work on the songs around other commitments but it does feel like a real accomplishment when Jerome shares the final mastered mix of a tune.

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

Jerome: The themes in the song are pretty universal but, as it’s our first release, we’re really just trying to introduce our sound and say ‘We are here. Give us a listen’.

Rich: If we only succeed in sending a message that there are bands out there still creating interesting guitar-based music, that’s got to be a positive. Hopefully, we can reach an audience who, like us, grew up at a time when rock was not as far from the mainstream as it is now, and we would love to engage and interact with anybody out there who enjoys what we are doing.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

Jerome: For me, personally, in the last few years, the band that has excited me most is Idles. Their latest album is beautifully produced. I love the energy and production and the songs. Watching them evolve from album to album has been fascinating. I also think they may have the potential to reinvent themselves over time in the same way that Radiohead have.

Ian: Of late, I have been giving Twin Atlantic and Bill Murray some heavy rotation.

Rich: I have to shamefully admit that I mostly listen to music in the car at the moment and I basically trust my phone to randomly stream the already random contents of my music library. Earlier today though, I was actually treated to three great Ozzy-era Sabbath tracks, back to back, which I enjoyed immensely.

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

Rich: I guess that, despite being old hands at this, we still have the energy and motivation to produce and perform new music that hopefully packs a punch.

What’s been your favourite live performance so far?

Ian: So far, we have yet to play a gig but we’re itching to try the songs out live. If anyone out there wants to offer us a slot, we would love to get out there and play.

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

Rich: I’m going to avoid bringing anyone back from the dead and say Jack White on the Friday night, Queens of The Stone Age on Saturday night, and Radiohead on the Sunday. For me, it would have to be held in a holiday camp, like the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival used to be, so that no one has to sleep in a tent.

Ian: For me, it would have to be Faith No More, The First and Led Zeppelin. The venue would be the main stage at Download, as long as it’s not raining!

Jerome: I would resurrect the Phoenix festival and have The Cure, The Smashing Pumpkins and – given that it’s a dream festival – Loudness Wars to triumphantly close out the show!

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

Ian: I’m not sure that we are the ideal guys to be giving out advice: we have been doing this for years and are still striving to make an impact! Hence, if you are a new artist and can give us some guidance that would be great!

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2024?

Jerome: Writing more songs, plus recording and mixing the remainder of this album, but it will be early 2025 by the time we get it finished.

Listen to Withered Flower below

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