Luminous Wavez are a really intriguing group, playing unique music that will draw you in. I recently reviewed their EP, Ashes Of The Artist, and found myself captivated. If you missed the review, a stream can also be found after this interview.
By Jane Howkins
You recently released an EP titled Ashes of the Artist, which we reviewed. What can you tell us about the EP?
Dobbins: It’s a real melting and mixing of the musical genres with lyrics that I think resonate with the state of the world today. It begins in a dark place but each song builds on the last, and we end up with a taste of hope by journey’s end.
Leaone: I wrote all the songs on an acoustic guitar, and I didn’t go near a computer until the song was written. It was nice to work in that way, as so often these days we reach for the computer at the beginning of the process, it’s so easy to get lost in cool loops and sounds that you forget to even write or finish a song! It was fun to embellish and produce the songs, but I also like the fact that I could perform the songs with just my voice and a guitar.
How has the reception been so far to Ashes of the Artist been so far, and where can it be purchased?
Dobbins: We signed Revenge Song Spiritual and Ex Regrets with 10 West Music Library, so we’re very happy that Hollywood sees potential in syncing our songs. I love the feedback fans give me when they hear our songs for the first time and fall head over heals for Leaone’s unique voice and the super catching melodies he’s created. It reminds of the first time I heard his voice! He just keeps getting better and that creates a kind of positive feedback loop with fans. The best place to hear us is on streaming platforms or Bandcamp if you want to own it.
Do you plan to release any singles from the EP in the near future?
Dobbins: The tracks I mentioned above, Revenge Song Spiritual and Ex Regrets, are the two singles we’re pushing from the record. They’re getting some spins on college radio so thank you to all the DJ’s out there!
Have you started writing for a full length album?
Dobbins: Leaone’s making a lot of demos right now so we’ll see where the chips fall when it comes to songs we want to fully produce. A debut LP would be really cool but I feel like a lot of songs get overlooked on full length albums. I like the idea of releasing shorter EPs where every song get’s a chance to shine and the over arching musical vibe stays intact.
Your music has elements of folk, the blues and alt rock. What/who influences you most as an artist? What have you been listening to recently?
Dobbins: This is a great question, because what influenced me say 10 years ago is much different than what influences me now. This EP has obvious influences of what has been grabbing my attention recently like Johnny Cash, Chris Cornell, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Conor Oberst, The Rolling Stones, Muse and The Doors.
Leaone: I’m really into so much music. We’ve got the history of recorded music at our fingertips. Most recently I’ve been enjoying Turnstile, Action Bronson, Kenny Beats and the new Daniel Johns record.
I think the artists that inspire me most are just the ones that keep it real and aren’t too interested in the bullshit and fluff of the music business, people like Amy Winehouse, Liam Gallagher, Richard Ashcroft, Leonard Cohen. They’re the real ones. Distinct and true to themselves.
I try and listen to as much as I can, because I am a massive music fan, it’s obviously why I got into making music. But really it is an individual’s own life story and soul that influences their music. I’m really not trying to be anybody but myself.
You’re a collaborative duo – how did the collaboration come about?
Dobbins: My previous project, Patience Gloria, was basically put on hold so I was in search of a new musical collaborator who was the whole package: great voice, puts music and melodies to the words, and is easy to work with. I found the website SoundBetter (a site where musicians collaborate) and after weeks of searching finally stumbled up this English chap with an amazing voice who already had an incredible music catalogue of his own. Leaone agreed to work with me and the rest is history.
You’re based in Chicago and London. What is the music scene like there at the moment?
Dobbins: Technically, I’m the suburbs, and being a parent and a little bit of a homebody now, I’m not plugged into the scene like I was in the 2000s. I think it’s better for me to not pay much attention cause it will only make me miss it more.
Leaone: I’ve only just moved to London so I’m keen to find out what’s going on. I’ve just taken residency at Ten87 Studios – a recording community in Tottenham, North London. Before this I was up in Liverpool, which I loved and miss a lot, but for the most part I was in lockdown. But once things got to open up, I witnessed Liverpool to be really wild, plus the people are so friendly.
Did the pandemic hinder you much?
Dobbins: It had it’s ups and downs, but it helped launch Luminous Wavez, so I guess we made the most out of a bad situation.
Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?
Dobbins: I would love to see Leaone tour. What do you say??
Leaone: I’m releasing my debut solo album Kings County on October 21st, and I’ve just taken on my full time studio. So all my focus is going to be on making another solo LP and on new LW tracks. Once I’m done with that I’ll see how I feel. It would be great to play a mix of my solo songs with some of these LW songs mixed in. I’m really all about being genuine, if someone wants to book me I’ll probably pull it together and play, but I’m not desperate for the live stage right now. I’ve had a lot of bands in the past and it takes months of rehearsal to get a good set together. It’s kind of a sore point I guess! It’s kind of pretty soul destroying to put in all that work for a handful of gigs. I want to tour, I want to see the world, and do it properly, so agents get in touch yeah?!
Any last words for the fans?
Dobbins: Truth, beauty, freedom, love, and thank you.