After establishing themselves with a string of dazzling delights these last few years, fast-rising Anglo-Spanish outfit And The Sunset Burns recently cemented their dynamic legacy to date with the release of their hotly-tipped debut album 'All My Sins'.
Featuring the previously shared gems 'Primrose Hill', 'Bed Full Of Blood' and 'Take It Or Leave It', this new nine-track outing makes for a broad and passionate introduction to their immersive direction of late. Brimming with this warm and infectious swagger from start to finish, 'All My Sins' highlights exactly why so many have been flocking to them lately.
So with the new LP available to stream now, we sat down with the band's Ruben Kenton-Harris to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Drums. I always enjoyed listening to my dad playing guitar around the house, but I felt something magnetic about the drums. Its ability to get you on your feet and dance made me love the drums at an early age, and it wasn’t long before I started smacking a djembe along to my dad’s guitar as a toddler. After I while, I got my first drum kit and that was when the love affair truly began.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
My two older brothers have always been big fans of hip hop, so that was the first genre that really got me hooked on music. My dad is also a lover of ska and reggae, and I really enjoyed listening to artists like Alton Ellis and Toots and the Maytals growing up. But I started to develop my own interests in my early teens, and fell in love with some of the British indie bands of the mid-noughties such as the Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian and The Fratellis. As I explored the influences of these bands I started getting more into punk bands, particularly The Jam and The Clash, and 60s groups like The Kinks, the Small Faces, the Doors and The Velvet Underground.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I remember owning for myself was probably ‘West Pauper Lunatic Asylum’ by Kasabian, which I still really enjoy listening to.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
‘Waterloo Sunset’ by The Kinks. To me, this is one of the greatest songs ever written, and it holds a special place for me as a born-and-bred Londoner. The lyric captures the gritty beauty of London like no other song, and the melody is magical.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
If I’m completely honest I don’t. I try to let each song come in whatever way it does, so I tend to follow a difference process each time without sticking to any rituals.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
A band I discovered earlier this year, who have quickly become one of my favourites, is Peter Cat Recording Co. Their songwriting and arrangements sound completely unique, and I love how each song has its own mood and style. We discovered their newest album ‘BETA’ together while we were in the studio, and we were all blown away instantly.
Another band I love at the moment is The Lemon Twigs. I’ve been astounded not only by their level of musicianship but also their ability to conjure up songs that instantly sound like classics. Seeing them perform while I was in Brussels was one of the highlights of my year.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
It would be hard to beat The Rolling Stones. They’re a legendary band that we all absolutely love, and it wouldn’t be bad to perform in front of some of the crowds they can muster up!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Watching a song develop and improve with the input of each band member is hugely rewarding, particularly when that original seed blossoms into something you didn’t expect.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The struggle to make a living from music can be really difficult at times. We all want to be in the studio and on the road as much as possible, but of course it’s hard to make much money playing original music if you aren’t able to sell out big venues.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
I recently read Rick Rubin’s book ‘A Creative Act’ which I found genuinely inspiring. One of my favourite quotes from it was “the best way to serve the audience is to ignore them”. That idea really jumped out at me, because it seems to completely go against your intuition. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more it has rung true. The artists who really connect with their listeners are the ones who create something purely because of their own love for what they are doing, and because they want to express something deeply personal. I’ve been really energised by taking on that mentality of trying to write something simply because I like it.
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And The Sunset Burns' debut album 'All My Sins' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.