Following a six-year absence from the scene, Bristol-based trio Versus Savannah are back on the grind once again to deliver their anthemic new EP 'No Sleep'.
Bringing back more of that raw and ferocious punk energy they are known for, 'No Sleep' makes for a stellar return to form for them. Filled with bold and explosive hooks, a pounding atmosphere, and killer riffs throughout, they are returning to us with some of their more impactful material to date.
So with the new EP available to stream now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Jake: I remember being given an acoustic guitar when I was 9, and my dad taking me to my first guitar lesson not long after. My teacher was a guy called Chris and he had a Steve Vai signature Ibanez. The way he played and shredded riffs blew me away. From that moment I fell in love with the guitar and focused on being able to play like Chris!
Lou:The first instrument I fell in love with was the drums! However, I was never allowed to learn as my parents couldn't put up with the noise haha!
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Jake: Growing up my parents were 80s obsessed. I found some tapes in my dad’s work van and got hooked on the stranglers and the undertones. I remember my mate showing me Nevermind by Nirvana and playing it on repeat for a while. Then I saw the video for Green Day's ‘American Idiot’ and I thought ‘yeah this is it, I want to do this with some mates and start a band’.
Lou: I grew up with 2 different sides of music, my mum was very much into 90s dance/trance music and my Dad, Britpop! Both have stuck with me! It's a nostalgia thing of course!!
What was the first album you remember owning?
Jake: I think it was ‘Smash’ by The Offspring. It’s hard to remember because at the time me and my friends would swap and burn copies of each other’s CD’s quite often.
Lou: The first album I remember owning was one I stole from my dads work van! Urban Hymns by The Verve. In my opinion one of the most well put together and heartfelt albums ever!
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Jake: Everlong by Foo Fighters. It gives me that tingly feeling of excitement / nostalgia that I’m not sure everyone gets from music- but I’m glad I do!
Lou: The song I wish I had written myself is basically any track off Massive Attack's first album ‘Blue LInes’! An absolute masterpiece.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Jake: If I try to sit down and write a song or come up with an idea it doesn’t always happen and sometimes turns into a jam session. I get inspired spontaneously and it comes together when we’re all together. I do try to write lyrics down on my phone or record myself playing, but I sometimes overestimate how good my memory is!
Lou: Personally I struggle to write music individually. I find when all 3 of us are in a room bouncing ideas off each other a much more enjoyable and easy process! However lately I'm finding lyric writing enjoyable, the ideas come at the most awkward times though like in the middle of the night or driving home from work - remembering them to write down is the hard part!!!
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Jake: The Black Keys, (those guys have way more songs than the radio led me to believe). Fontaines DC, The Hives, Amyl & The Sniffers, Keyside, The Checks, Bob Vylan. But I’m always finding more or returning to my classics.
Lou: Recently Me and Damo have revisited our past teenage angst years and got back into Hardcore! A few bands I'm really enjoying at the moment are Speed, Knocked loose and Sunami! PUNK AF!! We recently went to Outbreak fest in Manchester and got beat to holy heck in the pits! Great times!
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Jake: Foo Fighters. It sounds ridiculous even thinking about it. I think Myself, Lou and Damo would still have the time of our lives whether we were in a stadium or a dingy basement with no one watching. It’s always an absolute blast playing with them!
Lou: If we could open for anyone personally for me it would be Deftones!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Jake: I think for me the reward is genuinely having a laugh with my mates whilst making noise and being creative. Playing a show and seeing people have just as much fun as us is the icing on the cake.
Lou: The most rewarding part of being a musician, for me, is that I play with my 2 best mates and get feedback from our listeners and people who come to our shows!
And what is the most frustrating part?
Jake: It can be frustrating trying to keep on top of things whilst juggling a full time job and all of life’s other commitments. And I don’t think most people realise how much time and effort is given up in order to rehearse and put on a good performance. It’s all worth it in the end though!
Lou: The most frustrating part is having to work a job around being a musician - one day maybe! Who knows!
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Jake: ‘Take opportunities once they arise, they might only come once in a lifetime’. And - ‘If you’re not enjoying it, then you probably shouldn’t be doing it’.
Lou: The best piece of advice I have received was from my old college tutor! Above all, remember why you do this, for the love of the game. As soon as you lose the fun aspect it can soon feel like just another job.
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Versus Savannah's new EP 'No Sleep' is out now. Check it out in the player below.