BRING THE NOISE FESTIVAL | EMERGENCY BREAK INTERVIEW

Emergency Break has taken the London music scene by storm with their energetic live performances and distinctive rock sound. Formed on a whim in 2023, the band quickly rose to prominence, selling out The Camden Assembly within six months. Their regular live shows, including sell-out performances at venues such as the O2 Academy Islington, Old Blue Last, Dublin Castle, and The Grace, have helped them reach new audiences. Emergency Break has established its unique identity through self-produced singles and chaotic live performances. Known for their raucous shows, the band commands the stage with their charisma and onstage antics, making every performance an electrifying experience. With the confidence and creativity to expand their musical reach, they continue to grow as artists and as a part of their broader community. The band shows no signs of slowing down and is definitely one to watch.

Could you introduce yourselves, who’s in the band, what your sound is, and how you came together?

Hiya, we are Emergency Break, a five-piece band fresh out of London! You have Leo on lead vocals, Joe on guitar, and the same goes for Oran, Ewan on bass, and James on drums. We sound like IDLES meets BLUR with an even more Essex frontman man or, as Gig Slutz described, “Indie-grunge sonic gold recorded in Camden. For fans of Blur, Smashing Pumpkins, Fontaines D.C., Bad Nerves, Spangled.” We came together after being gig mates and attending loads of shows together.

What’s happening for you right now? Any new releases, upcoming gigs, or exciting projects in the works?

We have just announced our biggest headline at London Omeara on September 5th. The same week, we will join BILK at their sold-out Dublin Castle show on home turf, and we will also join them in Sheffield with STONE and many more amazing names! We will also launch our second studio single, ‘DOLLFACE,’ on April 25th.

Looking back, how has your music evolved since you first started out? Are there any key moments that shaped your sound or approach?

Every headline show we do is a real milestone in how we look and sound, and it almost defines the band’s mini-era. So I’m going to say the moments that shape our approach are the shows and our attitude towards them.

What’s your biggest challenge as an independent band, and how have you navigated it?

Trying not to come across as too pushy. A band’s email can only get them so far; sometimes, you get scared that that persistence might scare people away.

What’s your songwriting and recording process like when creating new music? Do you have any unique rituals or methods?

Hiding really crazy things in tracks the latest single. It had a lucosade bottle slowly gaining air again, and it sounds amazing, ha.

If you had to describe your upcoming (or latest) release in just three words, what would they be?

Time-telling, heartbreaking, Dollface.

What made Bring the Noise stand out to you? What excites you most about playing (or being part of) the festival?

Joining a bill of names we idolise, one of the first bands we saw together as a band was STONE at Omeara, and now we not only headline that venue ourselves but also get to play with them.

Sheffield has a rich musical history; how do you see your band fitting into or challenging that legacy?

Although I don’t have moves like Jarvis Cocker or a jacket collection like Richard Hawley, the Sheffield music scene has impacted the band in many ways, from Rev and the Makers to Arctic Monkeys.

The indie scene is constantly evolving. Where do you see it heading, and how do you hope to contribute to its future?

We hope guitar music shoots to the top again, and hopefully, we are on that bullet, too.

Who would you choose if one band on the lineup could cover your tracks?

STONE, reckon they would do a pretty good cover of HOMETOWN or CAN YOU FEEL IT.

Emergency Break plays at the Bring The Noise Festival at Sheffield’s Network on the 26th of April. Tickets are available here: https://www.skiddle.com/festivals/bring-the-noise/