THE SONS OF GUNS CHAT NEW MUSIC AND RICK ASTLEY

INTERVIEW | THE SONS OF GUNS by Anne Kelly

The Sons Of Guns (credit: Cléa Margaret photography)

Listening to The Sons of Guns, you wouldn’t exactly expect to learn they are based in the South of France. Seamlessly blending a classic 70’s style Americana with a modern twist, the bluesy quintet have kicked off 2025 with release of harmony-laden ‘Hollywood’, the resonating bittersweet ‘How Much I Loved Her So’ and now ‘It’s Getting Better’. Regularly found entertaining at gigs across the Riviera and local Ski Resorts, their infectious energy which has seen surprise special guest appearances at their shows from the likes of Joss Stone and even Rick Astley join them on stage. Now, with their debut EP set for release this summer, we can’t help but think that this band are moving into bigger things.

We chat with Aymeric, Frankie, Jack, Scott and David – aka The Sons Of Guns – about the new single, their upcoming EP, Rick Astley, and what it’s like being a “French” band.

“Actually only one of us is French: Monsieur Aymeric. The rest of us are English” shares Dave when I ask about their musical roots. “But we all met in Nice playing around the rumblin’ sweaty old town stages. We found we had a shared love of blues, country, folk and ol’ time rock and roll. So we naturally gravitated to each other.”

Moving on to ask them if singing in English comes naturally, I wish I had done my research better. Thankfully, they respond with well intended wit; “Well, as a Northern English man I do find it quite unnatural to sing in the Queens’ English” jokes Dave, before we switch the conversation to the local music scene in Nice, with Ayemric sharing; “I don’t think we have any [challenges], we’ve built & cultivated a creative and expressive way of being that feels natural and pretty impervious to external interference. We have no expectations on the scene . We’re just very lucky to fit into it.”

Fitting in feels like an understatement for a band who stand out like these guys. Catching the eye of Rick Astley isn’t something that every new band can pop on their CV, never mind actually performing with the icon.

Dave: “Absolutely 100 percent surreal ! What a legend. And ( I’ll say it in his accent ) he’s a funny guy too!”
Scott: “Lovely man. And very kind and humble, he just loves playing!”
Frankie: “We first met when we played a wedding of a friend of his, and we played two of his songs , and
then the legend just stayed on stage with us all night . We kept in touch after and he came to join us at
our show in Verbier, Switzerland last month.”
Dave: “Did I mention he’s a legend?”

Probably their most upbeat release so far, The Sons Of Guns new single ‘It’s Getting Better’ from their upcoming debut EP, has the feel-good energy of a Summer anthem in the making.

Dave: “‘It’s Getting Better‘ is based on a battle I think a lot of people have in their head, between
pessimist & optimist. The nature of all things (to me) seems to be a pattern of ups and downs, good and
bad. So, wherever you find yourself, whether you be up, or whether you be down, it WILL change. And
the pattern repeats. So, hold on to what you have in this moment. Or hold on for what will inevitably come.”

Expanding on what fans can expect from the EP release, Dave shares: “Our EP is an eclectic blend of Americana, folk rock, country, and even a touch of hip-hop. It features our late friend Jake Raggio — a rapper, poet, and true Son of a Gun — who sadly passed away a few years ago. We only had the chance to write two songs together, one of which, ‘Knock That Door’, features Jake’s rap. This EP is dedicated to him — our beautiful friend and forever part of the band.”

If we ever needed anymore encouragement than to give these five guys a chance, our final question should hopefully swing it: If you were to pick one song from the first album you ever bought that
relates to the person you are now, what would it be? “Ooh good question” responds Dave. “My first album was ‘Off the Wall’ by Michael Jackson when I was five years old and I would pick the title track . Because if this doesn’t work out, I’ll be scrubbing all kinda crap off the wall in Maccy Dee’s toilets .So please listen to our music 😬😬”

‘It’s Getting Better’ is OUT NOW