Amber Run Talks Touring, Recording Process, and Their New Album
On November 5th, British rock band, Amber Run, performed a powerful show at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto in support of their new album, Philophobia. With it being their only stop in Canada on their tour, Canadians from all over the country flocked to Toronto to catch a glimpse of their favourite band. The entire crowd was captivated as the trio serenaded them with the honest and soulful music they came to hear. Joe captured the delicate vulnerability of their new album when he dedicated a special performance of “Amen” to a fan who earlier requested it, despite that he doesn’t typically perform such a touching song that was written in a moment of grief. This moment served as a favourite for most of the crowd, standing out amongst an incredibly memorable show.
I spoke with lead vocalist, Joe Keogh, about their new album, Philophobia, and their music making process.
S&S: You guys have been together for around 7 years… that’s almost a decade! Congratulations! How do you think your music has changed, and what makes this new album, Philophobia, differ from your previous work?
Joe: Thank you! You grow older, perspectives change and new ways of working and collaborating start to excite you. I think we’ve become more introspective and ready to take more chances with the music we make. I think we’ve become more truthful and vulnerability has become less terrifying.
S&S: Why did you choose the name Philophobia for your album?
Joe: We wanted a name that mirrored the themes of the record. Philophobia is a reflection and exploration on the relationships in our lives.
S&S: Your new album has this very big, theatrical sound, almost like it was MADE to be played live - Do you keep that sort of thing in mind while recording? How you would like it to sound in a live concert?
Joe: We love playing live so it inevitably plays a part in the recording process. We don’t actively chase songs that will sound good in a live capacity but it’s an intrinsic part of what we do I think.
S&S: Do you Tom and Henry all listen to the same sort of music? And if not, how does that affect the music creation process?
Joe: We don’t at all. Henry is a big hip hop fan and that means the tonality of this synth playing definitely draws from that world. I love folk music so lyrically you can definitely hear that and Tom loves his rock. So the bass end is often very driving and gritty.
S&S: What was the inspiration for your video for “What Could Be As Lonely As Love”?
Joe: We wanted a one shot video that had a central character that could make you laugh, but that you also pitied. It was about trying to create a mood that was both light and dark as living is often spent in the grey between high and low.
S&S: I lived in London for a year and spent a lot of time listening to music along the likes of you guys. Do you think growing up in the UK influenced the sound of your music at all?
Joe: 100%. Every artist is an amalgamation of the art that they are surrounded by.
S&S: Do you feel people place your music in a certain type of genre? Do you feel it fits this genre, or any “genre” for that matter?
Joe: In honesty - we don’t really care. Call it what you want. We try and write music that we like and that we think has emotional value. It’s never been a process of - we need another rock song to cool or another folk song to fit on playlists.
S&S: Lastly, what advice would you give to our young and passionate readers who are interested in making music, but don’t quite know where to start?
Joe: It’s a tough one. Dedication is key. You have to be ready to sacrifice all your time to the pursuit of making something great. Try and surround yourself with talented and like minded people and be ready to be told that what you do isn’t any good. Also to remember to celebrate the victories before looking to move further and faster
