From their humble beginnings in the Northern town of Winsford, The Luka State have risen to unleash their hard-hitting brand of British Rock ‘n’ Roll swagger on the world stage. I chat to Conrad, Sam, Jake and Lewis about their music, plans for the future, and why it’s so important to speak up for what’s right. With a US headline tour just around the corner, and an appearance at th Louder Than Life Festival to boot, nothing is gonna bring this four-piece down!
[ANNE] Let’s start at the beginning… how and when did The Luka State form and what’s the meaning behind the band’s name?
[CONRAD] The Luka state means positive mental attitude. We named it after a guy called Luca Gismondi who we met in Toronto years ago when Sam and I were kids playing in an old band. His energy was so infectious it left a big mark on us. Years later when we started this band it just seemed to describe how we wanted audiences to feel when they listened to our music.
[JAKE] A couple of years before The Luka State formed I saw Conrad and Sam playing in their old band and thought that if I was ever going to make it in music I had to work with the most exciting musicians in our little town, Winsford. About three years later, when their band broke up, they invited me for an audition and then the next day their manager called me up and said I was in and that our first gig was gonna be in Berlin! I think a couple of months later Lewis joined and his first day was actually on the video shoot for‘The Believer’.
[ANNE]How would you describe your style of music?
[CONRAD] It’s honest, aggressive, and passionate British Rock’n’Roll. We mean every word we say and there’s no fakery in this band.
[ANNE] What themes do your songs explore and to what extent have your backgrounds influenced your songwriting?
[CONRAD] We’re from a working-class town in the North of England. You can feel that in every lyric. The experiences of our friends, families and especially ourselves are the foundation of everything we write about. If we’d been born with a silver spoon in our mouths we’d be making very different music. If you come from a small town, anywhere in the world, or ever felt like there had to be something bigger out there then it’ll make sense to you.
[ANNE] Tell us about your new single, ‘Bring Us Down’?
[CONRAD] So we wrote ‘Bring Us Down’ in our own little practice room on a cold winter’s night just before Christmas. Being from a small town and doing music means you attract a lot of negativity from small-minded people. This song is about ignoring the haters and doing things your own way, even if it looks like madness to others. This song is for everyone who believes in themselves.
[ANNE] Who was your previous 2022 single, ‘Oxygen Thief’, written about?
[CONRAD] I’m not going to go into detail about exactly who the song is about, but we all know an oxygen thief in our lives don’t we… The song is an embodiment of the grief, pain and anger I was going through at the time we wrote the song. If you want a message, it’s just… don’t be a dick.
[ANNE] You released your debut album ‘Fall In Fall Out’ last year, following on from the ‘Feel It’ EP the year before – do you have another release currently in the making?
[JAKE] So we’re currently halfway through recording our second album. It’snsounding a lot heavier and rawer than our debut, and I think that comes from a more honest approach to songwriting. If you go on our socials you’ll see a few clips from new songs that we’re trying out on the road.
[ANNE] You’re currently on a UK/EU tour – where has been your favourite place to play so far and why?
[SAM] It wouldn’t really be fair to single any city out in particular. Each show has been amazing in its own way but playing in a theatre in Paris was a very special experience.
[ANNE] You issued a statement following an incident involving a security guard at your recent show in Birmingham. Can you tell us what happened there and whether the venue has since responded?
[LEWIS] It’s important to make a stand when you see something going on that is at odds with your world view. Our band is all about respect for each other and our fans. We expect those same values from everyone in our crew, including security. The venue was in touch the next day and is taking it very seriously. We would like to make it very clear though that the issue was with a security contractor, not the venue.
[ANNE] You’ve just announced your first ever North American tour and confirmed that you’ll be performing at the Louder Than Life Festival in the US in September. Who are you most excited to be sharing the stage with?
[JAKE] Honestly, I couldn’t be more excited to be sharing a stage with Slipknot. They were the first band I ever crowd surfed to as a kid, so it’s crazy things have come full circle. We might be a Rock’n’Roll band, but we listen to a lot of Slipknot and Metal in the van when we’re on tour.
[ANNE] A US tour is something that many British bands can only ever dream of… how did it all come about and what advice can you give to other young bands trying to cross the pond?
[CONRAD] Touring America is certainly a dream that keeps the fire inside of most musicians, but the truth is that even after years of playing together there is still a lot of work left until we get to where we want to be. Our advice to any young band is to not get disheartened when the world doesn’t come to you right away. If you really believe in yourself and believe that music is what you have to do with your life, you need to constantly be pushing yourself forward no matter what anyone says.
[ANNE] Lastly, please tell us your hopes, dreams and ultimate goals for the future…
[SAM] Our dream is to be able to do what we do every day as a band for the rest of our lives. To constantly release new music, tour, and reach as many fans as possible. Without your fans you have nothing.
The Luka State are:
Conrad Ellis – Vocals / Guitar
Lewis Pusey – Guitars
Sam Bell – Bass / Vocals
Jake Barnabas – Drums
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To learn more about The Luka State, Check out their Website!
