FEATURE: Spotlight: Calva Louise — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Calva Louise

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THIS is my last post of 2019…

PHOTO CREDIT: Keira-Anee Photography

and tomorrow will be a new decade! As we head into the 2020s, I wanted to highlight a group that will be making steps and progressing towards the mainstream. I think we will see a lot of articles coming out that recommend the artists we need to look out for next year. I would urge people to keep an eye out for Calva Louise, as they have an incredible sound. The Manchester trio provide something incredibly vibrant and exciting. I have just been listening to their new E.P., Interlude for the Borderline Unsettled, and you are hit by the full force of their power. It is hard to label them in terms of genre as one gets Pop and Rock alongside other genres. In an interview with Fred Perry, they were asked which subcultures inspire them: “Punk, Britpop, Garage Rock and Alternative Latin music”. You get all of that in songs that definitely stay in the head and get the energy levels rising! I am not suggesting artists this year have been lacking, yet there does seem to be a definite lack of oomph and spirit. Maybe that will change next year and, with Calva Louise looking to conquer the world, I think we are in safe hands! I want to bring in an interview, where Calva Louise were asked about their debut album, Rhinoceros – which came out in February – in January:

“You need to get to know Calva Louise. The bubblegum rock trio are about to release their debut album, ‘Rhinoceros’, which, if their current five singles are anything to go by, is going to be huge. Following the album release, they’re taking off around the UK for a headline tour. They have even got a comic based around the tracks on ‘Rhinoceros’.

In case you’ve somehow missed out on the hype about these guys, then all you need to know is you simply have got to see them live- I promise you, you will not be disappointed. I had the pleasure of talking to front woman Jess, so you can get familiar with the band before they hit the big time.

So where’s the rhinoceros concept come from? Is it one of your spirit animals? A dream pet?

Rhinoceros comes from Eugene Ionesco’s play of the same name. We took influence from his play, where people suddenly start becoming Rhinoceros!

How did Calva Louise start?

We formed in London in August 2016. Alizon and I went to school together and decided to move to London where we played a bit together and met Ben at a gig! Then we asked him if he wanted to record some demos with us and then the band started!

If you could tour with any artist, living or dead, who would it be?

Queens of the stone age! It’s a band that has influenced us a lot and would love to be able to see them live everyday, or well, for as long as the tour lasts!

2018 has been a big year for you guys and 2019 is set to be even bigger, with an album release and a UK tour in the first few months. So as we move into the new year, what’s been a stand out memory for the band from 2018?

Touring with our friends, that’s been one of the best experiences we’ve ever had!”.

I am always interesting seeing how bands start out and how they appear on their debut. I often see bands with some promise from the start, but they tend to strengthen as time goes on. Maybe it is the close bonds within the band, but one feels the chemistry and connection on every song. Their music is so different and captivating. There will be a lot of artists coming through in 2020, but you all need to keep your eyes on Calva Louise. I want to bring in a review for their Rhinoceros album but, before then, a little snippet of an interview they provided Loud Women; the band were questioned regarding their progress. It is amazing that, so soon after Rhinoceros (this interview is from June), they were already looking at what was to come:

“What’s your best piece of advice for young musicians?

There’s no formula, everyone takes a different path and sometimes it’s difficult but necessary to not let yourself be controlled by your emotions, whether your feel bad or good about yourself.

What are your musical goals?

Keep doing what we love – making music and touring whenever and wherever we can!

What’s the most important thing we need to know about your band right now?

Expect new things soon..”.

The album itself is so fully-formed and varied. The band has been inspired by various genres and acts, yet one does not hear other artists in their D.N.A. It is rare for artists to sound original but, in a way, remind you of someone else. That may sound contradictory; the music of Calva Louise is so busy and thrilling, one gets a scent of past days and artists, but the magic they concoct is very much their own.

I have seen a lot of reviews of this year where the media collate the best albums of the year. A lot of the ‘best of’ lists seem to concern slightly bigger artists. I think acts like Calva Louise deserve the same oxygen as the bigger stars. They have had a very fruitful year and, when you look at their social media accounts (links are at the bottom), they are amassing a nice and loyal army of fans. This is what CLASH had to say about Rhinoceros:

“In this debut, they tip a hat to the absurd and the satirical state of life, the title a direct reference to the 1950’s avant-garde playwright Eugène Ionesco and his work by the same name. There is also a hint of Voltaire blurred between the fuzzy grunge-pop and scuzzy punk riffs that match to the humorous optimism of Candide with the overarching message of breaking from reality to find what you’re really made of. Drawing from strong themes of conformity, culture, morality, and parody, ‘Rhinoceros’ wastes no time in being direct and bold. Speaking of the personal project that the album has emerged from, Jess reveals that the idea behind the album’s narrative is “about the meandering thoughts you have as a young adult; questioning who you are and your purpose, whether you’re the person you want to be, what life is and realising it’s more fun than what it’s supposed to be.”

PHOTO CREDIT: @Conner.dixon

The album is a call-to-arms, fully fledged with overdriven riffage, unpredictable cadence, and intersections where grunge-pop and garage-punk overlap creating infectious walls of sound. Previous singles ‘Outrageous’ and ‘Getting Closer’ in particular come to the forefront, both melodically driven, the former a raucous characterisation of our time and the latter a satirical search for one’s identity. Anthemic tracks ‘I Heard A Cry’ and ‘Out Of Use’ follow the same unbridled formulas. For the most part, all 10 tracks are jam-packed with energy, and captivatingly so. Even the few numbers that take a softer approach, such as ‘Down The Stream’ and Spanish tune ‘No Hay’ still morph into something dynamically vibrant.

Calva Louise have carved out a charming niche in the punk genre, unexpected and perhaps unparalleled in today’s music. ‘Rhinoceros’ boasts a fusion of the band’s skill set, serving as an explosion of effect- heavy, silky guitar work, refreshing rhythms that go slightly awry, and explosively strategic vocal work that well suits their anthemic style. In their campaign to be authentic, the trio has achieved something quintessentially DIY-punk. It’s outrageous, really”.

I was going to introduce a single review, but the reception to Calva Louise’s debut album has been incredible! It is an album that offers so many treats and intriguing moments. Whilst there are some spirited and vivacious compositions, the themes addressed on the album point to serious subjects. I do like artists that can tackle weightier matters and manage to that whilst adding lightness and sheer fun. There is a lot to recommend about Rhinoceros; a record that has impressed a lot of people this year. In their review, The Skinny were keen to add praise:

“But while the ‘Louise’ in Calva Louise was chosen by bassist and Frenchman Alizon Taho just because he liked it, ‘calva’ means ‘bald’ in Spanish (Allanic is Venezuelan) and is a knowing reference to The Bald Soprano by Romanian-French playwright Eugène Ionesco. A pioneering avant-garde absurdist, Ionesco is known for his 1959 satire Rhinoceros, a warning klaxon against conformism and the insidious spread of fascism (people start turning into rhinos, basically). Not an accidental choice of album title, then, against today’s backdrop of worldwide far-right resurgence.

Though it’s not a political album by any means. And for all its nods to absurdist theatre, Rhinoceros is a sincere declaration of the trials of becoming an adult, and the scariness and unpredictability of the world. These are timeless themes, even if today’s youth are entering a particularly volatile and divisive era. I’m Gonna Do Well is a fun, potent wail of optimism; Tug of War has Allanic yelling 'Don’t hate yourself / Try to get away ‘cause you can'; Getting Closer’s choruses become full-on screams. It’s a record grimacing with hope.

When the world is falling to shit, we need the youthful verve of bands like Calva Louise to give a little light”.

Although the Manchester-based crew unveiled their debut album earlier in the year, they did not leave it too long until more material was out in the world. On 22nd November, Interlude for the Borderline Unsettled was released. I know Calva Louise were busy touring Rhinoceros and bringing to the people. Even though a few months passed between their debut album and E.P., there were some changes in terms of sound and direction. Although there are some darker tinges on Interlude for the Borderline Unsettled, one is blown away by the heat, rush and colour. Maybe the three original tracks that appear on the E.P. were left over from the album or, when touring, the band wanted to try something different. It is amazing Calva Louise released such an amazing E.P. so soon after their album. Again, reviews were positive. This is what Louder than War had to say about Interlude for the Borderline Unsettled:

“Sleeper is a great tune with it’s futuristic space sound which marks a whole new direction for the band. The lyrics seek to plug the listener into a virtual world as the band examine our rapidly evolving relationship with technology and the endless possibilities of simulated reality. The catchy grunge punk riff melded with those stunning vocals sounds so huge they make Wolf Alice sound like a low fi garage band. A great return to form.

Adelante is a slow burner, very industrial sounding, a dark anthem with some amazing guitar sounds, menacing bass and double drumming going on. It goes into a futuristic Garbage like territory. Space junk at it’s best.

After touring with Strange Bones earlier this year it’s no surprise the Blackpool lads have remixed Belicoso, turning it into a Prodigy style techno stomp in their own inimitable style. They certainly know how to produce a banger and it gives you the idea of how Calva Louise are not scared of experimenting in new stuff. A total shift from Rhinoceros and refreshing that they’re willing to progress into new boundaries. Check out the cosmic video to Sleeper in all it’s glory below”.

It is the final day of 2019 and, come tomorrow, many people will be looking about for the artists who will define the year. It has been a successful and huge year for Calva Louise and, whilst festival season is a fair few months off, I would expect them to be included. You can see where they are playing next, and do go and see them if you can! It will be another hot one for a band that are getting stronger and more popular by the month. That is no shock to realise when you get a single taste of…