VENTS recently interview Thomas Lebioda (bass) and Ash Gray (vocals/guitar) of Sheffield, UK indie-rock group Amalgaband about their new video for “Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio Christmas.” The interview can be read below!

What sparked the group’s interest to create the song and music video for “Rock ‘N Roll Radio Christmas”?

Thomas Lebioda: With not much to do and nowhere to go during one of the lockdowns before Christmas, we spontaneously formed a band, recorded this song in our basement and shot a video in the neighborhood streets of Nether Edge (Sheffield) the next day. Rock’n’Roll Radio Xmas“ is actually the first of three songs we did in this manner in this formation. We were having some fun making Music, while a lot of people were a lot worse off than us. So we made these for a good cause, inspired by the seasonal holidays that nobody had the chance to celebrate as usual.

How have the members’ individual experiences within the music industry impacted the collective musical creations?

TL: We all have such different but also very complimentary musical backgrounds. And we were all somewhat trapped in same situation. And we all share a great fondness for the vast and inexhaustible miracle that is music. Hanging out, day in day out, in a living room filled with thousands of vinyl records may have had more of a combined impact on Amalgaband than our individual pasts actually. Tom (Jarvis) used to play in a reasonably famous British indie band, but has more recently immersed himself in African and Middle Eastern music. He also just finished writing his first novel. Flynn is a young, extraordinarily talented musician who soaked up a lot of his inspiration and motivation from his equally musically immersed father, who we happen to live in a house share with. Ash (Gray) who has always been a very prolific and independent writer of Rock and Country songs grew up and came of age in Austin TX, then moved via NYC and London to Sheffield and continues to make records in his own name. And I (Thomas Lebioda) grew up in Hamburg Germany, another place well known for its music history. For nearly 15 years I’ve been splitting my time between NYC and Sheffield, touring with bands, making records and writing songs.

I would almost be inclined to go as far as saying, the spontaneous formation of Amalgaband was an inevitability, shaped by these particular circumstances.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned as a band? 

That you should always TURN THE MUSIC UP LOUD!

Can you describe the behind-the-scenes experience of filming the “Rock ‘N Roll Radio Christmas” music video? Is there a favorite moment from shooting or production?

Ash Gray: There were many good times we had with this . It was cold and spontaneous running around the streets. Wherever we could get some others to be in the backdrop was funnest. The scene where I’m given the radio and dancing around was just about talking to the store owner and attendant that gives me a real rock and roll radio blaster, provided actually by Tom L. The people at the antiques store had a blast watching us try a few different takes. So we had real audience there which made it better for hamming it up. When we had the radio as our focal point it was fun to play around with being attached to it and running around with it.

At the end of the video, there is mention of the donation of proceeds to a project that supports the homeless and underprivileged community in Sheffield. Does the group hope to use music to participate in more acts of service in the future?

AG: The group absolutely supports service to community. In this particular case, with the video being about Christmas and living on the street, we thought it very appropriate to not only just give in the spirit of Christmas but fund the Archer project which looks out for the homeless in Sheffield and helps them to build and work on their well being,better life and independence . Since then we have decided to also have the video’s new promotion reflect it’s charity support and keep it in the seasonal sprit.

What does the future of Amalgaband look like? Are there any upcoming projects or events that can be shared?

Another lockdown? We certainly don’t want that. But we all may well cross paths again and TURN THE MUSIC UP LOUD!

We are hot on the heels of following up with a New Year‘s anthem. Stay tuned!

Follow Amalgaband:
http://instagram.com/amalgaband