Mixing alternative rock, shoegaze and power pop, Wynona Bleach is a 5-piece from Belfast, NI. Their new single SWIM IN THE BAY” is Out Now. We bring you an exclusive interview with the band.
Formed in January 2018, Wynona Bleach began after a 12-Date Russian Headline Tour under their former name of R51. Before this, they played BBC Introducing stages at Reading and Leeds festivals, supported Feeder, and performed on a televised anniversary of the BBC’s Introducing music show in Northern Ireland at a sold-out show in the Ulster Hall alongside Therapy? SOAK Villagers and The Divine Comedy.
Wynona Bleach are: Melyssa Shannon (Vocal) Jonny Woods (Guitar/Vocal) Aaron Black (Guitar) Carl Gilmore (Bass) and James Foy (Drums)
Where did the band’s name come from?
Carl: Our love of Winona Ryder, Bleach (of the hair variety ) and Bleach (The Nirvana album)
We love that you guys are from Belfast- a fantastic city! Tell us all about the music scene there.
Melyssa: Aw, Belfast has some talent! It’s a small place, and we all kinda know each other, but the scene is becoming so much more diverse, which is great to see. The Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast is vital to the scene here. It has an ever-evolving music exhibition, rehearsal rooms, a recording studio; they run talent development programmes and are open as a live gig venue most nights of the week! The work they do is so important and their support for emerging acts is massive!
Tell us about the town generally – where would you recommend we visit?
James: Belfast is a great city with loads to do, given how small it is, we have a load of great music and bands coming from the city. We recommend you visit wherever we’re playing a show!
What inspired your new single ‘Swim In the Bay’? What is the track about?
Jonny: It’s a tongue-in-cheek track about giving head. or as our clever publicist put it, Aural pleasure!
What bands/ artists influence you both individually and as a band?
Carl: Joy Formidable, The Smashing Pumpkins, Placebo, Genesis, beabadobee, we’re a pretty mixed bag when it comes to our influences!
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Melyssa: getting to tour with Alice in Chains was pretty amazing, as well as doing a 5 date tour with
Ash that culminated in playing the Ulster Hall Belfast!
What other projects do you have coming up?
Jonny: We are embarking on our second album this spring with the amazing producers Andy Bradfield and Avril Mackintosh. They have worked with Bjork, The XX, Rufus Wainwright, and my particular favourite, they produced “When 2 become 1” by the Spice Girls!
Where does the band see itself ten years from now?
James Hopefully able to make a living making music, before the arthritis kicks in!
Tell us something about you we should know?
Carl: We have an exclusive bowling team. Jonny: Yeah and we plan to get bowling team shirts made for
the next tour! Our sound engineer Mike is unstoppable on the lanes. His nickname is “Six Strike Mike.”
Check out Wynona Bleach over on Spotify and find out more about the band on their Official Website.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
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