STARTING a new rock band in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic might seem strange, especially when the live music industry has been decimated.
But it hasn't stopped Daniel Jones (vocals, rhythm guitar), Ezekiel Kigbo (lead guitar), Gareth Owen (bass) and Hudson Wallace (drums) finding immediate chemistry with their Newcastle band La Roma.
First single So Long, Adieu was released two weeks ago and is a driving and anthemic introduction from La Roma, carrying the hallmarks of Birds Of Tokyo's heaviest moments.
Almost a decade ago Jones, Kigbo and Owen played together in indie-rock band Emerson, who released two EPs and supported the likes of US acts Lydia and As Tall As Lions.
Meanwhile, Wallace built an esteemed career as a professional drummer playing with The Voice's Nathan Hawes and guitar maestro Jeremy Barnes.
During lockdown Jones, Owen and Wallace starting writing together and they decided to bring in Kigbo to expand the sound. Wallace and Kigbo only met the day before So Long, Adieu was recorded by Rhys Zacker at Spinlight Studios.
Wallace said weirdly the pandemic had provided the opportunity to develop La Roma because life had been forced to slow down.
"I looked at it in this COVID world where you have no idea what's going to happen, but at the same time people are online more and they're looking for new music and new things to inspire them," Wallace said.
"I thought regardless if we can play shows or not, I'd meet with a bunch of friends and write music together and put it out there."
La Roma plan to record a second single shortly and release an EP in 2021.
SUGAR HIT
MARK down the Niamh Watson, pronounced "Neeve". The Central Coast 16-year-old is expected to turn some heads with the release on Friday of her latest single Sugar.
The breezy slice of indie-pop was co-written in a day at Sydney's Forbes Street Studios with South Australian producer Mario Spate, aka Badcop, whose list of work includes Tkay Maidza, Washington and Montaigne.
A week after Watson's visit, Sir Elton John recorded the vocals for his collaboration with Lady Gaga on their song Sine From Above at Forbes Street.
Watson wrote Sugar about a blossoming relationship and to get the desired whispered vocal effect she "imagined she was singing to someone who was sleeping and trying not to wake them up."
KOOKSHILL NIGHT
MAJOR Australian acts might be postponing their shows in Newcastle, but it's opened the door for locals to grab the spotlight.
Dave the band are launching their debut album Slob Stories with two 100-people shows at the Cambridge Hotel on August 28 and Vacations are also expected to announce a launch show for their second album Forever In Bloom, out on September 18.
Newcastle indie-rock four-piece Kookshill, have also announced two Cambridge shows on September 5.
The early show will be licensed all-ages, followed by an 18-plus gig later in the evening.
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