Four-piece indie band Junkyard Romantics is made up of Gaz Calder, Jake Leighton, Joey Rattigan, and Rhys Osbourne. The group combines a variety of influences to produce a psychedelia-driven pop sound with twisting riffs and catchy choruses.
The quartet is currently working on their debut EP and began 2022 by playing several headline performances at venues like the Water Rats.
2019 saw the formation of the band, which was lead singer Gaz’s final shot. The idea of having a band perform his songs on stage was beginning to seem like a pipe dream because previous line-ups had fallen apart due to issues ranging from creative disagreements to band members leaving because of Brexit. As soon as the bassist, Rhys “Ozzy” Osbourne, and the two of them connected over their shared frustrations with the music industry, musical influences, and football rivalries, they decided to start the new band. After the pandemic put a stop to plans in 2020, the band continued to rehearse through 2021 with the addition of friends Joey and Jake on drums and guitar, respectively. All that’s left to do now is put the finishing touches on their first EP recordings and start performing for increasingly larger crowds.
Mona Lisa is a song that will captivate the soul from the very first listen because it is so atmospheric and urgent. This is their first single as a band. It is a catchy sing-along song that embodies the band’s authenticity and charisma. Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS: Rhys and Joe are from Lincoln, and Gaz is from Swansea. We formed in late 2019, when Rhys and Gaz met in East London. Rhys brought Joe in on drums (they played together in a previous band). The pandemic put a halt on everything through 2020, and we finally got gigging early 2022 and released our debut single, Mona Lisa, in August 2022.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS: Gaz studied music in Leeds, and Rhys and Joe studied at BIMM.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘JUNKYARD ROMANTICS’?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS: Rhys’ first and last love is Red Hot Chili Peppers, Joe’s main influence is Zac Farro (Paramore, and HalfNoise), and Gaz got into singing and songwriting from listening to the Beatles and Oasis as a kid.
The name Junkyard Romantics was adapted from one of Gaz’s songs (Junkyard Romance). It was meant as a placeholder while he thought of a better name, but people seem to like it so it stuck.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS: Gaz: Well we’ve got the best rhythm section around. It’s seriously fun to play with these guys because they can play anything. We really wanted the debut single to show off what these guys can do, as well as the fact that I can write a great chorus. “Describing the sound” is my least favourite thing to do, you should just listen to the songs.
5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as INDIE?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS:
Gaz: You never really stop emulating, but the first phase is just learning that you can emulate better than most. I had been trying to start this band for years before finding Joe and Rhys, and in that time people kept auditioning, because they said they loved the music. I kept believing that if people wanted to play the music, then surely they’d also want to listen to it. From there it was just about having the confidence to do it unapologetically, and taking all the inspiration I could find.
6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS:
Gaz: You can’t help being inspired by your politics or identity, but for me the greatest music appeals to the universal themes. Expressing the simplest ideas in unique ways.
7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS:
Gaz: If you’re asking if I do it for the pure love of it, yes and no. I’d do it if nobody was listening, but I want to play these songs at any festival that will book us, and make these songs into records that stay with people.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS:
Gaz: It always starts with a melody or an opening lyric, and builds from there. Hopefully the full song just comes in one go, but that’s rare.
9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS:
Gaz: The constant change in personnel over the years was always a struggle, and that may keep happening as we continue, but we’re settled as a group now and we’re making great music.
10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS: The Debut Single, Mona Lisa, definitely.
11. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS: Gaz: Everyone has an audience, and they just have to find them. To the haters.. fuck ‘em.
12. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS: It’s got to be work in a studio.
13. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
JUNKYARD ROMANTICS: If a song is simple and great, it needs no story.
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