Today week, Hard Rock Malta is celebrating 14 years in operation with an evening dedicated to alternative rock. Ramona Depares catches up with Fuzzhoneys and nosnow/noalps, the two bands that will keep everyone rocking next Sunday.
FuzzhoneysFuzzhoneys
Who are the Fuzzhoneys and how did they get together?
Fuzzhoneys are Francesca Mercieca on guitar and vocals and Caroline Spiteri on drums and tambourine. The fuzz, as we like to call ourselves, started to grow in summer of 2012. We had a lot of similarities when it came to favourite bands and musicians and we thought it would be a good idea to plan a jam just for the fun of it.
The idea turned out to be effective, as that was when we wrote Chemistry and, after that, things started moving fast. It took us a while to realise we actually were a band, as we became friends through this constant musical meet up. The similarities between what we like to listen to and the way we play separately took us on a collective style of its own which grows stronger everyday.
How do you describe your sound?
Husky vocals, a balance between groovy bass-lines, crispy riffs and creative drumbeats. The main focus of the material is purely original. However, we work very closely to our influences, which include grunge, alternative rock, blues and soul, to name a few.
You’re fresh from ‘Malta takes London’. How was the experience?
It was a mind boggling blur.
What makes you tick, musically?
We both have our individual drives, but musically we have a connection which, through our instruments, we are able to express as one.
What can we expect from your Hard Rock gig?
The themes of our songs revolve around emotion, attitude, sexuality and self reflection. Every gig has a different angle within our performance and, from one gig to the next, they get deeper. We might just be two people, but we sure are loud and fun and we have a soft spot for live energy.
nosnow/noalpsnosnow/noalps
What’s happening on the nosnow front right now?
At the moment we are ex-tremely busy with a number of gigs and we are playing Teatru Unplugged at the Manoel Theatre on December 12,13 and 14. After that we will be working on a live electronic set for a New Year’s Eve party. We are also currently touring in Italy. We have five gigs in all.
You are one of the bands that go on tour abroad regularly – why do you feel that this is important?
We are basically growing a following in another country apart from Malta. We are now playing regular gigs in Italy, which we feel is great for bands like us that take it nearly as a full-time job. Malta still has its limitation with venues and other issues.
How has your latest album Go Go Go Go been received both in Malta and abroad?
Very well, with each single gathering good feedback. The track Somethin Like That reached the number one position in a local chart. This is going to be the first time we are promoting Go Go Go Go properly in Italy so we are thrilled.
How did the band’s sound evolve between the release of Romantik Politik and Go Go Go Go?
There was a huge evolution after Romantik Politik, which was released in 2011. Since then, the line-up changed completley and we spent the first four months of the new line-up living in Copenhagen, so we went through a lot of different experiences. In fact, in Go Go Go Go, the style moves from punk to funk to rock. The album includes two remixes that are completley different from each other.
What can we expect from the Hard Rock gig?
For this performance we are going to have some friends joining us on stage, including Margherita Bonello from Jane Doe, Andrew Francica from the Cosmic Erotic, Caroline Spiteri from the Fuzzhoneys, Alex Taylor-Helleur on trumpet and some more. We will be playing an extensive set list, including most of the songs from our three album releases Just Rock, RomantikPolitik and Go Go Go Go.
www.facebook.com/events/750422575029709/