Despite being something of a fairly new name on the local scene, London-based Canvas Wall have, in fact, been around for the past four years or so, a good part of that time spent writing, rehearsing and gigging to establish themselves on the UK music scene.

We’re obviously very excited to be back as we’ve not performed in Malta as Canvas Wall

Their effort has not been in vain either, as the band has successfully attracted a regular following as well as making a name for itself within London’s buzzing music scene, and they’re now looking forward to making bigger waves in Malta too.

Describing their music as a fresh take on a blend of genres – from blistering stadium rock to head-bopping indie pop – Simon Dounis, Craig Rogerson, Nathan Bryans and Alvin Ho formed Canvas Wall in 2008; the collective result of four like-minded musicians who felt the need to create music that was different.

A tall order for sure, but one they seem to have succeeded in achieving, thanks to a homegrown sound that boasts colourful, textured sounds layered with intricate melodies and a solid rhythm section.

Although they released their first single Sooner or Later in 2010, it was its follow-up Close to the Edge that brought them wider recognition, receiving significant radio airplay on several UK stations, among them BBC and Total Rock Radio, as well as on Finland’s Radio Nova and Malta’s own Xfm and Bay 89.7.

The following year, they released a music video for Close to the Edge and are currently planning a new video for upcoming single The Road to Bliss, which is taken from the band’s imminent debut album, Thinking Out Loud, which will be officially released here in Malta when the band performs live at the Farsons Great Beer Festival on August 5.

Interview with Simon Dounis

What is Canvas Wall’s connection to Malta?

Craig and I grew up in Malta as both our mothers are Maltese. When we were 13 we formed our first band, Mnemonic, and we got to gig quite regularly around the Buġibba area. We played mostly covers but we also had our own songs – nothing amazing, but it was a good start…

What made you leave the island to form Canvas Wall in London?

Well, given the limited opportunities Malta has to offer in terms of having a full-time music career, we decided to go somewhere that offered more opportunities, and what better place than London?

Over there, Craig and I met Nathan and Alvin, who had similar tastes and ambitions in music and together we formed Canvas Wall.

Thanks to Craig’s uncle Carmel Said, a Maltese scenic artist living in London who was also behind our first video, we were able to use a corner of his studio which we transformed into a rehearsal space.

Actually we both lived in this warehouse for about a year, in a makeshift bedroom which we built out of canvas partitions, which is where our name comes from.

You formed the band to create music that was different…

We grew up listening to bands from the post-grunge era such as Incubus, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam and Creed, but around 2006, there seemed to be this wave of indie pop music which was a lot more uplifting and light-hearted in comparison. We set out to bridge the gap between the two genres, combining all the stuff that has influenced us over the years – a blend of heavily distorted guitar sounds, fat bass lines and infectious head-bopping beats.

The band has been continuously evolving, with our sound becoming a lot tighter to a point where we can come up with new music a lot quicker as we are more in tune with each other.

What is the music scene in London like from your experience?

It’s a very busy scene with many bands on all levels and genres. We’ve never been short of shows to play, but decent promoters are hard to come by and we’ve had our fair share of bad ones in the past.

The good news is that now we’ve ended up with some great connections that have allowed us to perform at renowned venues across London. We’ve had some great experiences, among them shows we’ve put on ourselves and even some we arranged for other Maltese bands visiting London as we’re always keen to lend a hand to fellow Maltesers.

London’s a definite must for anyone wanting to get involved in a happening scene. There are many opportunities to be had and it’s all about making the most of them and creating new ones.

You’ll be releasing your debut album in Malta a week from today at the beer festival; a special night for the band without a doubt…

We’re obviously very excited to be back as we have not performed in Malta as Canvas Wall and also because we’ll be performing alongside so many other great Maltese acts. Also it’s always nice to have the support of your home country and we want to get back in touch with our roots and get involved in the Maltese music scene again.

Apart from the full-on performance on Sunday to celebrate the album launch, we’ll also be playing an intimate acoustic show on Saturday, details of which will be released on our website and Facebook page www.facebook.com/canvaswall.

A few words to plug the album...

Well, the singles give a good taster of what’s to come. Bridging the gap between rock, alternative rock and indie pop was our intention and we feel there is enough diversity among the 13 tracks to engage fans of many other genres too. We wanted all our single releases to be upbeat so there are some great slow songs in the album which we want to let people discover for themselves.

We spared no expense in the recording process and wanted to take our time capturing a great performance. With the help and collaboration of professionals like Dann Pursey, we managed to convey the musical vision we had in mind for this album, and we are very proud and eager to share it with all of you.

www.canvas-wall.com