A SWEET SUMMER

The electronic dance outfit return to the stage at V Festival this weekend

With the release of Rudimental’s new single Sun Comes Up (featuring James Arthur), the band are back on the live stage. London’s classiest 21st century culture-crossing hitmakers have made a sweet summer return.

The multi-platinum Brit Award winners have previously charted with the likes of Ed Sheeran, late soul great Bobby Womack and Steely Dan rock legend Donald Fagen, with Amir Amor providing their multi-instrumental production knowhow.

Born in Iran, Amir, who spent his early years living through the Iran/iraq war before moving to the UK, typifies the group’s strength overcoming adversity through diversity.

“Coming from the background I did, it gives you a certain kind of drive, aspiration to try and succeed,” says Amir, 32. “I guess it comes from a place of slight dissatisfaction, so I always had that feeling of wanting to achieve more. Although I look back at my journey in amazement, at the same time I was always really focused and adamant I’d do something.”

Amir had already made a name for himself as a producer before meeting his Rudimental colleagues. The group’s community galvanising presence is one he is justly proud of.

“Bringing so many people from so many different walks of life together – there are very few other acts out there in this day and age that do that.

“Everything to us is about individualism and getting ahead as an individual. The vision in music, the way we are on stage, the way we make music, to the way we make videos – it’s all about inclusiveness and togetherness.”

That spirit is evident on the new single and the tunes currently being prepared for the group’s third album, due next year.

“I call myself a bass player, but nowadays I play guitar all the time. The best instrument is the studio, the laptop. You can actually make an entire composition on your laptop, so I think that’s the most valuable tool as a songwriter.

“As a live band our paths cross a lot more now, musically.

“Traditionally, in my role, I used to be the one that’d always finish the songs/production, but we’re a lot more fluid now and the process is a lot more involved.

“We write and jam together more than ever.”

‘We’re a lot more fluid now and the process is more involved – we write and jam together’

ON THE BOARDS Amir Amor and his Rudimental colleagues are back playing live