Great songs and a good laugh await
DERBYSHIRE country and blues band The Rogue Embers will be bringing their unique sound to Nottingham’s The Running Horse for a free show fans won’t want to miss. Here, Danny Wyer, who plays guitar and sings in the band, opens up about the beginnings, their influences and what a typical day is like:
Tell us where you’re from, where you are now and a bit about the journey in between.
We’re all from Derbyshire and have come from varied musical backgrounds. Josh Barrow (drums) and Dan Robinson (bass) have played in rock and metal bands since their school days. Katie has always done a lot of solo work previously, Marina Chambers (violin), who moved from Russia a few years back was in a punk rock band based in St Petersburg. I had been playing locally and met Katie Marsden (guitar and vocals) at an Open Mic night and the Rogue Embers were born. We’re now spending all of our time gigging, writing and recording and are looking forward to releasing our debut album early 2019.
How do you describe your music?
We’ve always struggled trying to describe our music as our style brings in elements from various genres like country, blues, rock and folk. It’s probably easiest to sum us up as Alt Country.
When did you know a life in music was for you?
We all have been playing music in one way or another since an early age. For me it was the first time playing an original song in front of an audience which people connected with and responded to. It’s a great feeling to create a new piece of music, put it out there live and see how the audience reacts.
How does the songwriting process work for you?
The songwriting process for us is different every time. Sometimes, someone will come up with a song that’s about 80% there and then we fire ideas off each other until we have a song that we’re all happy with. Other times someone will produce a song that’s ready to go from the off.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
That depends who is writing the song. For me, I get a lot of inspiration from my wife and family but also like storytelling as people will engage more with music that has something to say. I typically try to write more energetic and uplifting songs, as I’m very conscious that I want audiences to have a great time at our shows. So whilst a lot of the songs I write start from quite a personal place, there’s a clear focus on how I want the audience to react which generally involves them jumping around having a great time.
Is there such a thing as a typical day for you?
No days the same, currently we’re spending all our time writing and getting ready for our debut album that we start recording at the end of the month. We’re also busily booking gigs and festivals for the new year so it’s very exciting at the moment.
What would you like the audience to take away from your shows (as well as merchandise)?
We would like them to take away a love of our music and to spread the word about what we’re doing. It’s great to see them singing along with us.
What can we expect from the gig?
Lots of energy, great songs and a good laugh. The Rogue Embers will perform at Nottingham’s The Running Horse on November 24. Entry to the gig is free.