Interview with The Azenas: ‘We’ve got three EPs coming out’

Sheffield-based band The Azenas is to release three EPs over upcoming months, its frontman Archie Noble said.

‘Initially, the plan was to release the first one in June this year, with the others following in February and November next year but obviously with everything that’s going on, June’s got pushed back but we’re still expecting to release it later this year.’

The Azenas consist of Archie Noble (rhythm guitar, vocals, harmonica and songwriter), Tom Stewart (bass, vocals and songwriter) and Ed Simons (piano and keys) as well as two drummers, Luke Hawdon and Henry Veitch. Their name was inspired by the Azena ballroom that used to be in Gleadless, which was the first place the Beatles played in Sheffield, according to Noble.

The next EP pegged for release by the 60’s infused group will mark the first new recording since the group brought out its single ‘Shifting Sands’ in February. The band already has five tracks for the first EP, including ‘Bella’ and ‘It’s Our Life’, according to Noble.

‘I was kicking about with the song ‘Bella’ for a few months’ he said. ‘I set myself the challenge of writing a song in a different style, it’s got a military feel to it, with a lot of snares in it!’

‘It’s Our Life’ was written by Stewart in lockdown and tells the story of four characters who know each other and their tribulations, Noble said cryptically.

However, despite their retro feel, the band members’ taste in music is ‘more different to each other than people expect’, Noble said. ‘There’s some overlap, we all like bands like The Beatles and The Kinks, but then I like bands like The Brian Jonestown Massacre (based in San Francisco).’

On potential collaborators, Noble became reflective: ‘They always say don’t meet your heroes and collaborating with them could be worse! I’d have liked to collaborate with Robert Johnson (an American blues guitarist) or Bob Dylan in his early days. Same goes for The Beatles in their Live in Hamburg days, that’s my favourite time. They could take over the room like nobody else.’