In this interview spotlight, I chat with Healthy Junkies about dream collabs, the near-impossible task of choosing a favorite song of all time, their music and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Are you able to choose a favorite song of all time? Or would you label this an impossible task? If yes, what’s the song? If no, what’s your current Top 3?
I have opted for a top 3 songs. Incredibly difficult thing to do in the grand scheme of things but here goes
1. Aneurysm by Nirvana. Nirvana are my favorite all time band.
2. Riders on the storm by The Doors. I grew up listening to the Doors as my parents played them all the time.
3. God save the queen by The Sex Pistols. I had to include this fantastic song which epitomizes British Punk.
What about this project makes you most proud? Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?
I am proud of what Healthy Junkies has achieved as band during the many years of our existence. It has not always been easy, and we have had to work for everything that we have got. Being on the road constantly for 10years is no mean feat. That said we have met so many amazing music fans and other musicians along the way and this is what has made it all worthwhile. We have done everything ourselves DIY with no financial backing from family or record companies and that in itself is satisfying.
Our next new single ‘Lion in a circus’ came about quite naturally in a rehearsal studio as we jammed originally back in 2021 when the world was still locked up. Many questions were being asked at the time about being locked down in the way that we were. What would be the aftereffects on society? How our collective mental health issues would be exacerbated? 2 years later we are still reeling from this on so many levels. I guess we what we hope to do is sing songs that resonate with people who listen to them and reach more like minded people in the process. We have yet to make the video for this song (April 10th is scheduled for filming). So I would say that I am excited to be doing it and I hope that the video and song will act as both a mirror and a form of escapism at the same time. We have already played the song live many times and it has proved to be a great song to end our set with.
What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?
Making music for me is a compulsion. I studied theatre at school and have been preparing myself as a performer since I was a child. Writing and creating is like a form of therapy for me too. Having somewhere to channel your energy in a positive way is very important in my opinion. I would say that one of the only time it truly feels like I am in the right place at the right time and feel at one with myself is when I am on stage. When I get some positivity back from a gig it somehow vindicates my mission. At least it feels good for a while. Performing to a receptive audience is also a sharing experience. People come together at our gigs no matter what race, creed, gender, religion, age and feel as one. It sounds corny but there is certainly truth in this.
If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.
Kurt Cobain. He was the person that got me into writing songs and performing in a band. There is a simplicity to his songs in the same way there was to the Beatles’ songs. They just work without him appearing to try too hard. I love the way he uses unusual combinations of words to make his point or tell a story. Musically Nirvana and the grunge movement literally blew away the 80s machismo rock that was popular before and it helped bring to the attention of the mainstream certain progressive ways of thinking e.g. Equality and feminism. Basically, I love Nirvana!!
What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?
‘These days’ by Nico which was written by Jackson Brown and taken from Nico’s first solo album Chelsea Girl.
Favorite bands: Nirvana, The Doors, The Vines, Hole, The Charlatans, Suede, The Who, Velvet Underground, Mud Honey, The Sex Pistols, Patti Smith, Nico and The Velvet Underground, Amyl and the sniffers, Idles, Bass drum of death, The Oh sees, King Gizzard and the Wizzard lizard, Black Honey and recently we played with a brand new band called ALT BLT ERA who I totally rate and predict big things happening for them.
Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?
www.instagram.com/healthy_Junkies www.facebook.com/healthyjunkiesband
I appreciate Your time. Want to say or plug any other projects before we part ways?
Keep your eye out for our next Healthy Junkies album release. We will also be releasing an acoustic album featuring some of our previous singles along with new material and also we will be looking to release new, different material under another name.
Also look out for the lineup announcements for our Punk and Roll Rendezvous 3-day festival 2023 which will happen on 1,2 and 3 September.
