Blog

INTERVIEW - The Unkindness Of Ravens

The Unkindness of Ravens are the hardest working underground electro-rock duo on the scene. After two prolific years of releases, videos and live shows Nina Wagner (vox) and Ben Raine (bass & vox) are getting set to release their next single Last Call For The River, taken from their forthcoming debut album Virus. We caught up with them last week for a quick chat.

Your last single, Virus | Viper was featured on a French Connection video promo. How did that come about?

Ben - A friend of ours who we did a photoshoot with was editing the FCUK promo and needed a track - so we gave her VIRUS which was new and nobody else had heard at that point. It's cool seeing our music used in a fashion context, it works well.

Your music videos always pick up a lot of coverage - will there be one for your upcoming single, "Last Call For The River", and what can we expect from it?

Nina - We're currently in the process of shooting the video, which will take place in both London and Berlin. Our style will be a cross between our usual minimalism meets something like the Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.



Your debut album, Virus, is due for release in May. How does it feel to finally have the release date in sight after all that hard work?

Nina - It's like a huge weight has been lifted. As much as we love making records, it's becoming harder and harder maintaining this DIY approach, especially as our expectations of what we want to produce become higher. So we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. Although the album is a balanced display of what we are capable of as a two piece, we're now working towards something rather different for the next record.

How do you approach your live performances?

Ben - We always know that we're gonna play great no matter what. It's whether the audience is gonna be great, because it's an exchange of energy. If they really get into it, then that's as good as it gets. I always know that at some point Nina is gonna wander into the audience and terrorize people. People love that. During our last show it was like Nina kidnapped this girl, it was funny, this poor chick didn't know what the hell to do.

Has there been an artist/performance you've experienced that's shaped the way you approach music?

Nina - Nine Inch Nails has been one of the most inspiring live shows I have ever seen. The lighting performance that came with their set was mind blowing, something I definitely want to look into. Currently though, I'm really into Atari Teenage Riot and reading every single interview I can get my hands on by Alec Empire - he's my hero at the moment.

Once the album's been released, what's next for The Unkindness Of Ravens?

Ben - We'll be playing shows in Europe, and writing and recording material for this new project we've started. It's a project with no name at this point, it may well turn into the next Ravens album, or it may need to exist independently. Either way it's gonna be us, but on a new level.

Last Call For The River will be released on March 5th 2012 on Sonic Fire Records, with their debut album, Virus, set to drop in May 2012.