London female alt-rock duo Rews will be playing Cardiff’s Gwdihw Cafe Bar on February 22.
Consisting of Shauna Tohill and Collette Williams, Rews have created a n interest on the UK music scene following the release of their four singles. Can You Feel It, Death Yawn, Shake Shake and their current single Miss You in the Dark.
Last summer they made a string of high profile festival performances including Glastonbury, Green Man & Kendal Calling. Andy Howells recently spoke to the duo.
Rews Play Cardiff on February 22
How did you first start out in music?
We both started out as kids actually!
Shauna – I came from a musical family so was singing and making songs for as long as I remember!! My first band though was a metal band called Hastur when I was 13!
Collette- likewise, it started as a kid for me, singing in church and in plays in my home town, then when I was 13 my school got its first drumkit and I fell in love!! Similar to Shauna, my first band was a post hardcore band called ‘Shotgun Sunrise’, I came up with the name after listening to too much Bullet for my Valentine! Haha.
Who or what has inspired you most on your musical journey?
Shauna – I’ve had many different things and people who have inspired me on this journey! One important one is an awesome woman called – Julianne Heaney she was a friend & band mate of my mums when I was growing up – everything about her really inspired me! She was a rock chick, free spirit and a really kind / deep soul! I used to listen to her band and sing into the mirror pretending to be in a rock band singing like her!! I just loved her vibe & her caring attitude! I also found the last St.Vincent concert absolutely god smackingly fab!!! She’s a queen!
Collette- Great question! Firstly, my dad for giving me my earliest influence of music in the car on family road trips, playing the likes of Rancid, Fleetwood Mac and The Sex Pistols! As a figure in music, I’ve always respected Annie Lennox for being a strong and successful female role model.
Can you give us some background about your latest release?
Shauna – Miss You In The Dark was our latest release! It was written about that feeling you get when you realise you have overcome something / someone that you thought you needed in life but they were actually a bad thing.
Collette- it was a track filled with emotion in the performance and video, we really tried to embody the angst/passion/and relief portrayed in the song and feel the video illustrates the words.
You’re touring shortly are you looking forward to that?
We honestly CANT WAIT! This will be our first headline tour as Rews so we are over the moon & cant wait to see more of the UK! 🙂
What can people expect from your forthcoming Cardiff gig?
People should expect their faces to melt with joy and full on RAWK!! Haha! And there might be a few melodies stuck in heads! We just want people to come and have fun / make new friends!! 🙂
What are you enjoying listening to at the moment?
Shauna – we do listen to a lot of different things! At the moment I’m listening a lot to old school Korn, Death from above 1979 & the Garbage new album!
Collette- I’m listening to the new Vex Red single, Avenged Sevenfold (saw them at the o2 this month with Disturbed, amazing gig!!) and some Ludivico Einaudi for chill time.
What else have you got planned for the rest of the year?
We will be writing, recording, gigging and getting our debut album on the way!! Really excited to get the ball rolling & it all into action!
Stay in touch with Rews online:
- Soundcloud.com/rewsmusic
- YouTube.com/Rewsmusic
- Facebook.com/wearerewsmusic