ANIIMALIA: Cloud Nine High
Imagine starting a band in the middle of a global pandemic, winning a competition with Kerrang! Radio, getting signed to Marshall Records, and opening a stage at Download Festival – sounds like you’re living the dream, right? Well, for Southwest alt-rockers ANIIMALIA, that’s their reality. But just how much of a whirlwind has it been?
“We haven’t had a moment to stop for the last three or four months, we’ve just been flat out doing things every weekend, every evening – we just haven’t had that moment yet to just slow down and realise what’s actually going on, and what’s happening with us,” beams bassist Max Reynolds, sweating in a boiler suit backstage at Download Festival 2022.
They’ve been fans of the festival for years, yet they’ve never stepped foot on the holy grounds of Donington Park before: until now. Opening up The Avalanche Stage is no mean feat, yet they roll onto stage like they’re the last band of the day. They coordinate outfits, they arrive one-by-one, and for a band who’ve been together for just two years, they kick it with confidence. So, just hours after running off stage, is this what living the dream looks like? “I’m still struggling to comprehend what happened, it still doesn’t feel real,” smiles Max, like a kid who’s got everything on their list for Christmas.
“It was honestly incredible, it’s the biggest show we’ve ever played, and it’s Download – it’s mental!” Gushes vocalist Kira Beckett, who shares her bandmates cloud nine high. “The reaction was so much more than we expected it to be, we’re just so excited and on such a complete high.”
Playing Download Festival is the cherry on top of the cake for ANIIMALIA. Two years ago they were talking about making music together, now they’re playing it to hundreds at the UK’s biggest rock and metal party. But this isn’t School Of Rock – life doesn’t just drop everything to live out your dreams, so what’s it really like juggling being in a signed band with making ends meet?
“We’ve dealt with it a lot, and in a lot of different ways. We all work full time jobs outside of what we do as a band, and with how busy we’ve been, it’s been like working two full time jobs,” Max says, before Kira adds, “I think we put the band first, because we really love what we do, obviously because we wouldn’t be here unless we really pushed for it. You have to make this sort of thing happen, it’s just one of those things.”
“Yeah, like taking sick days off work because you need to go and do something with the band,” smirks Max. “I would happily get fired if a big opportunity came along!”
ANIIMALIA might have a bucket list as long as Big Ben is tall, but they’re already scoring some stupidly big opportunities so early on in their career. Take signing for Marshall Records, home of chart-invading artists like NOVA TWINS and legends like THERAPY?, and getting to record an EP with producer Romesh Dodangoda, who’s worked with everyone from MOTÖRHEAD and METALLICA to BRING ME THE HORIZON, TWIN ATLANTIC, and, uh, BUSTED.
“It’s been incredible, everyone in the team is so down to earth, and they genuinely want to see you do well – they’ve supported us the whole way,” enthuses Kira, as if she wants to pinch herself to check it’s all real. “It’s something we would have never imagined so having it come, let alone at all, but so quickly and to have their support like this is absolutely insane.”
“And with Romesh, we’ve learnt a lot,” Max admits, covering all the bases of their fairytale journey so far. “Those four days spent in the studio with him, we learned a lot about the whole process. We’ve recorded tracks before, but to work with a producer who knows what he’s doing, and knows how to make you sound better than you through you ever could is really good.”
Marshall Records, and it’s association with Marshall Amplifications, is written into the annals of heavy metal’s hall of fame. Romesh has more number ones and bangers under his belt than we’ve had hot dinners. So, did they start to feel the heat in the kitchen as they cooked up their forthcoming EP Pressure Points, out August 19th?
“The songs were already written and ready to go, like we already had the EP before we knew we had to record it, because since this all kicked off, we haven’t had time to write more music,” Max admits, showing it all started with no pressure whatsoever, as Kira adds. “I think being in a comfortable environment, where Marshall and Kerrang! have been so kind and down to earth with us, it doesn’t put that sort of pressure on you, so right now we’re loving every second of it, and we’re gonna keep writing, keep aiming really high, and see what happens.”
And if you were wondering what you can expect from ANIIMALIA and Pressure Points, a good place to start your primer is with singles Silver Linings and Alien. Just don’t ask them – or us – to describe them, it’s nigh-on impossible. “I think that’s one of the hardest questions we always get,” Max admits. “They always ask ‘what do you sound like?’ I don’t know, listen to us and you’ll know.”
And that’s exactly what you should do. Their music is laced with liquid energy, a single listen feels like a shot of adrenaline to your soul. Who needs the gym when you get your dopamine listening to music, right? And they’re proud of that, as Kira explains. “We think it’s a really good thing. I think in this day and age being that little bit different, and keeping your options open when it comes to influences is a highlight for us, melding those ideas together and giving people something a little bit new to find in us that they might not find in another band.”
So, with Download Festival done and dusted and their EP about to drop in our ears, what’s next for ANIIMALIA? “After the EP, we really want to aim as high as possible. We’d love to headlines, and support some amazing artists,” beams Kira, as Max adds, “we’d like to be back on major festival bills next year, that’s the dream. After playing one major festival, we’ve not got a taste for it and I’m hungry for more.”
Pressure Points is out now via Marshall Records.
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