Hertfordshire band, The Hunna, performed at Brixton Academy in London last week finishing up the last few dates of their UK tour.
The quartet has had massive success over the last few years, performing at some of the UK’s biggest festivals and this year they’re back performing on the main stage at Reading and Leeds Festival 2019. Fans can expect to hear fan favourites ‘She’s Casual’, ‘Bonfire’ and ‘We Could Be’.
I chatted to lead singer Ryan Potter, lead guitarist Dan Dorney, bassist Junate Angin and drummer Jack Metcalfe backstage ahead of their show at Brixton Academy in London.
Can you tell me about your album ‘dare’?
R- It’s called ‘Dare’. It’s our second album! It was an album basically about everything that happened to us since we got signed, started touring and started this crazy journey. We called it ‘Dare’ because we thought it was quite a daring album
Since you released the album last year, do you have a different perspective on it? Are there certain songs that have become more important to you since its release or that you see differently?
Jack- There’s definitely not anything we didn’t want on the album or we wouldn’t have done it. We are definitely proud of what we do, whether it’s an old song or new song! Obviously, certain things you look at differently down the line and we’re playing a lot of songs from ‘Dare’ tonight and some old songs! We love them as much as we did when we recorded them. Sometimes songs can eventually mean different things for different people and they can also pick up new meanings down the line as well. We’re stoked on how it went and we’re happy on the release
What is the recording process like for you as a band?
Junate – Long hours, no sleep
Ryan – With ‘dare’ we literally recorded the whole album in two weeks, which is probably the quickest time for an album to be recorded
Junate – 10 songs, two weeks
Ryan – It’s a really special thing and it’s always really exciting to be in a studio and when you finally get the track down and see it evolve and then see the finished product. It’s always fun
What is your favourite track you’ve written?
Jack – that’s a tough one!
Ryan – yeah it’s really tough to pick!
Jack – Personally, I would still go with ‘Bad For You’ because we all love to play it
Junate – I would say the same! That’s definitely up there solid.
Ryan – Yeah I like ‘Bad For You’ and ‘Dare’. It means a lot to me
Three words to describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard you before?
Jack – turnt up rock
Tour essentials you can’t live without?
Junate – I’m gonna say Vaseline, very important for sure!
Ryan – Smokes
Dan – Tobacco, weed and fanta
what has been the strangest thing that’s ever happened at a gig?
Ryan- Strangest thing?
Junate – I mean there’s been a few
Jack – yeah I’m not sure if things would count as strange
Ryan – there’s been some crazy things that have happened like our gig like I haven’t seen weird shit but I’ve seen some bad shit, like people being carried out. There were these two girls at our show and they had a full-on fight
Dan- I remember that! it was absolutely crazy. They were front row so we saw it all. She got literally dragged out!
Jack – She was hit mid-song and we were all like woah, what just happened? It was a uni venue where everyone was definitely drinking
What has the fan reaction been like at live shows?
Ryan – absolutely amazing
Dan – word for word every song!
Ryan – from 100 songs to dare songs, it’s just been word for word. Absolutely amazing! Everyone is just ready to go. Seeing everyone have fun and forget whatever shit is going on because that’s what music is about
Getting where you are today, what has been the biggest challenge that you had?
Dan – being signed to a really shitty record label and trying to take them down
Junate – yeah that’s definitely been one of the biggest challenges
Who has the worst habits?
Junate – Depends on what habit
Dan – yeah I think we all have some annoying habits
Jack- I’m very forgetful! Especially on tour!
Ryan- yeah Jack is probably the worst for that! He forgot his passport once but he’s never done it again so maybe he’s improving.
Dan – you have got better
Jack – I’m improving for sure
What would be the theme song of your life?
Ryan – that’s really hard because there’s good moments and shit moments.
Jack – Bohemian Rhapsody for me! just because it’s the childhood sort of band and I grew up hearing it in the house and when Freddie sings “Nothing really matters to me” and I’m very laid back and nothing really gets to me so I think that would be the theme song of my life
Ryan – Mötley Crüe ‘Girls Girls Girls’ because I love girls and there’s always girls when you’re in a band
Dan – Nuff said! This is really hard to answer! I’ll go for what Jack said not Queen but my childhood band would be ACDC and the song would be ‘highway to hell’.
Junate – I’m gonna say ‘Bad’ by Michael Jackson
What’s next for The Hunna?
Junate – More shows, European tour, a little break and then some festivals like Reading and Leeds which we’re super excited for as we’re gonna be on the main stage! We are also hoping to tour in the states this year
You can catch The Hunna on tour here: thehunna.com
