Clearly understanding the mechanics of release management, and PR, local hardcore/shoegaze/indie act Trunk have worked logistical magic on the release of their debut EP ‘Tembo’. 

Following the recent release of their (90’s sounding guitar monstrosity) single ‘Save’, Trunk don’t just follow it up with a 1-2 combination through the quick release of second single ‘Blind Stare’; they instead deliver a knockout blow with the release of their full 5 track EP ‘Tembo’.  Have that Tyson Fury.

“I think what we really wanted to do” confirms one quarter of band (and frontman) Connor “was to release the Ep as quickly as we could.  Some of the release work has been a long time coming and once it was ready we wanted to get it straight out”.

“Yeah, I agree” adds Dylan “some of the songs were started three years ago, and went through a few changes as they were played live, but once we knew where we wanted the songs to be we moved quickly”.

Second single ‘Blind Stare’ finds Trunk moving into new, yet aligned, territory to ‘Save’, the strong guitar and effects work is still part of the overall sound of the band, but there’s a change of pace and an altogether different feel.  “I think this song developed the most” confirms Sam “Dylan’s style and Connor’s singing moved the song into a new space and we didn’t want to repeat ourselves across any of the EP so we wanted to make sure each part of the EP represented almost a different style, or influence, of the band.  When we get together and share our influences we all have different tastes and it’s important that comes across in our songs.  We’re much better together when we mix our influences.”

With a reputation as an intense, full-throttle, live act the band admit that the largest challenge with Tembo was how to capture their live sound – and energy – into a recording.  “We tried a few different ways” adds Joe “but what was most important was that we had a good time when we recorded.  We wanted to capture some of the late 80’s, early 90s, lo-fi sound but we didn’t want was to make it perfect we play with emotion and we wanted the emotion to come across.  In the end we ended up partly recording in a cupboard for the sound.  We just did what we felt was right.

Inspired by a combination of topics (“there’s lots going on in the EP from everything from helping yourself, to caring for others, to references to Fallout”- Connor), Tembo not only takes in different musical references, it also covers different cultural references – all whilst delivering a considerable music kick with guitar and effects bombast.

“’Shoot me to the sky’, ‘Mason Jar’ and ‘Fall’ all mix in with the two singles to deliver an EP we’re really happy with” confirms Jo as a sign off “Tembo is the combination of a lot of hard work, a lot of playing live, a lot of refining our songs and it gives us something we’re really proud of that show people where we are now.  And where we are now is where we want to be – it’s the start of something we all believe in”.

Trunk, the band who work out a lot behind the scenes so that when they land they’re ready to deliver.