Electric Armageddon on bringing their new sound and energy to NUSU Sessions

With the lineup for NUSU Sessions now confirmed, Electric Armageddon cannot wait to share the stage with the other bands on the bill, as it will be their first time being part of the show. The band consists of bassist Rory, Eleanor on drums, guitarist Joe and Ollie on vocals as well as keys. Ollie laughed as he said that the band name was inspired by the song ‘Wars of Armageddon’ by Funkadelic, a funk rock band.

Ollie notes, “We’ve been working on a new lineup and style as we are heading in a new direction lately,” eager to share their cover material prepared for NUSU sessions. The band has also ventured into writing original material and plan on performing it in the near future. They look forward to bringing a lot of new ideas they’ve been trying out while also making it cohesive for their audience at NUSU sessions. 

The band describes their sound as playing with a variety of styles such as blues rock, jazz, funk, experimental rock and trip hop. Each member has their own taste of music from a wide selection of genres, contributing to the diverse selection of the band’s sound. Vocalist Ollie mentions that they are heavily inspired by the likes of Radiohead, Jimi Hendrix and Massive Attack as well as well known jazz musicians such as Miles Davis. 

When asked about the gig scene in Newcastle, the vocalist said, “From the gigs I’ve been to, it’s a really great scene! There’s a lot of unique material and bands in the North East.” The presence of a vibrant music culture in the North East has paved the way for increasing opportunities for student-led bands and solo acts over the past few years. 

Ollie was quick to note that the Doxology Presents music series, which is run by the music department at Newcastle University in collaboration with the Star & Shadow Cinema, is a great space for participation too. The tight knit community at Newcastle University as well as the wider live music circuit has given several up and coming bands the space to perform while also experimenting with their sound. 

Opportunities like NUSU sessions encourage young musicians to interact with each other while also giving them connections to foster outside of university through events such as open mics. Breaking into the industry might prove tough to begin with, however, it is important to take initiative and reach out to people as opportunities to connect with the music scene aren’t always presented directly. 

Ollie encourages younger musicians and novices to sign up for events like NUSU Sessions as it will present them with a platform to showcase their talents. He also adds that it’s important to “just have fun with it” when performing, and hopes to bring that same energy to the stage on 1st October.