Interview: Lake Malice @ Misery Loves Company
Lake Malice by Pearl Cook
We love, and will never pass up, any opportunity to chat to our friends Lake Malice. While I hate to use the phrase “goes from strength-to-strength” to explain anything a band is doing, but how else do you describe the kind of momentum this Brighton-based duo has?
Releasing banger after banger single, supporting big names in the scene - As Everything Unfolds, Bloodywood, Skindred, Vukovi, Vended and Enter Shikari - and then, the announcement we’ve all been waiting for: headline shows in the UK and EU, and a debut EP. All this year.
So at the end of a very full day at MLC, we caught up with guitarist/composer Blake Cornwall and Italian-born vocalist Alice Guala about their upcoming EP, stunning videos, and all the exciting things ahead.
We haven't seen you in a few months, and it’s been a far from quiet few months right?
Alice: It's been nuts. It was crazy, been really intense.
Blake: Was it 2000 Trees we last caught up? To be fair, that was when things got a little bit quieter. But it still felt intense. We were probably needing that break, because we'd done loads of tours and festivals before that. And we’ve done a couple of shows since then.
Alice: Yeah, it was the quiet before the storm. We were getting ready to release some stuff and announced some things. There’s been a lot of work behind the scenes, definitely. Still very intense from our end, but you can't see that from the outside.
Blake: Might see our eyes twitching.
Alice: Always grinding.
And now the EP is announced!
Alice: Yes, that’s out. Out in the wild.
Blake: It’s something we've been talking about for a while, isn't it? We've always wanted to get ahead on writing and felt like, because we’ve been so busy that we maybe haven't put as much time into the writing side of things as we wanted to. We're just so happy we can finally put something like this out. At first I was frustrated that we hadn’t put something out sooner, but I'm actually really happy that it's coming out now.
We've got songs on there that have been written over the last couple of years. I feel like those songs together make a really good offer; a collection, you know, a body of work for someone to sit down and listen to. It’s not a short EP - it’s six tracks, all mixed by Carl Bown who’s also mixed Sleep Tokens latest record, he works with While She Sleeps. He’s really taken it to another level sonically. So him, combined with that mix of the tracks we’ve been writing, I think it makes up something that I’m really proud of. I think it’ll be a nice thing that you can sit down to and just take in…the malice! Take it all in!
Alice: He's delirious.
Post-Genesis EP cover art
And it's not just a digital release. It's a physical release! And in vinyl!
Alice: It looks insane. The support that we've got behind our back is incredible. Our management has been really really helpful in getting everything that we needed for this. The physical product wasn't something that we expected to do at all this year. It's a kind of a surprise. We haven't known this for a long time but when we did know it felt quite surreal to know that it was going to be a physical thing that you can actually have.
My question is, to myself and to Thom, will it be number 300 in the collection?
Alice: You have a collection? Do you put some of them on the wall?
They’re on a shelf. You know, it's not that many. It’s one and a half shelves.
Alice: It feels like a lot!
Blake: Space for at least a couple of 100 more.
We keep it all in a spreadsheet. Because I can’t remember anything.
Alice: Of course you do.
Blake: Got to catalog it.
Alice: I love spreadsheets. I am a spread-sheeter. Spread shit?
Blake: You are a spreadsheet.
Alice: I love spreading shit.
Blake: Alice 2023: “I am a spreadsheet”. That's the press quote.
Alice: Our target demographic will be like, sad people in offices in their 30s. Like us!
Blake: That is actually us to be fair.
And you’ve got a headline show coming up this autumn!
Alice: Yes, that's a huge milestone for us. We couldn't wait to do something like that. We’ve never had a space or the chance to actually see who our fans are. We've been supporting other bands so far and doing festivals. And that’s really fulfilling. But having your own show is just something else. It's like another level. It's a validation as well, you know those people are there for you. I'm looking forward to that.
Blake: It feels like a moment for us, that solidifies us as a band. We still feel like a new band. And playing the support shows is amazing. We've had some incredible experiences and we're so lucky. But they are still ultimately another bands' core fans. To have our own fans that are willing to pay money, just to come see us especially, it's going to be such a special moment to share with them. I can't wait to just make that show the best it can be. It'll be wild.
Alice: We want to put some special treats into that show, definitely. New songs maybe? And some stupid stuff hopefully?
So we got to see you play here today at Misery Loves Company. It was great, and it felt a little different than when we last saw you. Do you think things are changing over time? Do you think it’s that there’s something different just in the expansive tent versus the compact venue space?
Blake: I think it feels wildly different when you play in such a smaller, sort of intimate venue compared to the festival type setups. At a festival, there's a lot of space between you and the people you're playing to. It’s a bit harder to connect. And also, it's such an unpredictable sound environment. From the stage, you're not always sure if it's connecting or not. But playing an intimate venue like this one today, it feels like no matter where you stand you're getting the same experience. It just feels easier to connect with people. It’s always a bit chaotic.
Alice: It always depends on how you'll feel on the day when you're playing the show as well. You can't be at 100% every time you play a show. And I felt more confident today for some reason. Sometimes that confidence translates into getting people more involved and engaging them to be more on your wavelength when your energy level is high. And I think that affects the way you perform as well. It's a mix of both those two things, I felt really good today.
Blake: A big part of it, I reckon, when you play you try to provide as much energy as you can, inject as much into performance as you can. And if you see that being given back to you, it escalates and it feels like there’s a bit of momentum behind it. But there’s so much to love about each type of show.
Well you were very commanding today, and a very engaged bunch moshing and crowd surfing. So next, you’ve got some more very busy months, big tour coming. You doing okay? I mean that’s really exciting!
Blake: We’re both working full time jobs, so we’re just like, this is fine! This is all fine!
Alice: That’s the thing that kills us, just trying to do everything all at the same time. Launching the EP on the day was a challenge. But yeah, we're doing fine. This is going to be a couple of busy months - the EP launch, there’s another track that’s going to be released that I'm super keen on just getting out there in the world. I'm still looking at how people are reacting to this song, the new one “Mitsuko”. It's been out for a few days and we've seen crazy responses of support, like Spotify. That’s a first for us which has been a massive achievement. But also just witnessing the whole process and at the same time planning.
With “Mitsuko”, you have another….I’ll say, “terrifyingly beautiful” video. Where does the inspiration come?
Alice: Our brains.
Blake: I'm really glad that it comes across that way. A lot of the credit is owed to the person we work with who shoots the film's, Loki Films.
Alice: Oh, my God. He's got such a good way to work with bands that have a low budget, and he is able to bring to life your ideas and help you achieve that. It's a pleasure to work with him. But it's not something that lots of people will do when you're on a low budget, when you're a small artist. Sometimes people just can't afford to do whatever they want to do. So we have constraints when working with him. But he is so passionate about his job that it makes it so much easier to bring together the idea. Even just suggestions on where to find locations or props. It's a whole different experience when you don't have a director and you don't have a whole support crew for a video shoot. It makes a difference to work with him and I think that's why the videos come out so well. He's an absolute legend.
Blake: I’m really excited for you to see the video for “Mitsuko”. I think that's my favourite video we've done so far.
I did see Alice on Facebook asking for a certain kind of table….
Blake: I think, ultimately, we try to think of things which aren't going to be really hard to pull off, so relatively practical things.
Alice: We try to think simple, but also…creepy.
Blake: We both love horror.
Alice: And that’s why we sleep awfully. But it goes with the song as well. It's such an angry song, we had to represent something really angry with it. So there's a post-mortem table involved that we found through a catering company. It’s a cooking table!
Blake: We did initially ask if there was any morgue tables going, but they were all needed.
Alice: I put a message on a few local Facebook groups asking about this table. And the people and the comments, oh my god. Somebody suggested to die. They said, try and die and then you can steal a table. Solid plan.
Blake: The only times you've been on Facebook groups to ask for stuff was when you needed a chainsaw and the morgue table.
Alice: I know! My history doesn't look great on Facebook groups right now. I always put a disclaimer! People are always judging.
Last question I have for you tonight, if you could listen to any song in the whole world again for the first time, what would that song be?
Alice: To me, it will be “Numb” by Linkin Park. The first time I heard that song, I was watching MTV and I saw the video and I felt…goosebumps, honestly. That band changed my life. That one for sure.
Blake: So hard to choose one song isn't it? You just made me only think of Linkin Park songs now. So I guess right now?
Alice: Don’t copy me!
Blake: Hybrid Theory, the whole album. “One Step Closer”? It's so hard. There's so many songs I could choose. All music for the first time again. Screw your rules!
Thanks as always to Lake Malice to taking time to chat with us. Pre-save the debut EP, Post-Genesis, pre-order the limited run 12" vinyl with etched b-side with hand signed artwork prints (yes of course we already did) and catch Lake Malice on tour:
30.10 COPENHAGEN, DK - VEGA (w/ Enter Shikari)
31.10 MALMO, SE – PLAN B (w/ Enter Shikari)
02.11 WARSAW, PL – PROGRESJA (w/ Enter Shikari)
03.11 PRAGUE, CZ – SASAZU (w/ Enter Shikari)
04.11 MILAN, IT – ALCATRAZ (w/ Enter Shikari)
05.11 RONCADE (TV), IT – NEW AGE (w/ Enter Shikari)
07.11 VIENNA, AT – SIMM CITY (w/ Enter Shikari)
09.11 BUCHAREST, RO – ARENELE ROMANELE (w/ Enter Shikari)
10.11 BUDAPEST, HU – BARBA NEGRA (w/ Enter Shikari)
11.11 BRATISLAVA, SK – MAJESTIC MUSIC CLUB (w/ Enter Shikari)
13.11 BELGRADE, RS – DOM OMLADINE (w/ Enter Shikari)
14.11 ZAGREB, HR – TVORNICA CULTURE (w/ Enter Shikari)
16.11 SOFIA, BG – MIXTAPE 5 (w/ Enter Shikari)
18.11 ATHENS, GR – GAGARIN 205 (w/ Enter Shikari)
19.11 THESSALONIKI, GR – PRINCIPAL CLUB THEATER (w/ Enter Shikari)
22.11 SOLOTHURN, CH - KOFMEHL RAUMBAR (headline)
23.11 MUNICH, DE - STROM (headline)
24.11 COLOGNE, DE - BLUE SHELL (headline)
25.11 HANNOVER, DE - CHÉZ HEINZ (headline)
06.12 LONDON, UK - THE BLACK HEART (headline)
