Luna Reign
Honesty In Its Pure Essence

16.04.2018

This mysterious project introduces itself as “No. 1 alternative gothic darkwave rock/metal band from the UK”, refers to а Muse, Radiohead, The Sisters Of Mercy, Metallica and Ghost as influences and claims that “Luna Reign is more than music, it’s something you experience”. In a relatively brief period of its existence (Luna Reign started its musical activities in 2010), they have already produced six albums, and the seventh one is currently in the making. In our opinion, this makes enough reasons to be curious about the band, and its mastermind, who does not reveal his real name, luckily agreed to help us provide you with a better introduction to the world of Luna Reign.

How can I address you?

My Name is Luna Reign. (smiles)

There is not much information about you on the web, please tell us about the formation of Luna Reign as a musical project.

I was originally in a punk metal band project, but have always been in, and loved the gothic scene. So I started to write some gothic based songs and fell in love with everything about them, and wanted to do gothic influenced music full time. Just to see if it would work, I made a video from an old song I wrote called “Rain” which is still on Youtube now, and it all went very well. So still in the metal band I wrote a full gothic album which became Luna Reign's first album “Electric Ghost” (2010). But in truth, the “In Love And Silent Screams” album (2011) is the first true Luna Reign album as it was written under the Luna Reign name.

And how did the name Luna Reign emerge?

We were driving back from a club one night and it was a full moon. I wanted a new musical birth for the album “Electric Ghost”. We tried Luna Rain, but I thought it was too obvious and lacked depth and power. So in my thought process, I thought of the band Queen and took the royal aspect of “Reign”. And thus, Luna Reign was born, in celebration of the majesty of the moon.

At what age did you start playing music? What instruments do you like to play, and is there any favorite among them?

I started playing piano (on and off) at 9 years old, than I got a bass guitar at 14 years old, then picked up guitar at 18. I went from no strings, to 4 strings, then 5, then 6 strings with guitar. The guitar is by far the best and most creative instrument, so many sounds and feelings can be produced. I also love the violin, cello, oboe and clarinet.

How popular are you at home?

I am a local celebrity, but the gothic/alternative scene here is pretty weak, as we are in a rural area. Your average venue wants pub bands that play the classics for 3 hours a night, and Luna Reign is not a human juke box. My true fan base is world wide, and I love each and every one of them.

So do you have many fans around the world?

Yes, we have many fans that span the globe. We have great followings in South America, Europe, Australia, Russia, the UK and America. But the key is to show our music to as many people as possible, worldwide.

We can say that the style of Luna Reign varies within the framework of gothic rock / gothic metal. And how do you characterize your musical direction?

I start with gothic, but I mix all my favourite styles of music into it. I love Rock, alternative, indie, jazz, metal, classical, black metal and much more. People have called me gothic, electro, and many other things, but people can put me in any label they wish, I'm easy like that. If the music feels powerful and touches the soul, then I'm happy. Briefly.

As far as we know, at the moment you have seven full-length albums recorded. How much time on the average do you need to create an album?

A 10-track album takes about 1 year to complete. The latest album to be released, “Black Mass”,' is 13 tracks and took another 6 months on top of that. So its a very long process. You can’t force songs to appear, you have to wait for them.

Speaking about "Black Mass", could you lift the veil of secrecy around it? What will it be like, how is it different from the already released records?

The idea for “Black Mass” was to make the biggest full album that I have ever made. Lots of orchestral maneuvers linking the songs into a huge experience, a mass of black. “Black Mass” as in space time, astrophysics sense, which can also cross to the occultic ritual context, for fun. The 13 songs that make “Black Mass” are deep emotional, power house, rock songs, laced with big riffs, catchy choruses and social taboo/dangerous venturing lyrics. Which explore the human soul, its place in the universe and various western society coping methods to deal with the grind, and ever piled financial pressures of modern society.

Where do you get inspiration for lyrics from?

My lyrics come from life experiences of myself or those whom I observe around me. With Luna Reign music, I can challenge and say things that nobody dares to say. Things that need to be said, to be challenged and perhaps find a resolution, through exposure. To perhaps gain a sense of freedom through sonic musical exorcism.

When are you planning to release "Black Mass"?

We are looking at June time.

What about live activity? Do you plan to visit other countries in the near future?

When we have an even stronger following, we are looking at touring the world. That’s the grand plan. We have played many UK gigs and recently in the Netherlands too.

What has been your most interesting tour? Tell us what was especially memorable on this tour.

So many crazy tour stories, involving haunted abandoned prisons and churches. Falling in rivers. Getting stuck up medieval towers and exploding equipment. Playing festivals is always fun, with the whole hippy festival vibe, then I come on and destroy everything, with sonic, cut right to the bone, social satire.

Is Russia included in these grandiose plans?

I would love to perform in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, but it is still in the planning and finance phase.

Which country would you like to visit as a tourist?

I have always wanted to visit Russia, there are so many amazing cultural places to see, such as St. Basil's Cathedral, Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Red Square, The State Museum St. Isaac's Cathedral, Bridge to Russky Island and many more. I love experiencing other countries’ cultures and identities. I believe that it is our differences that should be celebrated and experienced. A country’s national and social identity, should be cherished and enjoyed to truly understand the different people and their ways of life. Which will, in turn, give us a greater sense of humanity and compassion on a planetary level.

Have you heard any gothic bands from Russia?

l know quite a few bands that stretch from alternative to gothic and more. Such as Luna Aeterna, DoppelgangeR, Echo Of Silence, Kit-l, Tonecandle and Lucidvox. They are all great bands, with their own unique sounds. And it is always fun to see another country’s take on the beauty and grace that is alternative gothic music. A true view into a country’s humanity.

Would you like to play with any other bands? If so with which?

I would like to tour with Placebo, Alice Cooper, Hollywood Vampires, Ghost, Sisters Of Mercy, and every gothic band on the planet!

What other creative plans do you have for the future?

I currently plan on creating some new videos for the “Black Mass” album, and previous released albums. I am arranging more live shows and getting a new light rig and stage props to accompany the new live show. I also have new ideas forming for the next album.

As you know, questions from the "personal" column are always the most popular, especially when it comes to popular creative personality. Tell us about your strong and weak traits?

I am very shy and introverted, yet stubborn perfectionist and very protective, to the point of paranoia, when it comes to my music. I go through so many extreme levels of emotion, every day, and try to capture it in my music. The Luna Reign song “Luna Eclipse”' captures the whole thing beautifully. Calm soul searching which crashes down into giant sonic over load. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaPofL161aI) I am kind with great empathy for others.

 How do you spend your free time? What do you prefer to do outside the studio?

I am a deep thinker, sometimes to my own detriment. I am currently reading through as many classical literature novels that I can. At the moment, I am reading Leo Tolstoy's “War And Peace”. Which is a mammoth of a book, full of great detailed descriptions of human behaviour during war time against Napoleon in and around 1805. I also love Sherlock Holmes and Charles Dickens. Generally, I am always on the lookout for the next big chorus and riff for the next song or album. I love visiting museums and anything to do with history. I also love science and I am currently studying the marriage of quantum and astrophysics, and my conceptual theory that our whole universe is merely an atom of a much larger being. I occasionally do 3D tech drawings for fun.

How can we get your merch and what is on sale?

Just go to https://lunareign.bandcamp.com/merch. All CD albums will be available, plus we have proper 'Screen print' T-shirts of various sizes and black beanie hats, all with the Luna Reign logo. I plan on putting up more fun merch soon, wrist bands etc.

Thank you for agreeing to this interview! Could you say a couple of final words for your Russian fans?

My fans from around the world have told me many reasons why they connect with Luna Reign music. Some say it's the honesty of the lyrics, with can be poetic and graceful, yet hard and aggressive in subject matter. Exploring places in the human psyche that few dare wander. Others say that it is the power and emotional strength of the music itself. Smooth lead guitars, heavy but controlled rhythm guitars, deep earth moving bass, with soaring orchestral maneuvers wrapped in a gentle, cryptic vocal. I have found that most of my fans love it all, the whole mixture of elements. Which of course makes the best potions. I just love gothic music deep in my soul. For me, gothic music and life style, holds so many things for me. It's beauty, passion, seductive, purity of form, movement and expression. It's honesty in pure essence, and that is what I try to honour with my music.

Luna Reign on the Internet: http://lunareign.co.uk/

Interview by Irina Lastovenko
Photos courtesy of the Luna Reign Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/LunaReignGothic/)
April 4, 2018
(с) HeadBanger.ru