Sporting a rather unfortunate name, The Coronas have recently been labelled "Ireland’s most famous contemporary pop act right now". With a spike in media interest surrounding their title, a recent song release with Gabrielle Aplin, and an upcoming album on 31st July - I caught up with Danny from the band to ask some further questions.

Over the years The Coronas have played alongside some of the biggest names in the industry, opening up to huge audiences around the world. They've also sold-out many of their own headline shows into the tens of thousands, and been regulars in the Irish Charts.

Your band name ‘The Coronas’ has obviously been a massive talking point over the last few months. Although a sensitive matter for some, do you think the rather unfortunate name might have become a kind of blessing in disguise recently?

I’m really unsure about this to be honest. It definitely doesn’t seem like it’s had a negative affect so far. I think if it was a band I already liked it wouldn’t make any difference good or bad. As for new gaining (or not gaining) new fans, we’ll have to wait and see. Like a lot of things in the world at the moment, there’s still a lot of uncertainty around things like that.

Following on from the last question, where did the band name idea originate from?

We’re named after an old typewriter from the movie Almost Famous. We loved that movie and it came out as we were getting into music. There’s an old typewriter in the movie called a Corona Smith Delux.

Marking a new era for the band, your latest album ‘True Love Waits’ is set to be released as a trio at the end of July. Has this move felt like a major transition in terms of your music and performances?

Definitely, the making of the album was different. And I think the change of dynamic was good for us. It felt like a different album as soon as we started recording. And I’m glad that Dave played on it a bit as well. As for touring as a three-piece, we haven’t had a chance to tour yet because of everything that’s going on. But we’re looking forward to it. Even slight changes like how we set up on stage will make it feel different, although I imagine we’ll have a session musician playing guitar when we get back to touring.

Your upcoming album also features a song with Gabrielle Aplin called ‘Lost in The Thick of It’. How did this collaboration come about?

Gabrielle is a friend of ours and I visited her and her fiancé, Alfie’s house in Brighton last summer to hang out. Alfie’s in an amazing band called Hudson-Taylor and is a great songwriter in his own right. The three of us came up with the song very organically that weekend, and I thought it sounded great with Gabs voice so I asked her if she would feature on the album. Thankfully she was up for it and she did a great job.

You’ve played at many notable large shows over the years, alongside some huge names. Which is your most memorable gig or performance to date?

When we headlined Kilmainham in our hometown of Dublin and sold it out to 15,000 people it was pretty amazing. We’ve been lucky enough to have had many memorable gigs in Ireland and abroad but that one definitely stands out as a highlight.

Are there any other artists you would like to collaborate with?

We collaborate with our mates all the time. Ryan and Jimmy from Picture This, Cian from True Tides, and Lar from All Tvvins all co-wrote songs with me on True Love Waits. It’s great working with people you’re mates with already. If we could pick any dream collaboration though I’d probably pick someone like Lana Del Rey.

Who are your main influences as a band?

The Beatles, Radiohead, Fleetwood Mac, The Frames, Bellx1, The National, Coldplay, Arcade Fire, and many more.

As lockdown eases have you got any events and tours planned?

Yeah our album is coming out on July 31st, so we’ve been planning loads of different ways we can promote it without being able to tour. Online gigs, possibly a socially distancing gig launch, and then we hope to be back gigging property before the end of the year but who knows.

Are there any specific festivals you would like to play at?

Yes, Coachella, Glastonbury. Can you get us in next summer?!

Have you got a message for your fans and followers?

Hello ?? We’re releasing a brand new album True Love Waits on July 31st, and we’re very proud of it and we think you’ll like it. Please pre save/pre order it or even better please buy a physical bundle including vinyl T-shirt’s etc from our website TheCoronas.net ?

Thanks again to The Coronas - all the best for the future!

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Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and Managing Director of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.