IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Larkins
If there’s a question to ask yourself right now, it should be, “Am I listening to Larkins yet?” Larkins, formed and based in Manchester, England, features the musical talents and charisma of Josh Noble (vocals, guitar), Dom Want (guitar), Henry Beach (bass), and Joe Gaskell (drums). They self-released their debut EP, Don’t Leave the Light On, on February 20, 2016. Since then, they put out their TV Dream EP in 2019, followed by Hit and Run (both via Good Soldier Records). Most recently, April 27 marked the release of their new single, “Are We Having Any Fun Yet” (also via Good Soldier Records). They have sold out numerous shows in the UK, and are yet to perform a first show in NYC.
Taking a break from music, Dom generously elaborated elaborate on the beginnings of Larkins, tour essentials, and what you’d expect if there were a “Larkins” pizza.
Photo used with permission from Larkins
What’s the story behind the formation of Larkins?
Josh and I [Dom-guitarist] started by playing small acoustic covers in high school. We’d play mainly folk music from bands like Simon and Garfunkel and Elbow. When we transitioned up to sixth-form college, we decided to start a band with a couple of other lads. We only intended to play one show, but here we are.
What was the first instrument (musical or non-musical) you started making music with?
There were always guitars lying ‘round the house, and some of my earliest memories are of me pretending I can play a guitar and begging my mum and dad to let me have lessons.
Which song (released or unreleased) are you most proud of?
I’m proud of every track, but I think “TV Dream” was the one that started everything for us, so I’m particularly proud of that one. That one took so long to get right and from that release, everything has got so much bigger.
You released your sophomore EP, Hit and Run, on February 14, 2020. What was the process of writing, recording, and producing it?
It’s kinda an amalgamation of a few different processes. We never went into the studio for a length of time to record that EP. We worked with Dan Nigro in L.A on “Flood” and “Make You Better,” and I think that has definitely influenced the sound of those two in particular. “Pieces” and “Hit and Run” were produced by Chris Zane and Mark Crew in London, and are tracks that we’ve had in the set for much longer than the other two. “Hit and Run” was actually our first single a few years ago, and we completely worked it for this EP.
While on the road, what are some of your essential tour items?
We all take our Chilly’s water bottles everywhere. Headphones are massively important—you can’t always get your own space, so noise cancelling headphones are vital. Phones, obviously. We try and take a mini recording rig around with us so we can demo on the road.
What are you currently listening to?
There’s so many unreal artists at the minute. Bon Iver is a constant. Khalid’s latest album is cool. Whitney are really vibey.
What’s your favorite food and/or restaurant in NYC?
We actually only spent one night in NYC as we had to rush home because of the coronavirus, so our tour got cut short:(. We went to Blue Ribbon Chicken, and it was fcking awesome.
If there were a pizza with the name “Larkins,” what toppings would it feature?
Chicken, mushroom, peppers, calabrese sausage.
Who’s your favorite superhero character, and why?
To watch, it’s gotta be Batman, I love that it’s not all just ‘the good guy wins, the end.’ There’s still an element of loss. To be, it’s gotta be either Captain Marvel or Thor. Maybe Thor wins by a hair because we’re both blonde.
A huge thank you goes out to Dom and Larkins for sharing some of their time and thought to respond to the questions, and to Sarah for coordinating!
Stay tuned for updates from Larkins by following them on Twitter (@larkins) and Instagram (@larkinsband), and liking them on Facebook (/LarkinsBand)!