Artist You Should Know: The Hunna
Interview & Words by Ally Fisher
With a rough and edgy alternative sound, UK-based band The Hunna is here to take the world by storm. Through consistent themes of good vibes, positivity and reckless abandon, the band has amassed an impressive following on social media in only a few short months of their career, and it’s no wonder why upon a first listen. Luckily, we were able to catch up with The Hunna and talk about their whirlwind start, their thriving career thus far as well as what to expect from the four U.K. natives inevitable successful future.
To start off, you guys have only been a band for a mere six months, officially forming this past October! Can you go into a bit of the backstory on the birth of The Hunna?
We all live very close to each other, we (Valentino and Bandana-Dan) met on a music course at college when we were 16/17 and started playing together in a band. Jermaine and Bandana have known each other since year 2 at school! IK we knew through friends. Jermaine and IK joined us about 3 years ago and it felt right from the start. Brothers from other mothers ever since!
Can you also explain what “The Hunna” means? Is it just a play on the slang terminology of “a hundred?”
We have a big hip-hop influence and we always say “1Hunna,” in terms of giving 100% in everything you do and staying true to yourself, which is our outlook and how we’ve got through a lot of shit to get here. We were stoned after a party that our boy Robbie Wibble threw in Bath, U.K. We ended up putting ‘the’ in front of it and thought it was bless.
Also with only two EPs released along with your new single, “You & Me,” you guys have managed to rank up an impressive following of 115,000 (combined respectively on Twitter and Facebook) in your short time as a band, something most bands only dream of achieving. How does that feel for you guys? Is it a bit surreal?
It’s absolutely insane! It’s really surreal. There’s so much [that’s] happened and happening that it’s hard to take in properly sometimes but when it hits you it’s incredible! It’s what we’ve worked hard for and we love meeting all of our fans. They’re 100. Without them, it wouldn’t be real.
You released your first EP, that contained your first single “Bonfire” last fall. Can you go into the recording process for the EP? Was it a collective band process or did you do it in separate sessions? Did you also record any other stuff while recording that EP?
Yeah, so we had been writing and writing for two years before release and have a whole Hunna bank of material. We worked with Tim Larcombe, who we love, and he totally got what our vision was so it was an amazing process to be part of as it was our first release. They were some of the first songs we wrote at home in Bandana’s room and then got together in the studio and developed the parts and then to Brighton Electric to record.
Can we expect a full-length anytime soon? Personally, I’m ecstatic for more content from you guys!
Yeah baby! Thank you! we are currently in the studio recording our debut album so there’s a Hunna storm coming.
A lot of your songs reflect on individuality, positivity and simply doing what you love, regardless of what people say. Would you say this a common moral that runs throughout the band? One that you hope reaches deep within your fans?
Absolutely… Give 100% to what you love the most. We’re no processed band; we’ve been working to be in this position since day 1. It has taken a lot to be here. Never stop and do what you love doing. Always.
Your sound is extremely reminiscent of the Arctic Monkeys, The Kooks, The Strokes and even the Sex Pistols. Would you say these are some bands that have influenced your style?
They are all real rad bands, but honestly we haven’t taken much influence from them. We listen to them, but we listen to loads of artists, regardless of the genre or age. Anything awesome is our influence.
Being based out of London, has the musical history, as well as the music aesthetic, of the city had an impact on the sound and style of The Hunna?
London is an amazing place especially musically. Lots of great venues and opportunity. So yeah in some ways, but the sound and style comes from so many different places and avenues.
What would you say is the collective long-term dream for The Hunna’s career?
To take over this world baby. Become the next biggest rock band that inspires people throughout the course of history. 100 UP!
