Essex-based rock four-piece Palps have released Love, Always, the new single from their forthcoming album Black Heart. We asked front man Alex Gray the BIG questions . . .
The album sees the band turn their eight-track album into a harrowing eight-chapter short story which uses their music videos to highlight the daily struggles of someone navigating their poor mental health and how it affects not only them but those around them.
Speaking about the album as a whole, Alex says, "Black Heart at its core is about how traumatic events and mental health struggles can leave you hardened, no longer able to express love in the same way that you used to and can often lead to you hurting those closest to you, without you even realising."
Tell us three things about yourself?
As well as being in Palps, I'm also a huge boxing fan. I go to a class two to three times a week and am hoping to fight again this year if I can get enough time to train properly!
I'm totally obsessed with Halloween and all things horror. Pre-covid, I would volunteer at a scare maze every October.
I also host a podcast called Gray Tales where we cover a variety of spooky paranormal topics!
How would you describe your music?
I would describe our music as being inspired by late 90's/early 2000's emo and alternative rock bands. What makes us different is that we all listen to very different styles of music. For example, our drummer Hayden is into much heavier music than I am, so I may come to band practice with an emo inspired riff and he will play something completely different to what I had in mind. Which actually often makes the songs much more interesting!
Who are your musical inspirations?
In terms of the band, I would say bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, The Promise Ring, Knapsack, Citizen and Basement. Personally, growing up I always loved how Ben Folds and Rivers Cuomo of Weezer would sing, I think that really shows in my voice now.
What was the first gig you ever went to and the first record you ever bought/downloaded?
My first proper gig was Green Day at Milton Keynes Bowl. It was an absolutely unbelievable experience, and I was so rock `n' roll back then that I had a packed lunch with me.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Julia Nunes - No Sudden Moves. Julia Nunes was an artist doing mostly covers that I followed in the early days of YouTube. I recently rediscovered her page after many years and found she now makes incredible original music. No Sudden Moves is an incredibly moody and atmospheric song which I would recommend to anyone looking for something new and different to listen to.
Favourite lyric of all time?
This is a hard one, but off the top of my head it would be Bible Belt by Dry The River: "Cause we've been through worse than this before we could talk, The trick of it is, don't be afraid anymore".
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Daft Punk - Digital Love. By far my favourite song of all time!
Where can people find more information about Palps?
Our website, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, YouTube.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, please see RTÉ's list of helplines.
