Alternative rock quartet Led By Lanterns want to make a difference – and not just with their music. While the band’s striking debut album Paralysis explores mental health and its many forms, Led By Lanterns also launched The Lanterns Alliance, a safe space for their fans to share experiences and bond over their music. We caught up with vocalist Shaun Hill to find out more about The Alliance, the band’s formation, influences, ambitions and more.
Firstly, tell us a bit about yourself and your band.
Hey I’m Shaun, I sing for the band Led By Lanterns. I share the band with three of my close friends, Chris, Snake and Rob. Our music lyrically addresses mental health with heavy riffs and melodic choruses.
How did the band form and how long have you been together?
We actually first got together way back in 2014 when I joined as a bassist. We used to live in a disused college where we wrote our first EP. After that our singer and drummer took on different commitments, leaving Chris and I. Building the band from the ground up felt so daunting we even considered calling it a day, but we were working on a song called Alive and we couldn’t let it go. We teamed up with Snake (on drums) and Rob (on bass) and the responses we have had for all our singles have been incredible! We are so glad we didn’t throw it away.
Can you remember the first time you realised you wanted to make music?
I remember realising this when I first started playing guitar. I learnt my first four chords and kept trying to write choruses and recording them onto an old 8-track recorder. From there I joined different bands and wrote as much music as I could. There is no better feeling than listening to something taking shape.
Who and what are the band’s main influences?
Anything that hits hard, but also has huge catchy choruses. Some bands we love are I Prevail, Normandie, Don Broco and Bring Me The Horizon.
What do you aim to achieve as a band?
We’ve already started growing a community where our music bonds people and gives them a safe space to talk to each other and experience things together. Our aim is to grow this and try to make a difference in people’s lives through our music. We’ve created The Lanterns Alliance to really accelerate this concept and it’s becoming amazing. All the details are at LedByLanterns.com.
For those who are yet to see you live, what can they expect from a Led By Lanterns show?
A Led By Lanterns show is full to the brim with energy. Lots of movement, mosh pits and dancing. We love it. We hope to play as many shows as we can (COVID permitted) and for people to hear the album live and resonate with the meaning behind the lyrics.
What’s next for Led By Lanterns?
We are heading out on a UK headline tour on 15th April to promote the new album. Alongside that we are hoping to tour Europe again this year. We’re already working on new material, some of which we’re already sharing with The Lanterns Alliance. We also definitely want to record different versions of our favourite songs from Paralysis. Check our socials and our website and consider joining The Alliance for all the updates.
Led By Lanterns‘ debut album Paralysis is out now, available to stream or purchase HERE.
See Led By Lanterns live at one of the following dates:
April 2022
Fri 15th – BRISTOL – Rough Trade
Sat 16th – BIRMINGHAM – The Flapper
Sun 17th – LONDON – The Black Heart
Tue 19th – NEWCASTLE – Head Of Steam
Wed 20th – GLASGOW – Garage Attic
Thu 21st – MANCHESTER – Satan’s Hollow
Fri 22nd – LEEDS – The Key Club
