Photo Credit: PEROU
From support shows with Stereophonics and Manic Street Preachers, to millions of Spotify streams and high praise from critics and fans alike, heavy indie-rock band HIMALAYAS are preparing for world domination with their debut album From Hell To Here. We caught up with lead guitarist/co-songwriter Mike Griffiths to discuss the band’s formation, influences, ambitions and more.
Firstly, tell us a bit about yourself and your band.
I’m Mike and I’m the lead guitarist and co-songwriter for HIMALAYAS. We are a heavy indie-rock band from Cardiff and we’ve just released our debut album From Hell To Here.
How did the band form and how long have you been together?
Joe (Williams, lead vocals) and I spent a few years writing and performing together, before forming HIMALAYAS around 2015 with James (Goulbourn, drums) who we knew from high school and Louis (Heaps, bass) who worked with James at the time.
Can you remember the first time you realised you wanted to make music?
I’ve wanted to make music since first hearing The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper as a young child.
Who and what are the band’s main influences?
Some of our main influences include Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys and Iggy Pop.
What do you aim to achieve as a band?
As a band we don’t aim for anything, this is purely a random act of violence on people’s ears.
For those who are yet to see you live, what can they expect from a HIMALAYAS show?
Those who are yet to see a HIMALAYAS live show can expect a big sound, massive hooks and some serious hip shaking.
What’s next for HIMALAYAS?
Next for HIMALAYAS is world domination or world domination, or possibly a combination of the two.
HIMALAYAS‘ debut album From Hell To Here is out now via Nettwerk Music Group, available to stream or purchase HERE.
See HIMALAYAS live at Reading & Leeds Festival and Mad Cool Festival this summer.
