Seven Questions With Calva Louise

Calva Louise have been making waves since 2016 on the UK alternative rock scene. From performing at the BBC introducing stage at Reading and Leeds (2021) to support slots of a lifetime such as Albert Hammond Jr. and Boston Manor, their career has hit a litany of highs in less than a decade.

Currently, they are touring late 2023 album ‘Over The Threshold’, and teasing their next album 'Edge Of The Abyss' due out mid-July.

Bassist Alizon Taho and drummer Ben Parker discuss upcoming fourth record, reveal their three ‘desert island’ album picks, and share the highlights of their journey so far as part of the Seven Questions with Music Is To Blame Series. 

Introduce yourself and where you’re from. 

Alizon: Hey, we’re from the band Calva Louise. I am Alizon and I’m French.

Ben: I’m Ben and I’m from New Zealand. Jess unfortunately isn’t here as we’re in the middle of soundcheck, in the parking lot of a beautiful venue in Stuttgart. 

What do our readers need to know about you?

Alizon: We’re a multicultural band that plays alternative/ heavy metal music. We’re currently on tour. 

What have you got coming up that you’re most excited for? 

Ben: We’ve got a new record coming out, around July time. The album is very much in the vein of our mixtape which we released at the end of 2023.

What’s the best run-in you’ve had with a fan? 

Ben: There was a very young girl who came to a few shows with her parents, and her mum told us that it was her very first live gig. 

Alizon: This has happened quite a lot actually. When we were on our co-headline tour with Vukovi, a guy that had been following us on social media for a while brought his young son. It was really wholesome and we’re always very touched when people come out to our shows, sometimes it takes a lot for them so it’s really nice to see that. 

What’s been your biggest ‘I’ve made it’ moment so far? 

Alizon: There’s been a few bucket list items we have ticked off in the past year, Download was definitely a big one. Mainly festivals including Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple. 

Ben: Earlier this year we played ShipRocked as well, and it was crazy because we found ourselves in this beach in the Bahamas while a rock band played on the shore, and we thought, does this get any better? 

What are your three “desert island” albums?  

System Of A Down - ‘Steal This Album’

Pink Floyd - ‘The Wall’

The Receiving End Of Sirens - ‘Between The Heart And The Synapse’

Sum up your sound in three words.

Energetic, multicultural and dynamic.

Amy Porter

@amy.louiseporter

Image: Henry Calvert

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