The Songs Behind: HIMALAYAS

Welsh four-piece HIMALAYAS have today released their sophomore album 'BAD STAR', in what is their biggest sound to date. The record sees them grow from energetic indie-rockers full of potential to a fully-fledged expansive rock band that already feel tailor-made to headline the biggest of stages. It is no surprise that, as a result of this shift, HIMALAYAS' new music has received major radio plays and deserved rave reviews. Every single released before the full-album was nothing short of exceptional, including one of my previous Songs of the Week, 'Surrender'. However, now the full 10-track LP is out in the world, each song's brilliance seems even more obvious.

To celebrate the release of 'BAD STAR', I am joined by HIMALAYAS to discover more about the record, before discovering the songs that shaped them through my 'Songs Behind' feature.
 

You had already shared a number of tracks from the record in advance of its release. Was it always the plan to release so many singles in advance, and how taken aback have you been by the overwhelming response to the new songs?

"We felt that it was difficult to only pick two or three tracks which fully represented this album, so the the track we’ve released so far seem to help show the the bigger picture. That said, there should still be a few surprises once the whole thing is released."

BAD STAR is going to be your second album, following on from 2023's 'From Hell to Here'. How has the process of creating that first record shaped and influenced your approach to creating its follow up? 

"Making the first album made a huge difference to us. We’d spent a bit of time recording, before but it gave us such an important education in how to make an album. BAD STAR seems to follow the things we learnt but also playing the first album songs live has given us a new perspective on the sort of music we want to make."

The producer for your new record is Pete Hutchings, who of course has worked with some of the biggest names in rock and indie. What sort of influence and advice has he brought to the table to enhance the creative process?

"Pete made the whole process feel so easy but so worthwhile making BAD STAR. He brought a lot of knowledge to the table but completely understood the kind of album we wanted to make and allowed us to be creative but completely focused on what we were making."