The reaction to
The Luka State’s recent single
‘More Than This’ showed that the quartet’s fiery indie-punk attack is destined for bigger things in
2023. A visceral declaration that people deserve more than an endless roundabout of financial struggles, the track picked up coverage from
NME,
The Sunday Times and the
Daily Star, along with airplay from
BBC Music Introducing,
Absolute Radio and
Soccer AM. They further landed on over 38 editorial playlists on Spotify alone and were tipped by
The Sun as
One To Watch in 2023.
The Luka State’s actions lived up to their words, too. They donated the budget for the track’s video to the foodbank and poverty charity The Trussell Trust, and further supported the charity by donating a meal to families in need for every ticket sold for their upcoming London show as well as launching a GoFundMe appeal.
As the March 10th release of their eagerly anticipated second album approaches, also titled ‘More Than This’, The Luka State again surge forward by sharing their new single ‘Matter of Fact’. Listen HERE.
‘Matter of Fact’ sees The Luka State hitting the sweet spot that coexists between its anthemic hook, gnarly wall-of-sound guitars, and propulsive, driving energy – a mix that was realised with the help of the persistence and expertise of the Grammy Award-winning producer Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse, U2). In contrast to the social issues and single-minded defiance explored in The Luka State’s recent releases, ‘Matter of Fact’ sees Conrad Ellis confront his own weaknesses and vulnerabilities – and his searing delivery indicates that his lyrics come straight from the heart.
Conrad says, “‘Matter of Fact’ asks the simple question that we all sometimes long to hear the answer to – ‘Will you still love me when I’m at my worst the same way you love me when I’m at my best?’ The line, ‘Does my love decay when I’m not okay?’, is the realisation that I hope my misdemeanours and the way I am sometimes don’t affect you. Sometimes people can take people into their life that are a bit fragile, and try to heal them. That’s what my partner was doing for me at the time. But sometimes a person can lose themselves in the process, and this song’s about me being aware of that.”
‘More Than This’ represents a stellar leap forward from The Luka State’s debut album ‘Fall In Fall Out’. It simmers with the confidence and commitment of a band throwing everything they have at the record, the immediacy and melody of their songwriting balanced by the caustic aggression and frenetic force of their performances. While there’s no current band quite like The Luka State, you can hear traces of their forefathers in the mix: the soulful swagger of Arctic Monkeys, the off-kilter intensity and integrity of Biffy Clyro, and the punk polemics of The Jam. In addition to Adrian Bushby, the album also features production from Dan Austin (You Me At Six, Pixies).
Still located in their small Cheshire hometown of Winsford, the band – completed by Sam Bell (bass, vocals), Lewis Pusey(guitar) and Jake Barnabas (drums) – share a brotherhood that triumphs over the struggles, grinding and endless touring that comes with the life of a rising band. That attitude is rooted in the life-long friendship between Conrad and Sam.
‘More Than This’ is available to pre-order / pre-save HERE, and all pre-orders will be rewarded with instant downloads of ‘Matter of Fact’, ‘More Than This’, ‘Bring Us Down’ and ‘Oxygen Thief’. Their official website recently launched a yellow vinyl edition with exclusive alternate artwork that commemorates a challenging moment in the band’s history – a snapshot of the quartet taken after they had travelled from Cheshire to NYC via shows in Gibraltar, Spain and Switzerland in just 48 hours.
Highlights of The Luka State’s touring in 2022 including playing at Louder Than Life during their debut North American tour, as well as receiving a rapturous reception when they filled the tent at 2000trees. They will next hit the road in March for their European ‘More Than This’ headline tour. Tickets for the shows, listed below, are available HERE.
MARCH
23rd – Birmingham, Rainbow
24th – Bristol, Crofters
25th – Southampton, Heartbreakers
30th – London, Camden Assembly
31st – Leeds, Hyde Park Book Club
APRIL
6th – Aberdeen, Tunnels
7th – Dundee, Church
8th – Glasgow, King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
12th – Hamburg, Hakken
13th – Cologne, Helios37
14th – Berlin, Maschinenhaus
15th – Amsterdam, Paradise Bitterzoet
21st – Manchester, Academy 3
