DEVIL'S ISLAND featuring Noah and the Loners
Welcome to this weeks edition of Devil's Island! Every week we maroon a band or artist on the island and see what they get up to, how they cope with being all alone on a small island in the middle of the ocean. It's not your average desert island and we'll see just how each person copes with the extreme conditions.
This week when we arrived at Devil's Island we find Noah and the Loners sat on the beach. The island is far from their home, so how did they end up here and how did they cope with life on Devil's Island?
Find out now...
Welcome to The Razors'e Edge and our somewhat lovely, warm desert island. Don't worry about it's name I'm sure it's not as bad as that would suggest.
You're marooned here on this island, but before you ended up shipwrecked you chose one album that you couldn't live without. Which album did you each chose and why?
Noah L: Long Way Down by Tom Odell. Because of the range of emotions within the album, I feel like there’s a song for every mood I could possibly be in.
Joseph: Desert island record is ‘FEAR’ - Marillion. ‘FEAR’, which stands for F**k Everyone and Run. Recorded at the legendary Real World studios, the record has a sense of foreboding hanging over it. It signalled the world’s approach to some sea change, an irreversible financial, political, humanitarian and environmental storm.
A light and cheery record to see out my remaining days! But for me, pure musical genius.
Amber: My album I would reach for would be Lamb by King Nun. Mainly for the song “But we live on the beach” because i don’t think it would feel too much like a fucking holiday.
Noah R: I have to go for “An Evening with Silk Sonic” It is not punk by a long shot, but it is a perfect album for a desert island. A good mix of relaxing and upbeat to keep you from going crazy when stranded.
Just behind that palm tree is a shack for each of you to stay in, with enough space for you to put up a poster on the wall of one album cover. What album cover do you each chose?
Noah L: Are You Satisfied? By Soft Play because I think seeing two cute dogs every morning would be a great start to the day.
Joseph: Album cover poster - Food For Worms by SHAME. A recently released album which I fell in love with. The artwork represents the aesthetic of the record really well.
Amber: I would say In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson. It’s of a tree, and it might actually inspire me to wake up in the morning, go outside and look at real trees.
Noah R: “No Jacket Required” by Phil Collins, having his face on the wall would scare any intruder walking into the shack. His bright orange face on a black background in the dark would do the trick.
There's also a bar on this here island. But alas each of you only get to choose one drink for the entirety of your stay. What's your tipple of choice?
Noah L: I feel like Long Island Ice Tea just makes sense given the situation we’re stuck in.
Joseph: Drink of choice would have to be rum punch as I would be on a sunny island. Seems fitting.
Amber: My tipple of choice has to be a mojito. Always gotta keep the summer vibes coming.
Noah R: Jack Daniels and Coke for me; get a good sugar boost from the Coke. That’ll definitely keep you going, and it tastes great, so it’s a win win.
Your suitcases were lost when your ship sank, but you each managed to salvage one item of band merch. What’s the merch and for what band?
Noah L: I pretty much live in my X-Ray Spex “Oh Bondage Up Yours” black T-shirt which I’ve cut into a vest so I’m gonna have to say that. It would also be great for the hot climate!
Joseph: The Amazons t-shirt I got at The Brixton Academy (probably my favourite gig I’ve ever been to) I’ve worn it to death.
Amber: I’d have to say The Meffs, Scum T-shirt. Always gotta rep the Meffs and props to them because they have very comfy T-shirts.
Noah R: My Nova Twins t-shirt, it’s XL so perfectly baggy and comfortable. Can even chop off the arms to make a vest, keeping you suitably ventilated.
You’re sat on the island thinking “I’m stuck here on this island with my bandmates for eternity”… who would you rather have been shipwrecked with?
Noah L: This probably sounds really lame but I wouldn’t want to be stuck with anyone but the rest of the band. I love them with my whole heart and they’ve become my support system while on tour. I’d say we’re very good at bringing each other up through hard times which I think would be really important if I was gonna be stuck with them for eternity. Only thing I’d be concerned about is having to see Noah R after he hadn’t showered for a week, STINKY BOY!!!
Joseph: I would have rather been shipwrecked with my Dad, we are best pals - he’s also a chef so I’d eat well and be very entertained.
Amber: There’s no way I would prefer to be shipwrecked with any other people. We always find a way to lighten things up, have fun but also be there for each other. We understand each other, look after one another and I could not ask for any other people to be stuck on an Island with.
Noah R: Struggling to think of anyone else to be honest, we’re all so comfortable in each others company and know how everyone works.
There's a walkman in your pocket, on the tape inside is the recording of the one live show that stands out for you. It could be any show, from any band, anywhere in the world. What show is on that walkman?
Noah L: For Me, it’s gotta be Idles live at Le Bataclan back in 2018; I think I must’ve watched that show about 15 times during lockdown and I wrote some of my best lyrics because of it. I’ve never had a show inspire me as much as that.
Joseph: Hendrix Woodstock 1969 or Jeff Buckley Glastonbury 1995
Amber: 100% Jeff Buckley Glastonbury set (1995). It puts me into a trance every time I listen to it, it’s like a free non drug drug. It would give me another world to transport to.
Noah R: Coldplay Glastonbury 2016, still find myself going back and listening to that set over and over again.
You're getting desperate, you decide the only course of action is to put a message in a bottle and hope someone finds it. Your message could be to any member of any band, but should be the most suitable for a rescue attempt. Who is it?
I think it’s we’d send a rescue message in a bottle to The Bee Gees - they can help us stay alive.
You've been stuck here for a while and food supplies are running low. There's only one thing for it... which fellow band member gets sacrificed to help the others survive?
Noah L: I’m gonna have to reluctantly go with Noah R just because he’s the tallest out of us by far so I reckon he probably has the most meat on him.
Joseph: I would eat Noah Lonergan, I reckon he would taste alright. I’d have to eat around the tattoos though, I can’t imagine they would taste great.
Amber: I wouldn’t be able to eat anyone. As a vegan it would feel very wrong, I’d try and eat some coconuts instead.
Noah R: I think it would either be me or Noah Lonergan, and I can’t eat myself so it has to be Noah.
Finally, when the ship sank you each managed to save one person from the wreckage. That person is the one musician that has influenced your career the most, shaped your way of thinking and your outlook on life. Who did you save?
Noah L: In classic me style, I’m going back to Idles and I’m gonna say Joe Talbot. I adore his lyricism and the blatant but beautiful way that he displays his emotions. I, also, think that we’d have some really interesting conversations and could probably write some banging tunes if he remained alive.
Joseph: I’d save Matt Thomson - The Amazons. I love his songwriting and especially his approach to live shows. Gibson guitars through Marshall stacks on 11 is an undeniable match made in heaven. I’ve followed the band since they were very small and it’s great to see them killing it how they are.
Amber: Twenty One Pilots if they where conjoined. Their music has helped get me through some dark times, they speak to me in a way no other artist has. Like they can read my mind, it’s spooky.
Noah R: Well he’s dead, but the ghost of Taylor Hawkins. Maybe not taking after some of his life choices… but definitely his musical ability and energy. And because he’s a ghost, it’ll make finding things so much easier as he can just fly around.
