The Northeast of England has produced many fine artists and bands most of whom have ventured forth from the ‘foggy Tyne’ to achieve international success. However, each and every one started their journeys honing their craft in small clubs and venues, sticking together to become a formidable entity ready to take on the world. Enter Crowley, who have the musical charms and brio to be the next breakout band from this geographical hotspot. Fronted by two talented ladies, Lidya Balaban, on vocals, and guitarist Eliza Lee, both veterans of the Northeast rock scene at their still relatively young age. Crowley has been casting a melodious hard rock spell over their growing fanbase for some time. This began with their first single, The Witching Hour, followed up by Something Wicked This Way Comes, consolidating their supernatural sound as Eliza, firstly, tells me about the inspiration behind their band name: “It was Lidya that suggested it. But we intentionally wanted something that would kind of sum up the occult themes. I’m a big believer and I like the Crowley references,” she asserts. “As much as it’s a reference to Aleister Crowley, it’s more so a reference to the musicians that were inspired by him in the ’70s and I think it’s just a nice word.” Lidya, she of the screaming powerhouse voice, relates to me how the band got together: “We did a few gigs together in our old bands. We used to be on the same bill quite a lot. I always really wanted to work with Eliza, obviously watching the stuff that she was doing with her old band. Then out of the blue one day, she dropped me a message, just after lockdown, when both of our bands had kind of ended.”
This moment of serendipity brought these Gemini musical twins together. They both hit it off immediately and, in doing so, got Eliza out of vocal jail: “I was singing in my old band before, which I’m not particularly good at, and I don’t particularly enjoy. That’s because I hate having to look after my health and all that nonsense,” she sighs with relief. It also removed the weight of playing the guitar, in her previous band, from Lidya’s shoulders: “It was the same for me but the other way around,” she chuckles in between taking a sip of her blood red wine. “I was playing the guitar in my band and didn’t really want to because I like to have the freedom to move around. Plus, it’s something that I got to a certain level with then got bored with it. It worked out in both of our favours.” Lidya furthers: “We write little fun songs about spells and sacrifice. All of that good stuff.” Crowley has an image that their growing band of followers identify with. “I knew Lidya,” remarks Eliza, “but even then, we didn’t know each other super well and the rest of the guys I didn’t know well. So, when we got to know each other, as with anything, it was what common ground do we have to talk about? And it was just like, ‘oh, we all have lots of occult books’ and ‘how many ghosts have you seen?’ It happened naturally.” says Eliza. “It’s just like who we all really are,” chips in Lidya. “It’s always a plus if you get on with your bandmates and we get on really well.”
Released close to Halloween [Oct 27th], Crowley’s third single, Pyre, continues a fine run of spooky inspired tunes. Lidya’s bewitching scream coupled with Eliza’s detonation of heavy riffs further defines their burgeoning sonic sphere as Eliza details: “I wanted the first second of music that anyone ever heard from us to be Lidya doing a massive scream. Because she can!” Lidya nods in firm agreement as they also recount the writing process for their second single Something Wicked This Way Comes: “I wanted to do something Macbeth-ish. Because, if we’re inspired by witchcraft, surely, they’re archetypal. So, I started with that, and I wrote it on an acoustic, which is unusual for me,” recalls Eliza. Lidya continues: “It was one of those that you brought the intro and the chorus, and I’d never read Macbeth. I had to do a speed read of the play.” Well, this ‘double, double toil and trouble’ by the band created a spellbinding slab of hard rock that pricked the ears of the rock fraternity via some airplay. A measure of Crowley’s promising career trajectory is revealed by Blitzkrieg guitarist Nick Jennison helming the production duties for latest single, Pyre: “He’s disturbingly brilliant,” states Eliza. “He’s an absolute delight,” confirms Lidya.
Although having to still hold down day jobs whilst they grow Crowley into a full-time professional entity, live dates are coming thick and fast with an appearance at Hard Rock Hell in November. They are also appearing in Newcastle and Glasgow with Fury during November. “There are more people showing up wearing our T-shirts. T shirts that I’ve got my face on,” says a startled Lidya. “I didn’t tell her I was going to do that until we ordered them,” laughs Eliza. “I was just like, by the way, I’ve ordered 50 T-shirts with your face on. Sorry, mate. I hope you don’t mind'” they both cackle…As with their T-shirts, Crowley are most definitely a band to watch out for.
Pyre the new single from Crowley will be released on Friday 27th of October and is available on all streaming platforms. The band will be performing at HRH 16 in Great Yarmouth on Friday 3rd of November in Room 2. For further information on the band please visit: https://www.crowleyband.co.uk/.
Words by Paul Davies
Photo by Adam Kennedy
