Meet: Portsmouth post-punks Hallan

Hallan are Conor Clements (vocals), Joshua Tweedale (bass), Joshua Ransley (guitar), Adam Mills (drums), and they are set to release their new EP ‘The Noise Of A Firing Gun’ on the 31st of March. The EP sees the band experiment with production elements and shift their gaze towards synthesised sounds of the ‘80s, whilst retaining their post-punk edge. We put some questions to the band to find a little bit more about them.

Give us a potted history of the band

We’ve been together since 2018 but the current sonic iteration of Hallan has gradually been evolving since then to where we are now. We’ve been through the hard slog of loading our gear into cars and travelling half the country to play to the other bands. So it’s nice being at a point in time where we can look back at even the last year and be proud to say we’ve done several headline Uk tours, a French headline tour with sold out shows and multiple plays on BBC radio shows from the likes of Steve Lamacq & Jack Saunders.

Who inspired you to start making music

Inspiration to make music has appeared through our lives in various forms. Some of us did music throughout education which helps to build a basic understanding of what musicians do. But our real passion for music is something I think we all have acquired through listen to different bands and artists over the years. For instance The Beatles and Bob Dylan are always a classic artists we enjoy and have done from very young. Audibly closer however to our current sound are bands like New Order, Pet shop boys and The Stranglers.

And the one or maybe two records that inspired you artistically

A few different records have always grabbed our attention creatively. One staple being Joy Division- Unknown Pleasures, especially for its incredible production. Public Service Broadcast – Inform-Educate-Entertain is another that stands out with the use of samples throughout the album being something we’ve moved towards the last year or so.

If you’re trying to explain whom you sound like to someone that’s never heard you, what do you say

This tends to be the heated topic of debate amongst many but we are usually compared to New order, Working men’s club and Joy Division. With other bands being thrown in the mix here and there like Fontaines D.C. and The Murder Capital.

Tell us about your new EP

This newest offering from the vaults of Hallan is a historically driven EP that focuses of the matters and myths of the past and what we can learn from them. The recording was a segmented process with elements of the track being taken from the original demos and the main instrumental parts recorded at Southsea Sound in our hometown Portsmouth. Jonathon Hucks then assisted with additional production and Mixing which led us to where we are now. The first single Unwomanly Face of War being the first tune out has led us forth into this new terrain, excited for what is to come.

Where can we get hold of it

The new single is out now on all major streaming platforms and our EP ‘The Noise of a Firing Gun’ will follow suit.

Tell us how you write

Different songs form in different ways, with some of our earlier stuff coming straight out of rehearsals and some being the brainchild of our glorious leader Conor.

Tell us about your live show what would be your dream gig

Hallan has and always will be a live band, there’s nothing quite like us four on the same stage in front of a crowd of people and giving everything to the performances with every last fibre of our being. We have always been the underdogs and have always enjoyed subverting people’s expectations. So don’t expect that to end anytime soon.

What can we expect from you in the near future

Looking onwards over the next year or so, we plan to be very busy in many ways. With the EP coming out March 31st we will be embarking on a UK tour and playing some regions of this country we have never ventured too. But after that you’ll have to keep your wits sharp and wait to see where we end up next.

Tell us your favourite records that are rocking your headphones/tour bus/stereo

All of us have varying tastes in terms of music but also find commonality in some artists and genres. Recently though, Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde was a regular fixture in the car while driving around France. But each of us have records we go back to time and time again, including : The Raven by The Stranglers, Loaded by The Velvet Underground, Skinty Fia by Fontaines D.C. and Revolver by The Beatles. With smatterings of everything else in between.

Find out more via the band’s Facebook

Preorder the EP here

Hallan are set to hit the road this April for a full-scale UK tour, coinciding with their EP’s arrival.

Check out the band’s Live dates below: