Meet: The Queen Of Darkness Nerys John Of 'The Beautiful Darkness'

Give us a potted history of the band

The band started in October ’21. Initially a name and an Instagram account, which I could use as a form of very honest expression while I developed the concept of the project. My mission then was to give my emotional pain a sense of purpose. So I decided to turn it into music. I spent a long time writing, then started recording and getting to open to open mics while I established myself, and began playing solo acoustic. Last year, I released my first three singles. Now I have musicians who work with me in the band and we’re doing our very first UK tour this year.

You can grab tickets here: https://linktr.ee/thebeautifuldarknessmusic

Who inspired you to start making music

My family are very musical, so I think it’s always been in me. I have an early memory of playing with a bodhrán… But going to see Michael Jackson was probably the tipping point that made me want to do music. I wrote my first song when I was 6, called The Boy Of My Dreams, and I made a demo on a tape to send to Epic Recording Studios. I gave it to my mum to post. No idea why she didn’t post it. Haha

And the one or maybe two records that inspired you artistically

‘Secretly’ by Skunk Anansie is the only track I’ve ever listened to that I cried to when I heard it. The power that music can hold in being able to do that is incredible to me. That was definitely very inspiring.

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

I think The Cranberries for the grungy sound, Skunk Anansie for the emotion and perhaps Suede for the artistry…

Tell us about your new single

The new single is called ‘She’. It’s the first song I wrote on guitar, as I was just learning to play it. I wrote it in a moment of feeling triggered about not feeling good enough, and this is what came out. I almost didn’t play it live, but then got nice feedback about it when I did. Then almost didn’t record it, but when we needed to move things around when we were getting organised with songs in the studio I ended up adding it. It’s kinda funny to me how it happened. At the time I felt like the other songs were more important, but this one is definitely my favourite now. And the energy it now gives back to me when we play it is very cool to experience.

Where can we get hold of it

It’s going to be available across all streaming platforms on 16th May.

Tell us how you write

I very often have ideas drop in at random times. Sometimes, I purposefully sit and write when I’m triggered so I can work through and process whatever it is I’m feeling. Other times I have little ideas when I’m waking or falling asleep. It’s like intrusive music- forget intrusive thoughts! And then I can hear what I want to write, like a radio frequency.

Tell us about your live show. What would be your dream gig

I would LOVE to play Glastonbury. That’s definitely the dream. I really want to play on big stages so I can bring in more movement and take up space. That’d be awesome! Right now we’re about to embark on the first tour, which is called Unleashed. This is about feeling liberated.

What can we expect from you in the near future

There’s another single not too far off, and there may also be an EP on the horizon…

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

Currently loving My Chemical Romance – The Ghost Of You. Sometimes, I find a track I love and then play it on repeat for AGES. This is that track for me right now.

Check out the video for track The Narcissist, below: