Amber Run: Reflecting on a Decade of Honest, Emotive Music – A Heartfelt Conversation

“We’ve always been a band that has worked really hard to speak to people on an emotional level.”

… and that, they certainly know how to do.

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This April the 20th marked ten years since the release of alternative-rock band Amber Run’s sentimental and heartfelt debut album, 5am — and I can say with great joy that I’ve been lucky enough to witness their journey, as a truly special band, for the better part of the last decade. So it felt only fitting that my long-awaited interview, catching up with Joe and Henry, came at such a nostalgic and reflective moment.

At the time of 5am’s original release, Amber Run was a five-piece band consisting of current members, Joshua Keogh (frontman/guitarist), Henry Wyeth (keyboardist), and Tomas Sperring (bassist), along with former drummer, Felix Archer and electric guitarist, Will Jones. “Will, Tom and I had been playing in bands together when we were in sixth form,” Joe reminisced. “Will took a year out but Tom and I chose to go to the same uni so we could carry on making some music — and because we’re dear friends.”

Cut to the yesteryear of their time spent at the University of Nottingham. “If you want a true scoop, this is not public knowledge,” Henry dangled before me, only to then realise the piece of tape he thought he’d been messing around with on the red velvet sofa of Nottingham’s very own The Black Cherry Lounge was, in fact, a piece of someone’s chewed gum. “Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Henry woed. Was it still sticky? And did Henry think it was tape-sticky instead of gum-sticky? Maybe. “I found out Joe, Tom, and Will were starting a band (again) because I was living with Tom at the time. So, I texted Joe and said, ‘Yo, I hear you’re starting a band. It’d be stupid if I didn’t ask.’ I was having a wee when I sent the text.” I believe that was my inside scoop. “And that’s the only reason I’m in the band,” Henry shared — and so, thankfully, Henry sent that text at the perfect moment, and Amber Run was formed.

Over the span of their career so far, Amber Run have released four deeply emotive albums — records that, personally, I feel as though I’ve grown up alongside. Reflecting on the band’s evolution, Henry explained, “The first album was very much written through emotion and naivety, as opposed to anything conscious. With the second one, we actively ran away from anything that we thought would be successful or too catchy, and by the third one, I think we came out the other side of that. Then, with the most recent record, it felt very much like we were back — buoyant and stable.” (You can read my review of How to Be Human [here]).

The success of I Found is something that simply has to be mentioned. While I love and appreciate every song Amber Run have created, it’s no secret that over the years I Found has found its way into many people’s hearts across the world – and rightly so. It’s a stunning song. “I think we all believe the song is beautiful and really powerful,” Joe admitted. “I’m really proud of how we made it, and it’s such a pleasure that it’s stood the test of time. The thing I’m most proud of is that people keep finding it on their own. We’ve had some TV shows feature it, but I don’t think it’s ever had a radio play.” As a special celebration to mark ten years, Amber Run released a beautiful rendition of I Found, featuring Freya Ridings.

For anyone who, like myself, keeps up with the social media side of the band’s endeavours, it’s clear that a fair bit of mischief happens behind the scenes, with Henry often the main culprit. “Pranks are dependent on the mood,” Henry revealed. “Scaring Joe is always fun, that can’t be denied.” Poor Joe. “When we first started touring, we used to get cubes of cheese in plastic wrappers. It started off in someone’s pocket — they’d find it and they’d…” Joe and Henry say in unison “got cheesed!” The tradition quickly escalated. “Someone ended up putting a cube inside Will’s amp, and it melted both the plastic and the cheese from the heat — and ruined his amp. So that was the end of ‘cheesing’“. To which I’m not surprised. That’s an expensive prank, alright.

As a long-standing fan, I’ve now seen them live thirteen times – and I’ve absolutely no intention of stopping there. (You can read my live review [here]). There’s something exceptionally special about an Amber Run gig; you’ll always end up making a friend. The band’s joy on stage is unmistakable, and the atmosphere feels more like a communal party than just a concert. “I hope we’re always able to create a space in a live setting where people feel they can authentically react or feel safe and seen,” Joe shared. And that, I feel, they execute very well. I have shed many tears at an Amber Run gig.

I think it’s fair to say that, for both myself and the guys, our conversation could have gone on much longer, but time was of the essence. While they remained coy about specific dates, their plans for the future were clear. “We are still very much making music — and it is very exciting!” Joe added, just before they dashed off for important band duties ahead of that evening’s show.

Here’s hoping album five is just around the corner. I know I’ll be ready when it is.

Words by Emily Leonard

Photo Credit: Adam Richardson