Interview by Kris Peters
Australian metal outfit Sienna Skies are set to finally shake the lingering shadows of COVID once and for all when they hit the road in the next two weeks for a run of four dates with US heavyweight act Of Mice & Men and their long-time mates and touring companions Dream On Dreamer.
After a prolonged absence from the stage, Sienna Skies are setting themselves for an all-out sonic assault when they open the highly anticipated tour in Adelaide on February 23, desperate to blow off the cobwebs and even more excited to be performing a collection of new songs live for the very first time.
Despite the setbacks Sienna Skies suffered as a direct result of the pandemic, they elected to take their time in getting back into the daily grind of the music industry, choosing instead to put the finishing touches on an EP that was created in the midst of adversity. They have released a steady succession of singles taken from that EP, which will be out on March 8, each of which showcases a more vulnerable side of the band while still retaining the dynamic foundations upon which their sound has always been built.
HEAVY caught up with bass player Joshua Wade to find out more.
"We're really excited to be a part of it and the opportunity," he smiled when I mentioned the tour. "I can't wait to get back out there on the road."
We ask Wade if the nerves have set in yet.
"The nerves are catching up with us at the moment because it's been so long since we've played live due to COVID and everything," he replied. "We had an extra long break over COVID writing material so to actually be coming back and playing some shows in some big rooms with some friends… yeah it is starting to catch up on us a bit. But we are looking forward to it. It's been a long time, and we can't wait to do what we do."
In terms of time on the road this isn't a massive tour with only four dates, but the pressures of returning to the stage coupled with the expectations that come with supporting a major international band would still be difficult to suppress.
"Every show is different," Wade measured. "Every market's different and every tour is different. We have known Dream On Dreamer ever since they started being a band, and we were bands coming up together in the same scene. When it comes to Of Mice & Men, we have both known of them in passing before, but never played with them, although we have seen them at other shows and festivals abroad. Vibe wise I think it's going to be stellar. Everyone is going to be stoked and have a great time. Everyone online looks like they are super keen for the shows so that helps with the nerves, knowing it's going to be a super comfortable environment. But to answer your question, there's not really much else to do except just get up there and do what we've always done (laughs). As I said before it's been a while so we are just super excited and can't wait to get our hands on our instruments in front of people and do it again."
In the full interview, Joshua talks more about the feelings Sienna Skies will be going through before hitting the stage, being chosen - along with Dream On Dreamer - by the band themselves to support the tour, the fact two Australian bands have been chosen as national supports and the benefits of that to the local music scene, their mindset going into each show and how they approach their set, writing set lists that play to the band's strengths while also hopefully appealing to Of Mice & Men's crowd, the new songs they will be playing live as well as the upcoming EP, what to expect sonically from the release, their EP launch shows later this year and more.