Pretty Beast are one of those bands that seem to arrive fully formed and ready for action. Their debut EP 'Content' showcased their neat ability to fuse hard as nails down-tuned rock riffs with exceedingly danceable synths, while a recent Knockanstockan (the band's third ever gig) performance delivered a taster of their ferocious stage presence.

They may be fresh, but Pretty Beast know what they're doing. We caught up with the four-piece to find out who, what, when, where and why.

How did the band form?

We've all played in different bands and have known each other through music for years. Ciaran (guitar) sent us some ideas that he'd come up with on an iPhone app. We got together on a cold & rainy Monday in December and hit it off straight away. We worked on one of the ideas Ciaran had written in the app and finished it that night. That song became 'Trying It', the closing song on our EP.

We immediately began planning, setting targets and goals. From previous experiences in bands we wanted to try and do things a little differently. We didn't want to gig straight away, we wanted to work on our sound, recordings, videos, a website and get all our ducks in a row before we did anything in public. We rehearsed three times a week for 6 months.

We also wanted to release our EP and a video for So Cold before we gigged so that people would know the music. Our first gig was our EP launch in The Workman's Club and it went really well! People knew the lyrics for So Cold so that was a little win for us.

How would you describe your sound?

We want it to eventually sound like Death From Above in a scrap with Klaxons with U2 refereeing and Dr Dre as ring girl.

Knockanstockan was only your third gig, but your stage performance seemed a lot more experienced. Is this something you've spend a lot of time working on?

We've definitely put a lot of work in the rehearsal room but we've also got years of experience gigging in previous outfits. The ability to record in the practice room and listen back there and then makes a huge difference.

We haven’t had that that kind of technology before and you can get a so much more done in no time at all.

Your singer (Donie Keaveney) climbed up the lighting rig at the end of your set at Knockanstockan. Was that something you'd planned or pure spur of the moment?

Ha, we did actually yeah... We were at the Red Enemy gig the night before and we were sussing out the best spots for good a climb. Our singer wanted to monkey bar across to the other side of the tent but the worried faces of the stage crew made him reassess. He does love a good climb though. The Aviva Stadium looks like it has some potential. Maybe someday...

 

What's next for Pretty Beast? Have you more plans to record? When's your next gig?

We have loads of plans in the pipeline. We're releasing a video for Raid, the opening track from our EP, in September. We're planning a gig for that as well. We're also planning a big video for an unreleased track that's not on the EP, if we can pull it off we'll be in a good position. We'll also be getting another EP together soon, then it's album time.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Go like us on Facebook, then follow us on Twitter, then buy our EP from iTunes, then come to a gig.