Feature Article text (Luna Layton interview)

So I’m backstage at the London Unsigned Music Scene with Indie Rock’s up and coming legend Luna Layton, sat in her dressing room with the aroma of cigarettes and loverdose Tattoo, pretty sweet, huh?  Sat here looking around what looks like a mix between Urban Outfitters and a rock chicks boudoir, its hard to believe I almost missed Luna rush in to the room. Wow. Looking like a mix between Ellie Goulding and a blonde Kristen Stewart Luna Layton really is beautiful. “Sorry about the mess” she says, “trust me to be late to one of my biggest interviews.”  Laughing and taking a seat opposite me we begin to talk about her up and coming success. “It all started when I began to upload videos of me singing onto MySpace and YouTube; since then things have got pretty insane.” Its hard to believe someone with so much talent could be so genuinely surprised of their current success. “I was really shocked when unsigned gigs begun to invite me to perform, especially when I was given the opportunity to gig around the country. I really couldn’t of done that with the help of my manager; Brandon and my awesome fan base.” Having the current title of up and coming indie rock don, is something this eighteen year old really has something to be proud of. “(laughs) I would love to think so, it really means a lot to me to be known on the indie rock scene, let alone as titles such as that!”

The Luna we saw a few years back on YouTube releasing a her first ever single doesn’t seem to shock many, her unique take on the Indie Rock genre taking indie rockers everywhere by storm! “My new single Becoming Myself (release date: December 21st)  was super fun to produce, writing my new single when living in my home town; Camden inspired me greatly when writing it. I hope the song itself puts this across; I really do believe growing up where I did, listening to the music and seeing the individuals that surrounded me growing up has made me the person I am today and influenced both my music as well a style greatly. I live in Camden now! I never want to leave the place, it keeps me inspired when writing songs or even trying out new sounds.” When looking at Luna Layton, not only her striking looks seem to hook indie rockers but also her style, being known for her style and fashion sense; Luna really does have everything going for her. ‘I like to think my music inspires my style, to see fans following my fashion sense is just crazy, I love it.”

Its hard to believe that someone so young could  have achieved so much; especially as an unsigned solo artist. “I sometimes question if I’m even awake, theses past few years have been crazy, gigging around places I didn’t even know existed! Attending unsigned gigs like Emergenza, Hou Project and The Leeds Music Scene is just incredible for me, knowing that I have people backing me and supporting me at gigs is so amazing. I even bumped into Arctic Monkeys at one of my gigs, how sick is that?! Alex Turner is definitely my number one celeb crush!”  Not only does Luna Layton have a enormous fan base, including artists such as Ben Howard and of course, The Arctic Monkeys; she also has had a pretty damn good career so far as an unsigned Indie Rock artist, having recently performed on the ‘up and coming’ stage at Reading Festival, this teen defiantly knows how to make her mark on the indie rock scene. “My Reading Fest performance has to definitely be the highlight of my up and coming success.”

“Being asked to preform at Reading was unreal, it had always been my dream to perform there, I mean what unsigned indie rock artist doesn’t dream of that!” Lets be honest, we’ve all watched and listened to Luna’s performance at reading on repeat continually; at Alternative Sound we’re just waiting for Luna to be signed by a major record label. “At Reading I met so many crazy famous acts! I got to chat with Haim, Alt-J and even Jake Bugg, I’m a crazy Alt-J fan, (laughs) I hope I didn’t make that too obvious when we met!”
Check out our review of Luna Layton’s reading fest performance at the Alternative Sound Review (Page 23).