Golden era: catching up with electronic-rock duo ALT BLK ERA before their Rescue Rooms show

Last time we spoke, you were about to release your debut album Rave Immortal. How has life been since then? Any particular highlights?

Nyrobi: It’s been hectic in the best way. We’ve done so much, been to so many countries, and we’re really grateful. 
Chaya: My highlight was definitely Jools Holland. It was our debut TV performance, and we used to watch Jools Holland so it felt very surreal.
Nyrobi: I feel like people wouldn’t expect this – when we started performing in Notts it was at Rough Trade, The Angel, and The Bodega – but when we announced that our May show would be at Rescue Rooms there was a feeling of accomplishment. It was the one stage we’ve never performed on, and we’ve seen some of our favourite bands there, so it felt like a level up moment. 

Tell us a bit more about your early days singing together. Is your family musical?

Chaya: In our house we’ve always had music on, so we’ve sung together for as long as I can remember. Our one chore when we were younger was to do the washing up. It was a twenty minute job, so we’d play karaoke and experiment with our voices and harmonies. We also got to know each other’s voices so well. It would take like three hours to get done but it was really productive.
Nyrobi: We didn’t realise it, but that would fundamentally make us better singers. When we’re singing live for instance, I’ll just get a feeling that Chay’s going to do a certain run and can join her on the harmony. It’s kind of freaky, but I just get a sensation.

You’ve released two singles this year – Tissues and Lost in the Back of my Mind – which, along with 2025’s Okay (Cyber Racing), will be on your next EP Our World – out 22 May. How do you feel your sound is evolving from Rave Immortal?

Chaya: We’re actually writing our second album, which is a continuation of Rave Immortal, but in this time period we wanted to release a little project that came about very authentically – about how we’re feeling about the state of the world. 
Nyrobi: Every song is like a stage of grief that we’ve covered in five tracks. It was really reactive. We have pushed ourselves genre-wise and sonically. We don’t really do an ALT BLK ERA style – we just go with the flow, instead of being rigid about it.

Tell us a bit more about that songwriting approach…

Nyrobi: Chaya is always going to be good at writing a melody. Unusually, we start with the first verse. I love a verse. But we don’t go into the studio to write – we write at home and figure out the overall vibe, and how we want the instruments to sound, so when we go to the studio we’re pretty much just recording.
Chaya: I think that whenever we go to a gig, we get inspired, and are up until 3am writing songs. But most of the time, it’s in our bedroom. 
Nyrobi: Any time we come across someone creative – they don’t have to be musical – who really shines, owning their personality and vision – when you can feel the strength radiating off them – it doesn’t make us want to be like them, but to shine ourselves.

Last year you toured with drum and bass legends Pendulum. What was it like to be in Europe, and on the bill with such a huge act?

Chaya: We’ve had people say we are like if girls did Pendulum. So when we got that email asking if we’d like to support we were just freaking out. 
Nyrobi: I think the best thing about the tour was the fans – they completely got us. There are quite a few people that maybe don’t get the genre-blend of rock and drum n’ bass, but we were going into rooms where thousands of people were instantly like, ‘Hell yeah. We know what you’re about, open the pit – let’s go’. 

Nyrobi, you talk quite openly about being a touring musician with a chronic health condition. Have you managed to prioritise your needs over the demands of your work?

Nyrobi: I think the thing I’ve learnt the most is to rely on other people. On a personality level, I’m very much, ‘No I want to do it myself’. I’m hands-on – not someone who wants to watch other people unload the van when I’m thinking I’m super strong – I can help. But I’ve learnt I don’t have to feel ashamed or awkward. I’m really fortunate to have a team – the band, management and my sister. They go the extra mile to make sure I’m physically and emotionally okay, which is phenomenal.

On 30 May, you’ve got a Rescue Rooms show with St Agnes and Notts band Luna & The Lime Slices. What made these acts your choice of support?

Nyrobi: I went to a Luna & The Lime Slices show with our drummer. Chaya wasn’t with us, but from the first guitar strum I was like ‘Chaya would absolutely love this’. So I facetimed her and filmed it. It’s a grungy emo, indie vibe, but heavy as well. So I was excited that they were down to play.
Chaya: Nyrobi came home, and was like ‘Chaya, Luna & The Lime Slices are so good’. And I said ‘Well we need them as a support then don’t we?’

Nottingham has such a blossoming music scene and if you dig a little bit there’s something for everyone. After playing big venues across the country, how does playing in Notts feel nowadays?

Nyrobi: It’s not just the artists, but also the Nottingham community. There’s a level of openness and willingness to listen to something that you might not typically listen to. When we first came on the scene, the amount of people who came up to us and said, ‘I’m an 80s rock fan’, or ‘I only listen to dad rock but I love you guys’... I think we’ve thrived because of how encouraging the Nottingham scene has been. 
Chaya: We haven’t performed in Nottingham for about a year. So playing here does feel different – like a homecoming.
Nyrobi: It can feel emotional. Seeing people in the audience who have seen you perform in front of five people and still show up just as excited – it’s almost like seeing old friends.

ALT BLK ERA plays at Rescue Rooms on Saturday 30 May.

@altblkera