Getting to Know… Before the Sirens | Interview

In the 502^nd Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from Hertfordshire rock band, Before the Sirens.

Alun Davies, the vocalist and guitarist in Before The Sirens, asserts.  Davis, who answers our burning questions in this interview, adds that the band’s “collective ambition has been to write, record, and play our music and share it with the world.” Beyond Davies, Before The Sirens comprises Chris Tidey (guitar), Adam Aldridge (bass), and Alex Budge (drums). We get the inside scoop on the Hertfordshire band’s genesis, goals, musical influences, and current and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into Getting to Know… Before the Sirens: Interview No. 502!

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For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes you distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Alun Davies: I’m Alun Davies, and I am the vocalist and guitarist in Before The Sirens. Our music stems from our influences in early 2000s metalcore (Killswitch Engage, amongst others) and those ‘Kerrang’ era Nu-Metal bands that formed our sound. We list ourselves as ‘for fans of Killswitch Engage, Alter Bridge, Breaking Benjamin & Metallica’. That’s quite a heady mix to draw influence from and gives us our unique heavy but melodic sound.

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Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Before the Sirens form, and what were some of your goals or visions early?

AD: The boys and I have been playing together in bands since we were teenagers. I actually met Adam and Chris at school, so we have been friends for nearly 30 years. We were introduced to Alex by a mutual friend nearly 20 years ago. Before The Sirens formed in 2019, in search of a new creative direction. Alex joined in 2021. Our collective ambition has been to write, record, and play our music and share it with the world.

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Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or perspectives changed since you first started? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

AD: Our goals and ambitions have remained fairly constant. Promoting and being successful in a band is so different now compared to when we started out that we are just enjoying the ride and making music together. If people check out our music and like what they hear that’s awesome and anything else is a bonus!

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Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences, and how are they influential?

AD: Our influences are a long list of metalcore, heavy metal, hard rock and nu-metal greats. I’ll just throw a few into the ring that I haven’t mentioned yet.  The Ghost Inside, Parkway Drive, Tremonti, Alter Bridge, Malevolence, Periphery, Sylosis. The list is pretty vast! The all have influenced the way we structure our music, the way we write our riffs or arrange our vocal melodies in some way.

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Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

AD: We tend to go after each other’s confectionary. No, not the illicit kind! Years ago, the boys took great delight in eating my carefully stashed supply Snickers bars and putting it on our YouTube channel. I got my revenge last year when we were filming for Rawsound TV and devoured Chris’ Twirl bites live on our Instagram page. In terms of wackiest thing to happen, after a gig one night, I was given a lady’s underwear. No conversation. No explanation. Just put her pants in my hand and wandered off into the night!

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To this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

AD: “Personally,” our lead single from our last EP Low was really personal. Not only is it musically ambitious and combines all the elements I love about this band, but I was in the early stages of getting sober and I really channelled how I was feeling into the lyrics of that song. Consequently, it remains a firm favourite for me. From the new EP though, strangely, the last track “So It Is Below” is becoming a real favourite. The chorus and breakdown on that song are pretty awesome!

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Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left-of-center we should know about …? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

AD: There is a rumour that Alex can burp the alphabet and Chris can rub his head while tapping his stomach. They make quite the double act!

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What is Before the Sirens currently working on or promoting that you can share? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

AD: Our new EP, As It Is Above, So It Is Below dropped on all major steaming platforms in December last year so we are busy promoting that and trying to get it out there to as may ears as possible. We plan a tour in 2026 to support the EP but the details of that will be announced in the coming months.

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Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

AD: Thank you for having us on! Cheers!!

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Getting to Know… Before the Sirens: Interview No. 502 [📷: Before the Sirens]

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