A CONVERSATION WITH... THE LAST DINNER PARTY
On the rise of fame and success after the release of the hit single - ‘Nothing Matters’ - The Last Dinner Party open up about touring, musical influences, and theatricality.
“We are an art-pop five-piece that drawn on maximalism and theatricality. We like to dress up and be free with everything within our music,” The Last Dinner Party’s Aurora (keys and vocals) vocalises - painting the band in a unique yet memorable light.
Emerging as a powerful Renaissance-inspired force after releasing their debut single, ‘Nothing Matters’, The Last Dinner Party have stormed the alt-rock scene with sold-out shows, festival slots, and support positions for the likes of Florence and The Machine, The Rolling Stones, and Lana Del Rey. For a group with only a handful of singles released, there is something mythical and magical about these performers.
"On this first album, Abi has written most of the lyrics. It is like her baby and she brought us all on this project. She sits at the piano and thinks about lyrics - lyrics are important to us. We then look at it as a band and arrange it together,” Aurora highlights and relates to how the group collectively agree on how a song - or record - should come about. She immediately adds: "But we do all write!". Their second single - ‘Sinner’ - has: "Bedroom producer vibes," she adds as the story of The Last Dinner Party in the studio unfolds.
With theatricality and shredding on the guitar in mind concerning The Last Dinner Party, you cannot help but wonder who the musical influence behind the project is. Aurora - taking a while to think of the perfect answer - replies with Metalica. “They are very musical and theatrical, I grew up listening to them. But it is funny because they do not have a keyboard player and I am the keyboard player,” she laughs. Attending a The Last Dinner Party show, you can easily see the Metallica and James Hetfield guitar riff influence: the band are first and foremost rockers who let loose musically and aesthetically.
Being from London - the band found each other through meeting at University - plus gaining members such as Emily (guitarist) and Aurora (keys) through close friends introducing the band. The Last Dinner Party started as a live band: they played shows aiming to draw attention to themselves through word of mouth - which was deemed successful. When asked why the five-piece chose to build their status this way instead of the standard single, album, or promo roll-out - Aurora exclaims: “It felt like the natural thing to do. Start playing the music then figure out what the songs need to be, we wanted to let the songs live. Each time we play a song it changes a tiny bit and you learn something new. Once it felt ready we got in the studio. It is work-shopping essentially, it is so retro,” she jokes. She continues enthusiastically: “People cared about us despite not having music online”. This heartwarming reaction from the key player indicates the gratitude of The Last Dinner Party of people attending their shows despite the lack of streamable art.
If you attend a The Last Dinner Party show - the setlist is extensive - including the released singles and a catalogue of unreleased yet flawless material. Choosing the next single to be released is a principal thought for the band: “It is always difficult to decide what song we are gonna put out next,” Aurora ponders. “We have played these songs so much they have almost become different people with different personalities,” she adds. Aurora delves in and continues: “It is kinda imagining what we want people to sing along to next. When we go to the show what song do we want people to scream next.” Relating to the singles ‘Nothing Matters’ and ‘Sinner’ - the pianist describes them to be: “Quite poppy and dancey, I think they occupy a similar kind of space, but the rest of the album is a bit different, heavier.”
The Last Dinner Party hit the road on their all-most sold-out tour starting in October - performing in places such as Manchester, London, Glasgow, and Leeds - this band is no stranger to being on stage at this point and knows how to captivate a room of people - like a mythical siren call. “We are all excited to go see faces because it is all kinda new to us, we are so excited. We wanna go out for dinner and see the sights,” Aurora discusses. Swiftly adding in before the interview takes a turn, she exclaims: “I am so excited to go see Glasgow!”.
If anyone knows how to captivate a crowd and memorise thousands - while being covered head to toe in outrageous and theatrical costumes - it is Florence and The Machine - whom The Last Dinner Party had the honour of supporting in Ireland in June this year. “Oh my god! Yes!” the pianist yells when asked if the interview can take a b-line into that magical experience for the London five-piece. “She is such a role model. Her music, her aesthetic, and as a person, she lived up to it all. When we met her she ran towards Georgia and we were like do you know each other? Her advice was to follow your gut. What you think is good instinctually is almost always the right thing.” It is epically heart-warming to see such a powerful force as Florence Welch - guiding and supporting a group of five rockers in the right direction - and providing them with unforgettable advice that will undoubtedly shape The Last Dinner Party for the rest of their careers.
“From the beginning, we have given ourselves dress codes on stage, but before the band, I did not think much about style and fashion. But now I find it so freeing, it has allowed us to be creative and express ourselves,” Aurora explains when directing the band’s latest advisement for their audiences to come dressed up in specific dress codes for each show on their upcoming tour. These dress codes range from Greek Mythology, Victoriana and The Brothers Grimm. She adds: “I cannot wait to see everyone, I hope you all dress up,” a direct plea to anyone attending a show.
‘Nothing Matters’ has become a staple for the band - from the aesthetically and visually pleasing music video, combined with the ABBA / Bowie / Florence and The Machine-esque rhythm and lyrics - the success and admiration for the song has reached new heights, allowing The Last Dinner Party to get their foot in the door. While discussing what the song means to the group, Aurora claims: “It has always been the most joyful part of the set, it is just euphoria and joy. I cannot wipe the smile off my face seeing everyone singing and jumping along when we play it live”. It is a stand-out part of a The Last Dinner Party show - so if the opportunity arises - go scream: “And I will fuck you / Like nothing matters”.
The group are ending their year supporting none other than Irish folk icon - Hozier - on his Unreal Unearth tour. Another staple artist support locked in their grasp. But what is next for The Last Dinner Party? Where is the album? “Album is coming next year,” Aurora secretly hints and adds: “It is gonna be full on from next year for us”.
As a group with nothing but an immensely bright future ahead of them - it is so bewitching and intriguing to see how much The Last Dinner Party have achieved in such a short space of time within the music industry - they are taking everyone by storm: the group are most definitely an unstoppable force draped in lace and embellished with a rocker sense of dedication and determination.