For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to The Lunar Effect? How long has the band been around?

Dan and Jon were in a band called DeepSeaGreen, Brett was in a band called MNBMDNFM and Josh was a solo performer on the acoustic scene. The Lunar Effect as we are now has been around for about 2 years. Before that, it was mainly Jon and Dan working with other people trying to get something cooking.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

The origin of the name came out of a slight obsession with the moon and all of the elements in life that its cycles and phases had been said to affect through time. Most of them a complete falsehood, but still interesting. A lot of people often think it is because Jon has a daughter named Luna, but the band name came first and it's spelled differently anyway so we can nip that one in the bud.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

Jon wrote a lot of the earlier ones with the help of Dan, but now It really varies from song to song. Our newer material usually come out of refining a jam or riff idea - real sit around the room 'how do you feel about that?' shit. 

Other times they're finished quicker than it takes to play it through which is cool. We're good at criticising each other too, bad ideas don't last long. As far as topics go we cover the classics; women, drugs, women on drugs, demon seductress soul stealing women, trivial existences, crippling pain and yeah, the classics. 

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making? 

Some of the so-called desert scenes is pretty cool, like Graveyard, Radio Moscow and Red Fang, but we listen to loads of different stuff.  Mainly older bands from the 60’s, 70’s and 90’s. I think from a songwriting perspective you can’t really beat people like Lennon and Bowie, but as for bands with a cool sound we love loads of different genres, from Pink Floyd and Sabbath to The Raconteurs and Fuzz. The list is endless.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

I think anyone of our generation grew up through the grunge movement, most teenagers could relate to Cobain’s lyrics and be amazed by Cornell's voice so that was an inspiration, but also just going through your Dads record collection as a kid. All those great LPS with incredible artwork and different sounds.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

It depends on where the show is really, but most of the time we like to try and meet the sound engineer and do a quick sound check with them. Maybe check out the other bands on the bill if we haven't already. Then depending on how long we have to wait before our stage time, we go out and grab some food, generally a dirt-cheap fried chicken gaff that we soon regret choosing, then sit around and debate what the set-list should be for the show. Oh, and it wouldn't be a gig without Jon asking if anyone has a pick the second we step on stage. Standard. 

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

Playing for the Outlaws MC annual ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ party is up there. That was a great night.  Being heard on Kerrang radio was also cool. In general, though I think the best is yet to come, and we expect a lot more career highlights when our new album comes out later this year. In the meantime you can check us out playing ‘Weaver’, a track from the new album, for Hunter Recording Studio’s ‘live artist ‘series on our YouTube Channel. Let us know what you think.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

Anyone cut from the same cloth, preferably. Presently I think it would be cool to tour with bands like Radio Moscow or Graveyard, they are probably the biggest bands which we are loosely in the same genre as. Unless Wolfmother are touring again anytime soon? We've been likened to them a handful of times.

Though if we could time travel back to the seventies and go on tour with Sabbath or Zeppelin that would be cool. Or how about the fictional band Stillwater from Almost Famous! Who wouldn’t want to sing Tiny Dancer on a tour bus?

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Keep an eye on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for upcoming gigs and updates on the new record. We've also got a bitching new limited edition t-shirt that'll be up for grabs soon. Other than that, feel free to check out the last E.P; buy it, enjoy it and maybe come to one of our shows and get drunk with us.