Photo Credit: Jon Wilson
Welsh four-piece The Nightmares spent the COVID-19 pandemic experimenting with séances and writing new music – resulting in their debut album, the aptly titled Séance. We caught up with bassist, Benjamin T. Mainwaring, to discuss the band’s formation, influences, ambitions and more.
Firstly, tell us a bit about yourself and your band.
My name is Benjamin T. Mainwaring and I play bass in The Nightmares. The band features Adam Parslow (lead vocals, guitar), Eleanor Coburn (keys, vocals) and James Mattock (drums, backing vocals). We are a band from Newport in South Wales, and we play a form of music that we describe as ‘noir-pop’. A mix of goth, emo, and post-punk sounds.
How did the band form and how long have you been together?
The band formed naturally through friendship back in 2018. Adam and Eleanor are married, but at the time they were dating and Adam had asked Eleanor about the idea of starting a band together. Eleanor is classically training and although at first she resisted, eventually she decided to give it a try. Adam and I have been friends since we were about 15 and first playing in punk bands together. James had recently moved to Newport for a relationship, and we all shared similar interest and musical tastes.
Can you remember the first time you realised you wanted to make music?
I was exposed to music at a very early age through my father. He was a MASSIVE fan of The Rolling Stones, so I learnt the sounds of rock ‘n’ roll from way, way back. I was always attracted to the dark side of life in that sense… Sympathy for the Devil had a huge impact on me. Whenever we’d take car journeys my dad would play his records and I just loved the sound of a guitar. Then, as I grew a little older into my teenage years, I was exposed to punk rock and it was definitely blink-182 and Dude Ranch/Enema of the State that made me believe I could do this. I owe so much to that band. People say this a lot and so I’m hesitant to say it myself, but blink changed my life. They saved me from the little valley town I grew up in and helped me find myself, my humour, and my individuality. I hope to be able to thank them personally one day.
Who and what are the band’s main influences?
We are all huge fans of the macabre and we adore horror movies. Musically, I’d say The Cure, Alkaline Trio, and Placebo.
What do you aim to achieve as a band?
We just want to make our mark and mean something to the people that get our band. I hope that our music can be looked back on in time and be respected and loved by our fans. There are so many records in my collection that still mean so much to me. I really hope we can be that for someone out there. We want to welcome people into our world and have people feel like they can be part of our gang.
For those who are yet to see you live, what can they expect from a The Nightmares show?
A dark, immersive, and dream-like experience.
What’s next for The Nightmares?
Release our debut album, Séance, into the world then tour, tour, tour.
The Nightmares‘ debut album Séance is out now via Venn Records (UK/EU)/Equal Vision Records, available to stream or purchase HERE.
See The Nightmares on their co-headline tour with Miss Vincent at one of the following dates:
April 2023
Wed 19th – SOUTHAMPTON – Joiners
Thu 20th – NEWCASTLE – Little Buildings
Fri 21st – LEEDS – Boom
Sat 22nd – NEWPORT – The Westgate Hotel
Sun 23rd – KINGSTON – The Fighting Cocks
