(Photo Courtesy of Rick Wood/Concord Music Group)

They are a four-piece alternative rock band based out of Leeds, U.K. They received their big break in 2011 when they came over to the US and performed at the Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, Tenn. The impact they had on the crowd was so incredible that it lead to a record deal with Concord Music Group.

Since then, they have released an album and an EP, appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and done non-stop touring throughout 2012 and 2013. The emotional expression and powerful lyrics in their music has had critics compare them to great musical acts such as Mumford & Sons and Fleet Foxes. Now they are gearing up to release their next album which should be coming out next year.

Neon Tommy got a chance to interview the Dunwells before they went back to the U.K. to continue working on their new album.

NT: Since the release of your debut album, "Blind Sighted Faith," you have been playing on talk shows, music festivals and touring a lot since your big break. How has this experience been for you guys?

Dunwells: It’s been incredible. The support we’ve had from fans across the world has been overwhelming. It’s the sort of thing we dreamed of doing, and now it’s a reality.

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NT: Have you had any experiences with your fans that stick out in your memory?

Dunwells: The fans have been amazing on this. There have been many times when they have brought us food like cookies and cakes. It’s really nice as they go out of their way to make these things to try and make the long stints we have in the US a little easier with some home cooked sugary goodness.

We’ve had a few crazy experiences--not really sure we can repeat them. There was this one time when Dave walked onto the stage and a lady in the audience got a little overwhelmed and shouted something. Sadly we can’t repeat what she said. Needless to say, she was a little excited about seeing him.

NT: I’ve noticed that you’ve been touring heavily in both the U.S. and the U.K. What’s one thing that’s different about touring in the US compared to touring in the U.K.?

Dunwells: Touring in each country has been pretty similar. You’re still on the road, staying in hotels and playing amazing shows. The audiences are a little different though. Americans seems to pay far more attention to the lyrical content of a song and appreciate the poetry and harmony, whereas in the U.K. they seem to focus more on rhythm, feeling and musicality.

(Photo Courtesy of Adam Roberts/Concord Music Group)

NT: I hear that you’re releasing a second album in 2015 and it is produced by Steve Harris (a producer who worked with Dave Matthews). How was it like working with him?

Dunwells: Working with Steve was an awesome experience. There are certain people around you who are instrumental in the creation of your sound. Steve was probably the most influential person with this. He understood us and what we were trying to create which helped take us in the direction that we wanted to go. It has ended up with us creating something we are incredibly proud of.

NT: How was the creation of the second album? Was it more challenging than the first album?

Dunwells: It was easier the second time around. With the first album, we were already touring the songs before we recorded them, so it was quite difficult to find the essence of the song and capture it on a record. This time we’ve started from the ground up creating something new and fresh. It was also recorded in the U.K. this time, which led to us being a lot more relaxed as we were in a familiar setting near our homes and families.

NT: Your new EP, "Show Me Emotion," has a sound that delivers bigger harmonic sounds and stronger lyrics. Is the EP a taste of what we will hear on the second album?

Dunwells: Absolutely. As a band, we now have more to say and we have more stories. Our influences for our songwriting have grown whilst on the road and seeing the world.

NT: What’s one thing you’d like to tell people about your music?

Joe Dunwell: We love doing what we do and we think this really comes across in our music.
Dave Dunwell: It feels like we’re creating a soundtrack to our lives.

You can get their music here on iTunes.

Contact Staff Reporter Coral Rucker here and follow him on Twitter here.