Kingscliff’s Lorien Layne strikes a chord with Mullum Roots win

KINGSCLIFF’S Lorien Layne are proving the next generation of Northern Rivers musicians is already making its mark, taking out the 18 to 25 Youth Battle of the Bands at Mullum Roots Festival, which was held over the weekend of 11–12 July.

For frontman Jasper Cruickshank, the win was a reward for a band that has only been playing together for about a year but has quickly built a reputation for its raw, grungy sound and energetic live shows.

Cruickshank said the festival crowd offered a different experience to the usual Lorien Layne show, which typically involves a mosh pit.

“It was a bit of a different vibe,” he said.

“It was a pleasure to have all the eyes on us listening to the music.

“There was no animosity like we are used to.”

Lorien Layne began with Cruickshank and drummer Casey Mansfield rehearsing in a garage on Lorien Way in Kingscliff.

Through Casey’s girlfriend, the pair met guitarist Thomas Michael, while their friend Jake Weir learnt bass specifically so the group could become a complete band.

The band’s name is a nod to the neighbourhood that hosted those early rehearsals.

“It’s named after Lorien Way,” Cruickshank said.

“We were going to be called Lorien Way, but we just didn’t like it enough.”

“And then our favourite band Alice in Chains…the lead singer’s name is Layne Staley, so we called it Lorien Layne and it’s like a little play on words.”

The band’s sound draws from grunge, alt rock and indie influences, with Cruickshank describing their songs as a reflection of everyday experiences.

“The lyrics come from anything from growing up, love, really anything; it can be hanging out with your mates,” he said.

Cruickshank writes all of the band’s lyrics, often allowing songs to develop naturally rather than forcing a particular idea.

He pointed to the song Tell Me How I Feel as an example of this.

“It started off as a song just about someone telling you their feelings,” he said.

“We never really thought about the lyrics, it just kind of came out.

“It was something that we got out, and it was nice.”

Cruickshank said allowing songs to develop naturally helped the band create music that felt genuine.

“It starts out as an emotional outlet,” he said.

“You end up getting out what you want to say without really thinking about it.

“We like to keep our stuff polished yet pretty raw and not think about it.”

Acknowledging Kingscliff’s growing community of alternative bands, Cruickshank said the town’s surf culture has helped shape its sound.

“It always blends with some sort of surf culture in some way,” he said.

“You always have that softer side that’s blended into heavy, and I think that’s so nice.

“I think that’s very common with this area.”

The Mullum Roots win has already opened new doors for Lorien Layne, with opportunities through the festival’s prize including a spot on a feature stage at the following year’s festival, radio play opportunities with Bay FM, and a music voucher from a local music shop.