Last Updated on 2026-08-29 by a-indie
What They Poured Into the Lyrics
Wakiki: I’d like to ask a bit about the lyrics. I understand that you write the lyrics, and some of your songs explore very serious themes such as mental health, domestic violence, and various issues and concerns facing society and the world. What do you value when you take on themes like that in your lyrics? And what does expressing these things through music mean to you personally?
The Guest List「Mary」 (Official Video)
from The Debut Album『Something Real』
Cai: The more serious an issue would be to talk about in a song, the more sensitivity we’d want in handling, recording, and releasing it. When I write about those things, I do it because I care about them. They come from an honest place, and they come from an ambition to write about things which are interesting and which people are really affected by, rather than playing it safe.
We don’t underestimate the responsibility in writing about such serious topics, and we take that into every show and every recording session. But at the same time, we wouldn’t want to shy away from it or run away from something that we care about. I wouldn’t want to do that when writing.
Who Is the “Right Audience”?
Wakiki: In another interview, you said it’s not necessary for a song to become big, but that it’s important for it to reach the “right audience.” For you, Cai, who is that “right audience” that needs The Guest List’s music? This might connect with what we just talked about regarding the lyrics.
Cai: I think it changes from song to song. I do honestly believe that anyone can like our band. I think probably we would hope that it would reach a younger audience who, like ourselves, are finding their way through their lives.
The main impact a song can have is to make someone feel like they’re not alone in feeling something like it’s happened before. I really do believe that anyone can like our music. I don’t think we have a particular person in mind that we write for.
I think we write for ourselves and I write for myself. As a result, probably our audience looks quite similar to us. Certainly back home it does.
I don’t know, I kind of think we just write for ourselves and the audience is a consequence of that. But anyone can like a Guest List song.
What Went Into『Something Real』
Wakiki: That way of thinking seems to connect with the album title, 『Something Real』, too — turning your real experiences and feelings into songs, delivering genuine music. Could you tell us why you chose “Something Real,” one of the tracks, as the title for the whole album?
The Guest List「Something Real」 (Official Video)
from The Debut Album『Something Real』
Cai: It’s exactly that, I think the songs aren’t necessarily tied by one lyrical theme, but I think there’s an attitude that connects them all, which is that we want to get across that we’re making music that we really believe in, that we think is genuine, there’s no gimmicks from us or from the music that we’re making, and that we want to push towards a world where everything can be done that way.
I think we feel and a lot of our generation would feel a bit disillusioned with the falseness of the world that we’ve grown up in, so it’s nice to have places where we can be human.
Five Years Captured on Their Debut Album
Wakiki: Now that the debut album 『Something Real』 is complete, looking back on it, what kind of work does it feel like to you?
Cai: I mean, I wanted to do a debut album all my life. It’s really important to me, certainly I think it’s very important to the band. To any musician who grows up wanting to do it for a career, the debut album feels like the biggest moment until it happens.
And then obviously it represents for me a lot of fond memories of recording it, being in Bergen, and writing the album, and where I was in my life at each point of writing each song. So yeah, it feels like a huge deal for us. It’s kind of all the work that we’ve been doing over the last five years coming to a head now for this album.
So yeah, it’s kind of everything for us, I guess.
Taking the Stage in Japan for the First Time
Wakiki: Lastly, you’re here in Japan to perform at Summer Sonic. Could you share how you feel about standing on a Japanese stage for the first time, and a message for the Japanese listeners and fans who are about to discover The Guest List’s music?
Cai: We’re very excited. Yeah, I don’t know what to expect from the audience and everything. Obviously it’ll be…
It’s the furthest we’ve ever been performing from home. And we’re on quite early, we’re on at 11am, but apparently that’s not a problem over here (laughs). So yeah, I can’t wait really, and I can’t wait to see how our music has an effect on a new audience, a new culture.
So yeah, I’m very excited.
Wakiki: That’s all the questions we have. Thank you so much for answering so sincerely all the way through.
Cai: Arigatou.
The Guest List in Japan
The Guest List Releases
Debut Album『Something Real』
Release Date: Aug 28, 2026
Label: ARTIST THEORY RECORDS
Track Listing:
01.Something Real
02.Ruine
03.You Should Care
04.Sick Animal
05.Mundane
06.If Ever Your Devil is Kind
07.Pink
08.Craven
09.Slow Down Sally
10.Mary
11.Weatherman
12.The Only Ones
The Guest List
Live Information
•Aug. 27, 2026
Chipstead, Kent, United Kingdom | The Forum – Tunbridge Wells
•Aug.28, 2026
Reading, United Kingdom | Richfield Avenue
•Aug.29, 2026
Leeds, United Kingdom | Bramham Park
•Aug.30, 2026
Leeds, United Kingdom | Bramham Park
•Oct.21, 2026
Paris, France | Les Étoiles
•Oct.25, 2026
Köln, Germany | Artheater
•Oct.27, 2026
Berlin, Germany | Badehaus Berlin
•Oct.28, 2026
Hamburg, Germany | Uebel & Gefährlich
•Nov.5, 2026
Birmingham, United Kingdom | O2 Institute Birmingham
•Nov.6, 2026
Leeds, United Kingdom | first direct bank arena
•Nov.7, 2026
Cardiff, United Kingdom | Utilita Arena
•Nov.13, 2026
Liverpool, United Kingdom | M&S Bank Arena Liverpool
•Nov.14, 2026
London, United Kingdom | Alexandra Palace
•Nov.17, 2026
Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom | The Grove
•Nov.19, 2026
Glasgow, United Kingdom | Saint Luke’s
•Nov.20, 2026
Birmingham, United Kingdom | O2 Institute Birmingham
•Nov.21, 2026
Oxford, United Kingdom | O2 Academy Oxford
•Nov.22, 2026
Southampton, United Kingdom | Papillon
•Nov.24, 2026
London, United Kingdom | Scala
•Nov.25, 2026
Leeds, United Kingdom | Project House
•Nov.26, 2026
Bristol, United Kingdom | The Fleece
•Nov.27, 2026
Oxford, United Kingdom | O2 Academy Oxford
For tickets, check their official website.
The Guest List Band Profile
The band consists of Cai Alty (Vo. / G.), Tom Quigley (G.), Leio Hunter (G.), Sid Wallace (Ba.), and Angus Gilchrist (Dr.).
They first gained attention through cover videos posted online and have steadily built a following across the UK, performing at major festivals including Glastonbury and TRNSMT, as well as supporting artists such as Blossoms, DMA’S, and Inhaler.
In 2026, they released their debut album, Something Real. Rooted in Manchester and drawing on a wide range of musical influences, the band builds on a foundation of guitar rock to create a distinctive sound shaped by their sharp perspective on society.
HP：https://www.theguestlist.band/
Youtube：@TheGuestListOfficial
Instagram：@theguestlist.band
Writer: Wakiki
A BayStars fan who loves coffee, cigarettes, and music. Based in Mie Prefecture. Read more articles by Wakiki here
Instagram：@wakiki_310
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