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Interview with
JAMES VECK-GILODI
from
DEAF HAVANA

(18th September 2025)

Interview by Dave Bruce

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Watch the whole interview below:

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It’s Dave here from Amnplify and this time I had the chance to sit down with the ever-honest and brilliantly talented James Veck-Gilodi from Deaf Havana. If you know the band, you’ll already understand how raw and real their music has been for nearly 20 years. If you don’t, well, buckle in — because James takes us on a wild ride through the ups, downs, and everything in between.

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PHOTO CREDIT: SUEDE

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From Norfolk beginnings to major stages

Deaf Havana was born in Norfolk back in the mid-2000s, not out of grand ambition, but out of necessity. As James put it: “We weren’t smart enough to be nerds and we didn’t play sports. So we just picked up instruments.”

What started as schoolmates making noise in a garage grew into something far greater. The band scraped together enough money to buy an old Royal Mail van, lived out of it for two years, and gigged relentlessly across the UK and Europe. Out of that came their first records, early acclaim, and eventually a major label signing when James was just 19.

But as with many rock stories, the climb wasn’t without chaos. Deaf Havana went through lineup changes, record label pressures, debt, and James’ own battles with alcohol. “We’ve broken up three times,” he admits with disarming honesty, “but somehow we’re still here, and people still care.”

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The sound of Deaf Havana

Describing their sound, James keeps it simple: “It’s varied, but it’s always lyric-driven, honest rock music. Honest, sometimes depressing lyrics and four chords on a guitar.”

Across their discography, Deaf Havana have experimented — from heavier, screamo-influenced beginnings to more pop-driven explorations — but the core has always been authenticity. Their influences range from Bruce Springsteen to, perhaps most surprisingly for many, Silverchair, who James cites as a major inspiration, especially Daniel Johns’ vocal work.

Carousel, and the album that followed

The band’s most recent release, the Carousel EP, leads directly into their brand-new full-length album We’re Never Getting Out, set for release in October. Interestingly, James revealed that the band actually scrapped an entire album before writing this one: “I listened back to it and thought, this is not good. So we started again. This album feels like the one I’ve been trying to write for years. The songs are crafted better, the lyrics are stronger, and it just feels like us.”

Key tracks include “Life in Forward Motion”, which sets the tone, and James’ personal favourite, “Tracing Lines” — a haunting song written in the middle of a relationship he knew was ending.

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Touring and what’s next

The band will be back on the road in October for a UK tour, followed by shows in Germany in January. And yes, James made it clear: he wants to return to Australia. Deaf Havana have toured here before and count it as one of their favourite places to play.

Beyond the music

The chat wasn’t all about the career. We went deep into James’ love of food (his father was an Italian chef, so it’s in the blood), his proudest achievement (still being able to write music after everything), and the honesty that keeps him grounded. These days, he’s sober, healthier than ever, and continuing to find meaning in faith, family, and creative expression.

When asked about favourites, James didn’t hesitate:

Album: Diorama – Silverchair
Artist: Silverchair (no surprise there!)
Venue: Brixton Academy
Food: Pasta — always
Place to visit: Australia

And perhaps most telling of all, when asked about the craziest thing he’d ever done, James laughed and said: “I definitely can’t tell you the craziest thing I’ve ever done.”

Some things, it seems, are best left off the record.

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Final thoughts

What struck me most about James is his ability to be completely unfiltered. There’s no rockstar pretence here. Deaf Havana’s story is one of grit, mistakes, survival, and above all, music that connects because it’s real.

With their new album on the horizon and tours lined up, it feels like a new chapter for James and the band — one built not on labels or expectations, but on the music they want to make.

And if the passion in James’ voice is anything to go by, Deaf Havana are far from finished.

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Follow DEAF HAVANA
Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

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Watch the whole interview below:

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AMNPLIFY – DB