Newport to New Jersey: The Lunasmith Story

Newport-born musician Derek Brown joins BBC Introducing to share the story behind Lunasmith, the transatlantic alternative indie band he helped form during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now based in New Jersey, the four-piece brings together members from Shropshire, Brazil and the USA, creating a distinctive sound that blends grunge, shoegaze, punk and classic 70s rock.

Drawing inspiration from iconic female-fronted acts such as Elastica, Skunk Anansie, The Cranberries and Veruca Salt, Lunasmith have developed a powerful wall of sound that's further enhanced by unexpected flute melodies and a fearless approach to songwriting. In this special interview, Derek and frontwoman Belinda discuss the band's origins, their creative partnership, life on the banks of the Hudson River and the journey that took a musician from rural Shropshire to the shadow of the New York skyline. Along the way, they reflect on music, migration, collaboration and what it means to build a band across continents.