Ahead of the release of Soundtrack For The 21 Bus Home, we spoke with Dan Astles – aka Astles – about the deeply personal themes woven throughout the album. From processing grief and nostalgia to crafting a hopeful, cinematic sound, the record reflects a journey of loss, growth, and self-discovery. In our conversation, they share insights into the songwriting process, working with Bill Ryder-Jones, and how Liverpool’s music scene has shaped their artistry.
Liverpool Noise: You’ve described We Could’ve Been Anything as reflecting on both your uncle’s passing and your own struggles. How did you navigate turning such heavy emotions into something creative and ultimately hopeful?
Astles: I think when I’m writing songs often I don’t know what they are about until afterwards. Sometimes they can tell you something you needed to learn or how you’re actually feeling and that was what happened with We Could’ve Been Anything. But I think always find myself writing about these very personal emotions and maybe not realising how heavy they sound until I’m listening to it in the presence of someone else and by then its too late.
I am really glad that with this song it ended up having a hopeful element to it, as this is always important to me when i’m writing my song. Life is always sad and happy at the same time.
Liverpool Noise: Bill Ryder-Jones contributes guitar on this track—how did that collaboration come about, and what did he bring to the song’s atmosphere?
Astles: I have worked with Bill in the past and consider him a good friend, he has been a musical hero to me and my mates for a long time. For this song, we were recording strings and finishing off a bunch off in his studio Yawn and on the last day I asked him if he was free and that we’d love him to play some guitar on a song and this was the one I had in mind. He came in, listened a few times and then added the wonderful part you hear today. He bought a lot to the song and captured the emotion of it all perfectly.
Liverpool Noise: Soundtrack For The 21 Bus Home has been described as a loose concept album—how do all the songs connect to this overarching theme?
Astles: A lot of the songs are about family, the rest are about life and loss and growing up. The concept of it I guess is that together I wanted it to sound like it could be a mixtape that someone would find in their loft. The songs are all different and recorded in different ways but they are pulled together by something all intangible. Like any playlist we could make ourselves. It was important that together the songs made sense but they were all strong on their own two feet also.
Liverpool Noise: Sonically, the album has been compared to artists like Bright Eyes, Belle and Sebastian, and The Flaming Lips. Who or what were your biggest influences while making this record?
Astles: Different songs had different references I suppose. But one of the biggest influences were the songs and poems that appeared on my Uncle’s original mixtape. Artists such as Echo and The
Bunnymen, The Beatles, Kate Bush, Abba, Jack Keourac. But overall it was just about trying anything we could to get the songs to a place we were happy with.
Liverpool Noise: Your music balances deeply personal storytelling with lush, cinematic arrangements. Do you see yourself as more of a songwriter or a storyteller first?
Astles: Thank you! That’s a good question too, I would say songwriting is my ultimate love, nothing gets me happier than writing something that i feel works melodically and lyrically. But overall I love to write in every way, poems, little stories, songs, anything. The ultimate aim is to write a song that tells a story, I would say.
Liverpool Noise: You’ve performed at some iconic Liverpool venues, including supporting Michael Head at the Philharmonic. How has the city’s music scene influenced you as an artist?
Astles: Massively, in every way really. I have been playing gigs in Liverpool since I was 15 years old and I feel like I have played in almost every venue that has come and gone. As well as this, I am obsessed with the history of Liverpool Music, all the different scenes that have been and gone also. I feel lucky to be apart of it all in my small way, especially playing that show with Mick in Phil. It was the greatest night ever.
Liverpool Noise: With the album set for release in May, how are you feeling about people hearing these songs in full?
Astles: Excited. I hope people enjoy them and take a bit of time to listen and can see what I was getting at. And then hopefully continuing to release a lot of music in the coming years.
Stream Astles’ We Could Have Been Anything now.
Soundtrack For The 21 Bus Home will be released on 30 May 2025.
Follow Astles on Instagram @astlesmusic for updates.
