Natalia Tena discusses her band Molotov Jukebox, living in a houseboat

by · June 20, 2014

Natalia Tena, who played Nymphadora Tonks in the Potter films, has given a new interview about her band, Molotov Jukebox. The six piece is often billed as “Gyp-step,” a phrase conjured up by a fan to describe their wide-ranging influences from gypsy jazz to heavy metal.

“Neon Lights,” the lead single from their debut album, Carnival Flower, takes its inspiration from London and characterizes the city as a woman. Tena was inspired by Ben Aaronovitch’s book Rivers of London.

I had been wanting to write a song about London for ages, but it just didn’t come out right. It was a bit cheesey, a bit sentimental and a bit urgh.

That and combined with hanging out with Oona (Chaplin, fellow Game of Thrones actress), who came up with a line from the chorus, I thought, ‘let’s just make London a woman’, and it just came out.

The video even starred her friend Oona. Natalia comments,

I loved it. It was quite a struggle because Oona had to go and film something, so we thought we had two weeks, and we had, like, three days to organise it. I barely slept.

The short was directed by another friend, John Drever. Natalia said,

He directed me last year in a film called Superbob, which will come out in October – and it’s brilliant; it’s hilarious.

We had loads of ideas coming around, all involving Oona but not with a direction, and that’s why you hire a director.

I wanted to have that double-edged thing about what London can be – she’s a sexy woman, she’s a violent woman, but she’s also a mum.

Natalia also spoke in the interview of living in a houseboat:

I move every two weeks. I love it. I have lived in so many areas of London, and after I have lived somewhere for a year, I get really bored by it or annoyed by it, and I get itchy feet. This boat does all of that because you buy one boat, and you move it around.

Molotov Jukebox’s album Carnival Flower is out now. The band will play at the City of London Festival on July 13. Click here for more details. Have you listened to the album, yet? Let us know in the comments.