Interview: Getting to Know DA

London heavy rock crew, DA, are gearing up to make their mark with the release of their self-titled debut album, DA, out Friday 10th April. The first taste of the record is their new single, Snake, which is out now. In this interview, we get to know them a little better.

1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.

My name is Robin Brancher, and I play six-string electric guitar for DA, a band that started in North London, England. DA came about after a tough time with my old band, Desolation Angels, which I helped to found. Our current name, DA, originally stood for Desolation Angels. People used to shorten the name to DA, and that habit stuck. When I left Desolation Angels, I found out I couldn’t use the full name because it had been trademarked without my knowledge. Looking back, that turned out to be a good thing, since I was able to trademark DA instead. At first, I wanted DA to compete with Desolation Angels in every way. Now, though, I’m in a much better place both musically and personally, and those old rivalries don’t matter anymore. Desolation Angels is a big part of my past, but I’m happy to have moved on, and I’m excited about what’s ahead for DA.

These days though we joke about the name DA and where it came from who gives a *hit anyway, we’er on a roll and loving our musical journey . . . although there is rumour that we could actually be decedents from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Disaster Area, a plutonium rock band from the Gagrakacka Mind Zones, which are generally held to be not only the loudest rock band in the Galaxy, but in fact the loudest noise of any kind at all. Of course, that’s us!

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

I would say that DA are a Chorus-Driven Heavy Rock Band. A slick four-piece power rock band that captures the essence of rock and heavy rock, delivering an awe-inspiring Rock ‘n’ Roll experience.

3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?

We are definitely planning ahead and are excited about what’s coming! There’s the release of our debut album on the 10th April 2026, available on all streaming platforms and on a limited run of CDs. Check YouTube for accompanying videos, and in July, we’ll be back in the studio to start recording our second album. Right now, we are busy rehearsing the new songs.

We are also looking for a management and booking agent company to collaborate with. If interested, please get in touch. Sadly, our drummer, Dan Smith, has had to step down due to a serious spine injury. We are urgently seeking UK-based drummers who might be a good fit for DA. Please contact DA if you are interested.

These projects keep me focused, and we have more videos coming, and that excites me. We can’t wait to perform live again; it truly unites the band and is an incredible thrill.

4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?

Right now, not much is happening for me besides what I’ve already mentioned. My main focus is always on DA. Our debut album comes out on April 10th, and I’m looking forward to it. Still, I worry that the new DA release might not have much impact. The current political climate and the state of the music industry don’t help. I’m also concerned because there’s nothing supporting the release—no management to promote it and no tour planned. These interviews are great, and I hope they help create a buzz for DA, but I’m not sure it will be enough for real commercial success. What really excites me about DA is when we get together and play. Whether we’re in the rehearsal room, the studio, or on stage, just playing together keeps me going. That’s what excites me most.

5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.

All of us in the band have worked really hard just to reach this small milestone. The stress is always there, especially lately, with all the daily planning and organising. I do my best to keep things together, though sometimes I feel close to giving up. It’s always on my mind, day and night. I’m always thinking of new ways to get the band noticed. The constant emails and requests for help or advice seem endless. Still, somehow, being a musician makes sense of all the chaos. What keeps me going is the music itself. Music brings freedom. It’s what fills you with joy, gives you hope, and makes all the hard work worth it.

6. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?

If anything, trying to be a successful musician doesn’t really mean that everything is good for the mind, far from it in fact. It’s a terribly stressful business, and at our level, trying to keep everything afloat and moving forward is probably one of the most frustrating and negative situations to be in. It affects family members, loved ones and the band members. And as for the state of my mental health, well, most of the time I feel like it’s shot!

7. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?

I really enjoy the modern way of recording and don’t find it difficult at all. It actually suits me and matches how I like to work. I prefer to keep things moving quickly in the studio, and today’s technology makes it easy to get things done and reach my goals. I can’t get enough of it. The real challenge these days isn’t the technology, but the music industry itself. It just doesn’t seem interested in anything new, or in artists like us who have been around for a while. That’s the real problem.

8. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?

Somewhat tedious to be honest, and I wish I could hand that continuous task over to someone more qualified, someone who has the passion for such things … Obviously, my passion and skills are better suited to other areas of this musical merry-go-round.

9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?

I indulge myself in riff writing. I totally love the songwriting adventure and its twists and turns along the way. The process of that musical discovery fascinates me; the moment the rest of the band gets on board with a new riff and the new music starts to click with them, that is a real thrill.

10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?

When this album is released and you hear it for the first time, give the songs a chance. Don’t discard a song after one listen or move on to the next track just because it is not what you are used to. Give it time, listen again, and let the songs grow on you. At the end of the day, this album was not designed to be the usual. Its creation is meant to take you on a new musical adventure and demands a deeper, more thoughtful imagination.

11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?

I play guitar to relax, but I do like to keep fit and enjoy pubs. I work out alone and drink alone, lost in my thoughts: how can I make this band reach the commercial success I envision? I live within walking distance of the sea, and I often take long walks along the seafront in all weathers. It’s all very relaxing.

12. Where can people find you?

DA Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify