indie pop

Pale Waves are an English rock band from Manchester, formed in 2014. It was founded originally as Creek when lead singer and guitarist Heather Baron-Gracie met drummer Ciara Doran while attending university in Manchester. The other members are guitarist Hugo Silvani and bassist Charlie Wood, completing the lineup.[1] Pale Waves's early work is often described as 80s-inspired indie rock or synth-pop; their second and third albums, however, owe more to the pop-punk genre.

After signing a record deal with Dirty Hit in 2017, Pale Waves released their debut single, "There's a Honey", followed by "Television Romance". In 2018, the band were ranked fifth in the BBC Sound of 2018 poll and won the NME Under the Radar Award at the NME Awards. Pale Waves' debut EP, All the Things I Never Said, was released in February 2018, followed by their debut studio album, My Mind Makes Noises, on 14 September 2018. The band's second album, Who Am I?, was released on 12 February 2021, and peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart; the record also hit number one on the UK Independent Albums Chart. The band's third album, Unwanted, was released on 12 August 2022.

Pale Waves formed in 2014 when drummer Ciara Doran met Heather Baron-Gracie while attending BIMM Manchester.[2][3] The two originally named their group "Creek",[4] but they soon changed it to "Pale Waves", basing the name on a painting Baron-Gracie's grandmother had created.[5] Doran and Baron-Gracie initially enlisted second guitarist Ben Bateman and bassist Ryan Marsden to complete the lineup, but they departed from the band shortly thereafter, with current bassist Charlie Wood and second guitarist Hugo Silvani replacing them.[6] The band recorded early demos with production team Sugar House that were released in 2015. These tracks caught the attention of XFM radio broadcaster John Kennedy, who referred them to the independent record label Dirty Hit.[7] Pale Waves was subsequently signed to the label in 2017.[6]

The band's first single under Dirty Hit, "There's a Honey", was released on 21 April 2017 to widespread acclaim.[8] On 1 June 2017, the band played a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden supporting The 1975 on their North American tour.[9] The band's second single, "Television Romance", was released on 16 August 2017,[10] with its music video directed by The 1975 lead singer Matty Healy.[11] Healy later appeared on the cover of NME with Baron-Gracie for the 20 October 2017 issue of the magazine.[12] Pale Waves embarked on their first North American headlining tour in November and December 2017, playing 21 shows over four weeks.[13]

The band headlined DIY magazine's Class of 2018 shortlist for its December/January issue.[14] On 7 November 2017, the band released the single "New Year's Eve",[13][15] followed by "My Obsession" on 13 December 2017.

Baron-Gracie announced on 4 January 2018 via Twitter that the band had started recording their debut album.[17] On 8 January, it was announced that the band had been placed fifth in the BBC Sound of 2018 poll.[18] Speaking to the BBC, Baron-Gracie talked about how the band's debut album is shaping up and its darker tone: "The songs we have out now are very influenced by romance. The album is me talking about a lot of my darker issues. I talk about a lot of things that go on in my mind rather than in my heart".[18] "The Tide", the first song written by the band, was released on 1 February 2018 as the third single from the band's then-upcoming debut extended play (EP), All the Things I Never Said.[19][20]

Pale Waves won the NME Under the Radar Award at the NME Awards 2018, and performed "There's a Honey" at the ceremony at London's O2 Academy Brixton on 14 February 2018.[21] The band also received a nomination for Best Video for "Television Romance",[22] but lost out to The Big Moon.[23]

Pale Waves' debut EP, All the Things I Never Said, was released digitally on 20 February 2018,[24][25] followed by a 12-inch vinyl release on 16 March 2018.[26] On 6 April 2018, it was announced that the band had signed to Interscope Records in a joint venture with Dirty Hit to release music in the United States.[27] The third single from the band's debut album, "Kiss", following "There's a Honey" and "Television Romance", was released on 15 May 2018. "Noises" was released as the fourth single on 28 June 2018.

In an interview with NME magazine in early September 2018 the band revealed they are working on a new EP following the debut album. Baron-Gracie discussed how the new EP will lean towards "pop punk and rock'n'roll" and will touch on themes such as politics, acceptance and sexuality.[28] The band's debut album, My Mind Makes Noises, was released on 14 September 2018 and reached number eight on the UK Albums Chart.

The talents of indie-pop artist Jem Cassar-Daley have dazzled the Australian music scene since her debut last year. Previous singles, "Letting Go," "Changes," and "Like it More" have quickly gained her notoriety and adoration, and soon they'll be released together with lead single, "Oh No," on Jem's debut EP. I Don't Know Who to Call is a devastatingly gorgeous collection of all of the singer-songwriter's works to date.

The EP's genesis is suitably wholesome and Jem thanks all those who helped make it possible. "This project is very close to my heart... Its personal, raw and like a glimpse into my personal journal. It was also an EP that was only made possible with the help of my family and I am so fortunate to be surrounded by such supportive and inspiring people to pull it all together.

Wesley Fuller, the Perth-born, Melbourne-based power pop boy wonder, has announced details of the release of his debut album. Inner City Dream will be released on 1965 Records on Friday 22nd September 2017.

Very much a ‘solo’ affair, the album was written, recorded, produced and mixed at various studios, including his own home set-up, around Melbourne.

The album also features bassist Brendan West & guitarist Liam Hopkins from Fuller’s live band and vocalists Cate Woodfield & Simone Kieruj.

Fuller has also announced details of the release of the first track from the album, #1 Song, a track which sees him turning his observational eye towards the far off universe that is the upper echelon of modern pop – “I think everyone in the scene knows to a certain extent that it’s all bullshit. So why take it too seriously? You’ve got some artists with 20 tracks in the Top 30. The gap between the big stars and the indie bands are worlds apart,” he explains. “There’s really no money in music at all unless you’re at the very top. To get there you have to compromise your dignity and be prepared to release some pretty pedestrian shit.”

Coming a year on from the brash debut EP, Melvista, Inner City Dream features twelve tracks of swirling psych, jangly pop and punchy, crunchy glam that show off Fuller’s broadening sonic palette and his progression as a writer and producer.

He explains: “Melvista was really my first solo expedition and I was learning as I went along. I think by the time I came to record the album I had a better technical knowledge of what I was doing. There’s probably a wider span of influences on the album. I wanted to showcase every aspect of my sound.”

As well as his steady diet of 70s junk shop glam and bubblegum, Fuller’s regular DJ slots around the Melbourne rock scene’s favourite dive bars produced a new fascination for the polyrhythmic ways of Talking Heads during their late-70s/early-80s peak. It inspired Fuller to make tunes of his own that would make people boogie.

Lyrically, Fuller has also progressed. Moving on from the teenage lust of much of Melvista, Inner City Dream presents the worldview of a young man trying to come to terms with his place, both physically and symbolically.

Fuller has already started demoing tracks and playing with ideas for his second album, though it may be some time off. The concepts on Inner City Dream and world events have started him thinking about what else could be around the corner.

“I think the next few years will be a very interesting time for pop music. The world is in a crazy state right now and it feels as though something will have to give pretty soon. There’s plenty to write about. But do people want to hear protest songs or do they want to escape reality? Perhaps there’s a new sound around the corner. Who will turn on the light?”

After what feels like a lifetime, Amanduh, the indie pop songstress from the hills is headlining The Workers Club in Naarm/Melbourne on Wednesday 25th of May to launch her debut single ‘Old Flame’.