Flashguns
They've grown up, though still in their early twenties, London based threepiece Flashguns have managed to make their debut album 'Passions of a Different Kind' due for release October 2011 sound extremely mature and full of experience of life. When meeting at school, Sam Felix Johnston (Vocals/Guitar), Olly Scanlon (Bass) and Giles Robinson (Drums) found out they shared a similar love for music. During the months following this discovery, they went on to tour with close friends Bombay Bicycle Club, White Lies and Jamie T – as well as playing sold out headlining shows and festivals across Europe.
They convinced The Smiths' and Babyshambles' Producer Stephen Street to lay hands on their first single and later went on to record their EP 'Matching Hearts, Similar Parts' with Luke Smith (Foals, Depeche Mode), which was released in 2009. After countless live shows, the band starts working on their first album with said Luke Smith. Singer Sam says: "We started out production and recording with Luke Smith in a barn in Exmoor, really wild country side where my family live. It was the middle of one of englands coldest winters. We had an incredible time. When we set up the barn it was so cold we had to burn fires and worked by candlelight and drank a lot of wine and tea. It was an amazing atmosphere." The other part of 'Passions of a Different Kind' is created in a more conventional atmosphere in a studio in Kent by Barney Barnicott (Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian).
The result are ten very personal and intense tracks, all referring to different experiences the band has made on tour and in their personal lives. As Sam describes the songwriting process: "I was becoming an adult, finding out what life and love was about, just experiencing everything a teenager goes through in my own weird way. The album is a part of me from that time in my life."
Despite - or because – of the unusual production process, 'Passions of a Different Kind' has turned out to be exactly the kind of album Flashguns wished for from the beginning. 'I'm very proud of what we achieved,' Sam summarizes the result. Flashguns leave behind the usual indie hype sounds and much rather shape their own mixture of blues rock, alternative- and indie rock to perfection, occasionally mixing in refreshing pop tunes that might remind one of the times when there was still quality in pop music.
Along with nine brand new songs, only the closing track 'Racing Race' has found it's way from the last EP onto this album. "This song means a lot to me. Very personal but also rocking and badass which I love!", Sam describes the song and also general vibe of the album. One thing all of Flashguns' new tracks have in common: They already feel almost too big for small stages.
As Sam Felix Johnston puts it: "It's rock music, defined by tension and release, loud and quiet, heavy and soft. Big, raw, ostentatious and emotional." And although Flashguns have gradually developed their sound over time: " You can't say it is a totally new thing, Flashguns is Flashguns and everything is linked."
Forthcoming single 'No Point Hanging Around' released through Humming Records on October 10th 2011 and promoted by Popular Radio.
