Words: Linn Branson
Breeze, an indie pop three-piece, formed in August last year, took on their first gig just four weeks later, and by early spring this year had three tracks online and were already being written about in the music press.
"Me and Josh - our guitarist - met on a night out through mutual friends and asked to join my previous band, Baller," says vocalist Paul Baker, in relation to the band's early days. "We only ever really practised in that, nothing more, but it was the basis for Breeze to start. Then our drummer left and we found Jack - who is an old friend of Josh's - to replace him. We has a month to do that, find a new drummer and teach him a few songs - and write a few more!"
After playing around Birmingham venues such as the 02 and The Victoria, and getting heard on radio via BBC Introducing West Midlands and Amazing Radio, they are now lined up to play Dot to Dot festival this Friday (May 22) in Manchester, as well as shortlisted for Truck and Y Not festivals, and playing Birmingham's Rainbow on July 25.
And what's their view about the 'B-Town' tag that has marked every band coming out of the city in the wake of Peace? "It's kind of a double-edged sword, really," Paul muses. "It's a really nice thing to be put in the same category as Peace, Swim Deep, Jaws etc., but it seems like a lot of pressure to live up to the whole 'B-Town' name thing."
Although he adds that the 'B-Town' sound did figure early on when deciding their musical direction. "We find it hard to explain our sound - we would usually say 'dream indie pop' when asked. When we first started we did tinker around with different sounds such as the Maccabees and Peace, and somehow came out with the atmospheric indie sound we have now. We all have different music tastes, from The Beatles, The Cure to Nirvana, Stone Roses. Jack is a big fan of metal/rock type music, so it's always been hard to pinpoint our main influences and where we are today."
With three tracks currently uploaded online - early demo 'Dalliance', 'Sellotape', and the more recent 'Bleach'; the latter two being recorded with renowned West Midlands producer Gavin Monaghan at Magic Garden - the plan is for an EP release.
"'Dalliance' was our very first demo - as you can tell quality-wise, compared with the other Magic Garden recorded two. 'Sellotape' will also be on the EP we hope to release this year, along with two brand new tracks."
Take a listen to all three here. We are particularly keen on the bright and breezy 'Bleach', with - dare we say it - some of those guitar riffs and vocal sounding not too unlike another Birmingham stalwart The Twang. It's definitely a grower of a song, and Breeze are certainly a band you feel with a lot more to come.
Breeze are: Paul Baker - vocals/guitar, Josh Thompson - lead guitar, Jack Redfern - drums
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