After a run of singles and a summer time spent profitable over crowds at reside exhibits and festivals, 2026 has proved to be a breakout 12 months for British alt-pop band AFTERDRIVE. And with the discharge of their debut EP on the horizon and a headline UK tour set to kick off later this month, that momentum exhibits no indicators of slowing down.
For Ben, Ed, Joe and Luke, aka AFTERDRIVE, ‘Gown To Drive’ is greater than a debut EP – it’s a four-track descent into need, obsession and escape. Cinematic in scope and stressed in execution, the file follows a protagonist caught between attraction and dependancy, picture and identification, tracing the more and more blurred line between wanting one thing and being consumed by it. Throughout its 4 tracks, the story strikes from the push of attraction to reckless abandon, earlier than arriving at its inevitable conclusion: loss.
It’s a daring introduction from a band already making severe noise throughout the UK’s tastemaker circuit. BBC Radio 1’s Alyx Holcombe has championed each ‘Jewelry’ and up to date single ‘Neon View’ throughout her Indie Present and BBC Introducing… Rock Present, whereas Jess Iszatt and native BBC Introducing… host Angelle Joseph have additionally thrown their assist behind the band. Now, with ‘Gown To Drive’ setting the scene, AFTERDRIVE are taking the story on the highway, launching their first ever headline tour.
We caught up with band members Ben and Ed to speak about their breakout 12 months, discovering their identification as AFTERDRIVE, the cinematic world of ‘Gown To Drive’, and what comes subsequent.
Lads, are you able to imagine we’re heading into the ultimate months of the 12 months? Discuss to me about 2026…
Ben: I truthfully don’t assume issues might have gone any higher for us in 2026! As some individuals might already know, we’ve been collectively for about 4 years now, and don’t get me fallacious, issues have been good, however since we began working with our new workforce all the things’s ramped up, and issues really feel to be getting larger and greater! So we’re pleased… actually pleased.
Ed: Like Ben mentioned, we’ve been collectively for some time now, so while we’re not complete newcomers, we nonetheless really feel like we’re discovering our ft, and our place within the trade. We’ve put in numerous arduous work behind the scenes, and actually taken our time to go about doing issues in the best approach, in order that we are able to now transfer ahead and actually be the band we wish to be. The tour that’s arising this month, and the EP are the primary main tasks we’ve labored on, so it’s actually thrilling to see all our of concepts coming to life.
Ben: What a strategy to finish this 12 months, going out on our first headline tour! I can’t wait to see each single fan, and each one that supported us, listened to our music and engaged with us on-line – we’re going to provide them one of the best present ever!
There’s no denying your fanbase has grown considerably over the past 12 months. Are you feeling comfy in your new roles as pop stars?
Ben: I believe that’s the primary time in my life I’ve heard somebody name me a pop star!.. and I type of prefer it, thanks (laughs).
Ed: Yeah, I’ve positively by no means been known as a pop star earlier than! Erm… are we pop stars? I don’t know. Let’s simply say we’re feeling tremendous comfy and assured in who we’re within the band.
So you are feeling such as you’ve now discovered your identification as AFTERDRIVE?
Ed: Oh completely! There’s all the time that trial and error interval, the place you’re going backwards and forwards making an attempt to determine your dynamic as a gaggle. And truly, you could possibly say that dynamic is ever altering and evolving as we study what every of our strengths are. However on the entire, we’re good.
Ben: Yeah, whenever you first begin out as a band, you’re nearly all the time testing to the waters to see what lands, and the way you all finest work collectively. However like Ed says, we’ve moved previous all of that now, and I believe all of us really feel fairly set in who we’re as AFTERDRIVE.
What are you able to inform me about your newest single ‘Jewelry’ – and why did this really feel like the best track to launch now?
Ben: ‘Jewelry’ has a barely heavier really feel to it than our earlier releases. Don’t get me fallacious, it’s nonetheless very a lot a typical AFTERDRIVE observe, but it surely has a bit extra grit and edge to it. Was that intentional? Erm… sure and no. As a result of we’re now presenting an entire physique of labor, and never only a run of stand alone singles, we felt prefer it was actually essential that the primary observe to be launched off the EP made an announcement – musically, and lyrically. So manufacturing sensible, it’s filled with contrasts – mushy vocals, heavy drums, loud guitar. Then lyrically we’re exploring that feeling you get whenever you’re a bit fed up, and uninterested in experiencing the identical outdated, standard, then immediately you meet any person utterly totally different to anybody you’ve ever met earlier than, and so they simply change your entire outlook on all the things. They develop into a helpful a part of your life, and provide you with one thing that feels irreplaceable. We use jewelry as a metaphor within the track, as a result of for lots of people it’s one thing that holds sentimental worth and that means… it’s uncommon, one in all a sort, and if you happen to lose it, you’ll be able to’t ever get it again.
What’s your thought course of within the run as much as releasing new music?
Ed: It’s all the time thrilling placing new music out… and possibly somewhat bit daunting too (laughs). However with every new launch you study extra concerning the course of, in order that when the time involves do it once more, you’re extra ready and higher geared up to not let any nerves or anxieties take over. There’s numerous planning that goes into releasing music, greater than we ever thought, our workforce work actually arduous to get our songs on the market and we’re tremendous grateful for that; we don’t take any of this as a right.
Ben: I used to get actually nervous within the run as much as a launch! We care a lot about what we do, and we wish to achieve success, so there’s all the time that thought in your thoughts of how will a track land? Will it do properly? Will this be the one to breakthrough? The strain could be a lot! However I’m studying to benefit from the course of although, and I’m feeling actually assured that these songs will discover their strategy to individuals… we’re able to put the work in to verify they do!
Do you assume having direct entry to followers by way of social media offers you extra management over the way you promote and construct momentum round a track?
Ed: Yeah I’d say so. It’s humorous as a result of to be an artist right now, you additionally must develop into a little bit of a content material creator too. I do know lots of people may have differing opinions on that as as to whether it’s a great factor, or a foul factor, however for me, the best way I see it, that’s simply the best way issues are proper now, so that you’ve received to embrace it and go together with it. It may be difficult to seek out the best steadiness, and we struggled somewhat to start with, however the extra content material shoots we’ve completed, the extra enjoyable it’s develop into. You’re primarily creating your individual visuals that function an extension of the track you’re making an attempt to advertise. I assume there’s an influence in that, and it’s nice that artists can now have that stage of management.
Ben: On the finish of the day, you need individuals to know you’ve received new music on the market, so we’re pleased to go all out, and do all we are able to, to ensure that our followers are conscious of what we’re doing.
If the visuals inform one story, what messages are you making an attempt to convey with the music and lyrics?
Ed: That is 100% a query for Ben to reply (laughs). He has an actual expertise for storytelling, and conveying totally different feelings via track.
Ben: On the entire I believe our songs work on a bunch of various ranges – they’ve a vibe to them, which implies you could possibly take heed to them when you’re on the brink of go on an evening out, and simply benefit from the music, or you’ll be able to sit by yourself and take heed to them via your headphones and actually tackle board the lyrics. I like to write down songs which have a little bit of a double that means to them, however I by no means actually prefer to reveal what they’re really about. On the floor a track can imply one factor to me, however one thing completely totally different to you. It relies upon how deep you wish to go. We spoke earlier concerning the idea behind the lyric for ‘Jewelry’, which was cool as a result of because it’s the primary track to be launched from the EP, I really feel prefer it’s essential we give individuals somewhat little bit of an perception into what they’re getting from this mission. However on the entire I prefer to be fairly ambiguous, and go away the songs open to interpretation.
‘Gown To Drive’ is out this week! How did the thought of doing an EP come about?
Ed: We’ve really talked about making an EP for a extremely very long time, however didn’t actually know the best way to begin the method. Our supervisor Lauren has actually helped actually us to convey this imaginative and prescient and music to life.
Ben: Yeah she’s been wonderful. Just about the very first thing we mentioned once we met her was that we actually needed to place out an EP, and he or she was completely down for it!
Ed: I believe all of us felt like we’d reached a stage the place it was time to point out individuals extra of what we’re about. Releasing singles is nice, however how a lot understanding of a band are you able to get from listening to one or two songs?
Ben: That’s why it feels wonderful to be placing out a physique of labor, relatively than simply one other run of standalone singles. Like Ed mentioned, we already had a imaginative and prescient for the type of mission we needed to make, and we’ve been writing solidly behind the scenes to enhance ourselves as songwriters and musicians in order that make one of the best music attainable. You solely have one alternative to launch your first EP or album, so it’s essential we get this proper.
Ed: We’ve actually loved having the liberty to experiment, and it’s been enjoyable to create songs that when performed collectively, inform a narrative. I’d really say that is essentially the most enjoyable we’ve had within the studio engaged on music.
If you’re within the studio, how essential is having a routine or construction to your inventive course of? Do you discover that it helps you create, or can an excessive amount of construction really feel restrictive?
Ed: I’d say it’s good to have a little bit of each. I don’t assume it’s best to ever be too locked into a method of working, and that be your solely methodology to create, as a result of that might possibly doubtlessly stifle your creativity. However then equally, if there’s no order in anyway to your session, issues might go awry fairly simply (laughs). So I suppose it’s about discovering the best steadiness that works for you, and the individuals you’re collaborating with. We normally go into the studio with a completely fledged demo of a track already in place, so the vast majority of the time we all know precisely what we’re doing the minute we arrive.
Ben: True, however then generally inspiration simply finds us on the day doesn’t it? I suppose there’s no proper or fallacious approach of working, you simply must go in there and do your factor, and see what you provide you with. I believe when you’ve discovered your sound as band, writing and being within the studio will get somewhat simpler as you already know precisely what you’re making an attempt to realize.
At what level did you are feeling such as you’d discovered your sound, and the essence of who you needed to be as AFTERDRIVE?
Ed: It’s robust to say actually. The essence of who we’re as a band relies on our friendship. And I believe the longer we’ve labored collectively, and the extra songs we’ve written collectively, the extra in synch we’ve develop into as a gaggle, relatively than us being 4 people coming collectively in a room to make music as a result of it’s one thing we love to do for enjoyable. We’re all agreed on what we’re making an attempt to realize right here, and our sound and magnificence continues to evolve. A few of our earlier releases are fairly totally different to the tracks you’re going to listen to on ‘Gown To Drive’ however that doesn’t imply we’ll disown them or something, they’re nonetheless part of our catalogue, we’ve simply grown and matured within the time since we wrote them. They function the right reflection of who we have been again then although, which I believe is cool as a result of we’ll all the time have them there to remind us of that point in our lives.
How essential was collaborating with different artists, producers and musicians in serving to you to find your collective musical DNA?
Ben: All the writing and creating we do is completed internally. So what you’re listening to, and what we’re saying comes instantly from us, and I’d say actually that our relationship one another varieties our musical DNA. What working with different producers does, is open your eyes and ears to different sounds, concepts and manufacturing types. There was a time some time in the past that went to a extra pop influential studio, and labored on our track ‘Automobiles’, and that set us off in an entire totally different course, as a result of all of us agreed that that track was an absolute banger as soon as it was completed! I keep in mind us being actually excited and saying that we needed to discover that vibe additional in our future writing classes. Had we not gone to that session although, and labored with extra pop leaning producers then I don’t assume we’d have ever actually gone down that route as a lot as we now have… so yeah, I believe it’s true to say that working with totally different individuals can positively aid you to develop your sound.
As we’ve already mentioned, you’re simply weeks away from the launch of your first ever headline tour! Is performing reside to followers one of the best a part of being in a band?
Ed: Yeah for certain! I imply we genuinely love all the things we do, however touring might be the funnest a part of being in AFTERDRIVE.
Ben: Enjoying reside to crowd of people that have come out simply to see you, and listen to your music, is like the largest and finest reward ever. It makes all the lengthy days, countless nights and arduous work value it. It’s additionally one of many few instances you get to see first hand the impact your music is having in your viewers. To really feel that appreciation from individuals, and to see how a lot they’re having fun with what you’re doing is one of the best feeling ever – it’s addictive, and also you simply need get on the market, and play reside as a lot as you’ll be able to.
Ed: There’s no different feeling prefer it! As a lot as we get pleasure from writing and being within the studio, the adrenaline you get from doing a reside present is unmatched! Nothing compares to that pure excessive you get from crowds of individuals singing your music again to you. It’s actually particular.
With ‘Gown To Drive’ being such a cinematic mission, how are you translating that world into the reside present? Will the tour keep rooted within the EP, or are you utilizing it as a place to begin to inform the broader AFTERDRIVE story?
Ed: We’ll be making a steadiness of the 2. Clearly this tour comes as we launch the EP, so there might be a particular deal with the brand new materials, however we love all of our songs, and all the time have a good time performing them, so we’ll be pulling from all sections of our catalogue. And possibly some new music that no-ones heard but…
Ben: We really feel like we now have a great understanding now of what works in a reside setting, and what songs crowds will reply properly to, so we’re assured this might be an epic present!
Given the title of the EP, can we please request a minimum of one costume change through the present?
Ed: That’s not a thought really… I like that concept (laughs).
Ben: We’ve really received some designers we’re working with now, and we’re having fun with ramping up that aspect of issues – we’ve begin trying like pop stars proper? (Laughs).
How do you wish to be often called a reside act?
Ben: whenever you go to a gig and also you’re having fun with your self a lot that you just simply don’t need it to finish? That’s the vitality we wish to convey throughout our reside exhibits. We wish to create an expertise for those that they’ll preserve and maintain onto endlessly.
Ed: Yeah it’s all about giving an viewers a second, and a reminiscence that they’ll like to recall for years and years to return. We wish everybody at our exhibits to really feel like they will escape from their lives for the night time, and simply get misplaced within the music. Nothing ought to matter to them for that hour that we’re on stage, apart from them having a great time.
With all the things transferring so shortly for AFTERDRIVE proper now, how do you keep current and be sure you’re really taking the time to get pleasure from all the things that’s taking place round you?
Ed: That’s an excellent query. I believe it doesn’t matter what trade you’re in or no matter your way of life is, all of us have to discover ways to be current and revel in life because it’s taking place, relatively than worrying concerning the future. None of us is aware of what’s coming subsequent, so it’s essential to have fun and respect these moments whenever you’re profitable, and study as finest you’ll be able to from the instances when issues don’t go you’re approach.
Ben: I’ve been engaged on making an attempt to realize this these days, as a result of generally I really feel numerous life and the wonderful issues have been doing is passing me by as a result of I’m pondering an excessive amount of about what’s coming subsequent. After we opened for Ed Sheeran, it was in all probability the most effective days of our lives! The lead up was actually full on and intense, this was about to be an enormous second for us, all the things needed to be good. Every thing that occurred was a little bit of a blur, however I can clearly keep in mind strolling out onto the stage and pondering: “that is unimaginable!” After which the subsequent minute the present was over – all of it glided by so quick. As a lot as I beloved it and loved the entire expertise, I do want I’d been extra current and brought the time to course of what was taking place. Life for everybody is so quick paced proper now, and there’s numerous issues taking part in out that we every must deal with. So I simply assume, the place attainable, you need to let of what’s out of your management and, as they are saying, take the time to scent the roses.
AFTERDRIVE’s debut EP ‘Gown To Drive’ is accessible to pre-save now. Tickets for his or her UK tour can be found to buy on-line right here.
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