East Sussex's Own Indie Pop Sensation: Wild Horse
As 2024 unfolds, Wild Horse, an original indie pop band from East Sussex, UK, is poised to captivate audiences with their new single, "WEDNESDAY NIGHT DISTRACTIONS." This release marks the start of a promising year, following their spectacular success in 2023. Each of their five releases last year was met with critical acclaim, earning the title of BBC "Tracks of The Day" and featuring on numerous radio shows globally.
A Year of Musical Triumphs
2023 was a landmark year for Wild Horse. Their songs resonated with both reviewers and radio stations worldwide, setting a high bar for their upcoming projects. The band's commitment to their art was evident as they spent the year recording, touring, and promoting their music tirelessly. This hard work paid off, with each release receiving high praise and widespread recognition.
The Craft Behind the Music
The band's latest single, "WEDNESDAY NIGHT DISTRACTIONS," is an indie pop anthem that celebrates the vibrancy of nights out and the joys of friendships. The song, penned by the band's frontman and lead singer, Jack Baldwin, was expertly produced by Mat Leppanen at The Animal Farm in London. This collaboration has once again demonstrated the band's ability to blend catchy melodies with thoughtful lyrics.
Critical Acclaim and Industry Recognition
Wild Horse has garnered attention from several music publications and critics. 1111Crew described them as a band redefining the boundaries of indie music. Sono Music praised their infectious sound and captivating live performances, while Mesmerized Mag expressed their support for the band's bright future.
The Band's Roots and Style
Formed by brothers Jack and Henry Baldwin and their childhood friend Ed Barnes, Wild Horse stands out as a unique indie trio. Their sound, a fusion of hip hop beats and classic 60s/70s Brit Rock, reflects their diverse musical upbringing. Their music embodies the excitement and anticipation of a night out, resonating with a broad audience.
A Record of Consistent Excellence
Their journey has been marked by relentless gigging, writing, and recording, earning them enthusiastic support across the industry, including the BBC. They have been featured as a BBC Intro band multiple times, with multiple tracks named BBC Tracks Of The Day. Their music has been acclaimed worldwide and even discussed in the UK Parliament.
Looking Ahead to 2024
After a successful national tour and an appearance at the 2023 Great Escape Festival in Brighton, Wild Horse is gearing up for an even busier 2024. They continue to work closely with their London label, The Animal Farm Music, consistently writing and recording new songs. Their enthusiasm and ambition for the future are palpable as they prepare for more gigs and festivals.
The Band's Ethos and Influences
At their core, Wild Horse embodies hard work, dedication, and a passion for delivering high-energy live performances. They draw inspiration from a wide array of artists, including Harry Styles, Fleetwood Mac, Bruno Mars, and Prince. Their music has been likened to The 1975, Harry Styles, and Fleetwood Mac, among others.
Conclusion
Wild Horse's journey is a testament to their talent, ambition, and unwavering dedication to their craft. With an average age of just 21, they have already made a significant impact on the indie pop scene. As they continue to write, record, and perform, Wild Horse is undoubtedly a band to watch, promising to bring more exciting and innovative music to the forefront of the indie scene.
The members of the band Wild Horse are:
Jack Baldwin - Frontman and lead singer
Henry Baldwin - Brother of Jack Baldwin
Ed Barnes - Best mate from primary school and a band member
Wild Horse Socials
https://wildhorse-rockband.
https://www.facebook.com/
https://twitter.com/
https://www.instagram.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@wild_
https://open.spotify.com/
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/
http://www.youtube.com/user/
https://soundcloud.com/
https://wildhorse1.bandcamp.
Interview with Wild Horse
What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of 'WEDNESDAY NIGHT DISTRACTIONS'? How did this concept evolve during the songwriting process?
I wrote the song about 2 years ago when I was at Uni and enjoying being single and exploring those areas of adult life that had become available to me by living away from home for the first time. I wrote it after being mugged at knifepoint one night whilst I was waiting for someone to meet me. I ended up grabbing a guitar the next day and coming out with the song. For some reason I wrote it about the situation I had with the person I was seeing the night before as opposed to the whole being mugged thing. I don’t know why but that’s what came out.
Could you discuss the thematic elements and lyrical depth of 'WEDNESDAY NIGHT DISTRACTIONS'? What message or experience are you aiming to convey to your listeners through this song?
Lyrically, I believe that a song holds different meanings to different people, and you should let it have its own personal meaning to yourself, rather than me telling you what it’s about. But yeah, there’s no particular message, it’s just about having fun and living a certain lifestyle that you tend to live when you’re young and leave home for the first time. It’s not the sort of song that is meant to have a particularly deep meaning.
Which musical influences most prominently shaped the sound and style of 'WEDNESDAY NIGHT DISTRACTIONS'? How does this track align with or diverge from your previous work?
All sorts of things. I write songs about all areas of life really. Love life is obviously a big one, but also friends, politics, personal experiences. Many things really. You could write a song about a cup of coffee if you really wanted to. There’s inspiration in all walks of life.
Can you shed light on the production process of 'WEDNESDAY NIGHT DISTRACTIONS'? Were there any significant collaborative dynamics or challenges encountered during its production?
Nothing particularly special. Once we are in the studio recording, we listen back continuously to each element & often make subtle & sometimes not so subtle changes. With this track we added some more keyboard & synth parts but the heart of the song was the same.
How do you anticipate your audience will receive 'WEDNESDAY NIGHT DISTRACTIONS'? What impact do you hope this new single will have on your listeners and on your career trajectory?
We always hope that our audience love what we put out. But that being said, I think it would be wrong to try and shape things in a way that you think people would like. Music is about self-expression so I think you should always make the music that you enjoy most, rather than what you think other people will enjoy. Usually, you’ll find people will much prefer music which is authentic to yourself because people can sense that and relate to it. There’s no point trying to be fake in the hopes of getting people to like you because I think people can see through that.
Reflecting on your initial attraction to music, could you elucidate the pivotal moments that propelled you towards forming Wild Horse?
It’s hard to pick a pivotal moment. My brother learned to play guitar well & once I then started to learn & picked it up pretty quickly. Both myself & my brother went to the same “Rock School” club at school, so did Ed who was by far the best drummer in the school. Once we started to play together it just became obvious to us.
How do your individual musical preferences and backgrounds amalgamate during the creative process, influencing the distinct sound of Wild Horse?
We all have a non-genre attitude to music & listen to everything, so we often share new finds & artists as well as all having a great love of all the greats from the Beatles, Stones, Hendrix through to everything today & classical music.
Apart from musical influences, what diverse sources - like literature or personal experiences - catalyze your creative output?
All sorts of things. I write songs about all areas of life really. Love life is obviously a big one, but also friends, politics, personal experiences. Many things really. You could write a song about a cup of coffee if you really wanted to. There’s inspiration in all walks of life.
Can you trace the development of your musical style from your earliest compositions to your current works?
We were very young when we started and our initial main musical influences came from the type of music our parents played, all good stuff, Stones, Hendrix, CSNY, Beatles, Doors, etc. As time went on, we broaden our tastes to just about everything & I think this is clear in our songs, we are not genre fixed & are happy to go in whatever direction feels right.
In what ways do interactions and feedback from your audience shape your musical creations and performances?
We always hope that our audience love what we put out. But that being said, I think it would be wrong to try and shape things in a way that you think people would like. Music is about self-expression so I think you should always make the music that you enjoy most, rather than what you think other people will enjoy. Usually, you’ll find people will much prefer music which is authentic to yourself because people can sense that and relate to it. There’s no point trying to be fake in the hopes of getting people to like you because I think people can see through that.
Looking ahead, what new projects or musical directions are you enthusiastic about exploring?
A larger tour that has an international aspect is our main aspiration right now & something we are looking very seriously at.
Can you describe the moment when you realized that music was your true calling, and how did that realization influence the formation of Wild Horse?
I think our first live gig would certainly have made me start thinking seriously about it. I was 11 years old & we played in an established music venue nearby. It was packed & we had a great reaction although we were only playing covers. I think the real moment came a little later on after I could see the reaction to songs we had written ourselves.
Could you walk us through your songwriting process? How do you typically go from an initial idea to a finished track?
I always say every song is different. Some songs can come from a guitar part, a piano part, a bass part, a vocal part of even a drum part. The inspiration comes in lots of different ways. But I’ll always start with creating a song musically. After I’ve got the base of a song I’ll think about vocal Melodies. Then I’ll record a demo at home and spend time trying different arrangements. It’s just having fun and trying stuff, seeing what sounds best. And then at some point the vocal Melodies will turn into lyrics. But that’s something I spend the most time on. That could often take me months. I won’t wire lyrics unless I get a proper and clear inspiration about what to write about.
Your live performances are known for their high energy. How do you prepare for a show, and how do you maintain that energy on stage?
Well, I stay in shape all the time. I’m a bit of a health freak so I’m always working out and eating properly. I always do vocal warmups before a show, and I drink a couple of shots of vodka to clear out my throat. In terms of keeping the energy up, I have a good stamina anyway from staying fit but when the audience reacts well you get a burst of adrenaline that easily Carries you through.
Evolution of Sound: "How has your sound evolved from your earliest songs to your most recent work?"
We used to be much more centered around an Indie rock sound, we are now much broader, more pop, funk, sole and R&B, no fixed genre.
Collaboration Dreams: "If you could collaborate with any artist, living or deceased, who would it be and why?"
I don’t know if I have a dream collaboration per say. It would depend on the song. If I wrote a song that I felt like needed a certain artist on it then a collab would be great, but we wouldn’t do a collab just for the sake of having a certain artist on our song. That being said I’d love to duet Wild Horse with Mick Jagger at a show one day, we all love him & has been a massive influence from the first song that got me into music, “Sympathy For The Devil”.
How do you view the current state of the music industry, and how do you navigate its challenges?
We were brought up in the Social Media era where streaming is king & so this is our normal. The one thing that never changes is the fact that you have to primarily entertain an audience & get people to want to hear your music & see you play live, to invest in you.
How do you want Wild Horse to be remembered in the history of music?
We will be very pleased if in the future people listen to some of our songs.
How do you feel about the global reach of your music, and do you tailor your music to an international audience?
We would love a broad global reach but we write what we write & do not consciously tailor anything.
What gives you the most satisfaction as artists?
It's always about live reaction for me. There is nothing better than a great reaction from an audience in front of you, when they know the words to your songs it's just brilliant.
How do you measure success for yourselves as a band?
The aim is to be able to fund our lives purely from doing what we love most, so the day none of us have to have other jobs to support ourselves will be success.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who look up to Wild Horse?
At the very beginning we were told, Rehearse, Rehearse & Rehearse some more. This is very true but more than that, get used to playing to near empty rooms, to not getting paid, to being treated pretty badly by venue owners & learn very quickly that nobody will put an audience in front of you, you have to work very hard to do that yourself & harder still to keep them. There is no magic wand, but the feeling of playing to a packed house & getting an audience singing along to your songs is worth all the hard work & strife.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please be so kind to leave a comment in support of this band or artist or article.