Released TODAY across all streaming platforms, we thought it would be a good opportunity to catch up with the Hull based band about their debut single.
Can you tell us a bit about Sweethearts? Where are you from and how did you all meet?
We’re a brand-new band from Hull, England (the greatest place in the world), influenced by 90s alternative music and culture. Niall Tennison (me) on vocals and guitar, Toby Needler on lead guitar, Josh Drury on drums and Brendan McCourt on bass. We all got together through mutual friends although me and Toby have grown up together, playing music with each other for years. We’ve all played in various bands around the local scene then eventually came together to create sweethearts.
If you were to sum up each band member in one word, what would you say?
Niall: do
Toby: you
Josh: love
Brendan: me?
You released today your debut single Do You Love Me?, can you tell us a bit about what this song means to you as a band?
Well, this song was the big turning point of what we wanted our sound to be. We were booked to go into the recording studio to record a couple of tunes but I wrote ‘do you love me?’ a couple of days before and brought it to the band the next day. We jammed it through a few times, worked out a structure and Toby added the riff. We realised this is the song we wanted to record so we said if we could nail it in the next hour, we’d record this track instead. We did and we did. The song’s lyrics were built around the line “I lay in bed for the millions, I play on stage for no one”. A lot of what I was thinking at the time was about how it’s hard to do anything else when you’re focusing so hard on achieving a certain way of life.
Is this hint at more new music on the way?
We have a lot of music ready to go now. It’s just about figuring out how to get the most out of each single, since in today’s world we see too much good music get lost in the digital world. But yes, we have a lot of new singles written, so don’t be expecting to wait around too long before a follow up to ‘do you love me?’.
Who produced this? Have you worked with them before? How was it working with them?
All of our music is produced by Jonny Hooker of Young Thug Records in York. He has a great studio there, solid vibe and it’s a joy to get to record our tracks with him. He does what a producer should and doesn’t tell you every idea you have is good.
Any plans to go on tour, when it is safe to do so?
We plan to go on tour the very second we can! We still have a very DIY attitude when it comes to being in a band, I feel like you have to play live as much as possible, in as many places as possible, to really perfect your craft and call yourself a band. For me personally, that’s what it’s all about, it’s a way of life.
What is one thing you never expected to have to deal with as a musician?
The crazy amount of work you have to do behind the scenes before, during and after recording a track. Being an independent musician, once you’ve recorded your song, that’s the easy part done. Then you have to make people listen.
How have you been keeping busy during lockdown?
I’ve been going through phases of keeping busy and then having a week of thinking my life is over. Luckily me and Josh have been super productive. Constantly sending songs back and forth, ideas for the band and promo. I dyed my hair for a bit, bought an xbox 360, got addicted to coffee and couldn’t sleep for a week, but that worked out well because I had so much time for the band! I wrote some good songs in that period! Josh also had to have a FaceTime intervention with me over my coffee addiction. He couldn’t handle the 3am voice notes anymore.
What advice would you give to those looking to make money?
Don’t do this if your goal is to make money.
Where can we find out more about you?
We’re on all the social medias, just type in @sweetheartsxox and you’ll find us there.
And finally, as they are often left out on interviews, any final words from the drummer?
He’s better at bass.
If you didn’t spend part of lockdown getting addicted to coffee, did you really do lockdown correctly?
Anyway, I would like to thank Niall and the band for answering my questions and I wish them the best of luck, and cannot wait to hear more of their music, and hopefully catch them on tour one day.
TrueStyleMusic 