Rockers ‘daydream’ of raising the roof at gigs
An three-piece indie rock band is hoping to make the big time after being forced into hibernation last year during the COVID-19 lockdown.
But The Frontiers, who list The Jam and The Clash as major musical influences, have been far from idle.
They’ve been fine-tuning their preparations to burst back onto the music scene after a promising few years that saw them headline gigs at King Tut’s and the former O2 ABC in Glasgow.
And they are back with a new single - Daydream - which was written and recorded remotely.
It’s already attracted the interest of BBC Radio 1’s Future Sounds with Annie Mac and BBC Music Introducing.
This year The Frontiers are already making headway - with the news they’ve signed their first professional contract with K Volt Management.
Now it’s hoped the young musicians, who are frontman Keir Mitchell, 23, from Cumnock, Ross Phillips, 23, also Cumnock, on guitar, and Kilmarnock drummer Paul Kelly, 20, can make a real impact in 2021.
Keir said: “The band started in 2017 and there’s three of us. Ross and I have known each other since primary school and we went to the same guitar teacher.
“There came a point when we were 16 or 17 and we started jamming together and when we became a bit older, that’s when we came upon Paul.
“Ross’s dad knew Paul’s dad through work, so we decided to meet up and that’s how the band started initially.
“Our earlier music and debut EP was influenced on bands that inspire us like The Jam and The Clash. Basically, we’re mad for music that’s way before our time.
“And I think, coming from Cumnock, a working-class background, that’s what’s attracted us to bands like The Clash. You see the journey they went through and it makes you think, if those boys can do it, why can’t we?”
Keir freely admits that he ‘blagged’ a prestige spot at King Tut’s when they started out.
He admitted: “The guys asked us how long we’d been touring. I said two years, but we didn’t even have one gig under our belts!
“But we sold 162 tickets from Cumnock. They came up to Glasgow on a double-decker bus. Imagine that, what could go wrong? It was a great night.”
More gigs were offered up and The Frontiers honed their act at other venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bathgate and Dundee - with more expected in the future.
Former Greenmill Primary and Cumnock Academy pupil Keir said: “We signed to K Volt Management and when they offered to represent us, we jumped at the chance.”
New single Daydream was born during lockdown and written, recorded and produced online due to restrictions.
But it’s a fresh sound that should appeal to Brit Pop lovers, fans of The Weekend or Harry Styles.
Keir said: “Because of lockdown, the song’s about that tim e. We decided to give it a bash and bring everything online.
“We recorded in individual homes and virtually communicated.
“Ross would make the music, send it to my laptop and so forth, but we are really happy with the outcome.
“When we recorded it, I was worried about the quality. Your music has to be passed by iTunes and Spotify. It has to be of a certain sound quality - but we hit those targets and the positive feedback was a big relief.”
Keir added: “Lockdown’s been difficult for everybody but we have got the drive and enthusiasm and here’s hoping good things come from it.”
The Frontiers will be back at King Tut’s in due course with a possible support gig for emerging talent The Struts.