Brum band is hitting big goals
ABIRMINGHAM rock band’s music is quickly becoming a sporting soundtrack for a generation.
Not only have Solar Eyes’ tracks become a staple of football shows like Match of the Day (MOTD) and the BBC’s FA Cup coverage, they are now being aired at international sporting arenas.
Brummie musicians Glenn Smyth, Sebastian Maynard Francis, lead guitarist Liam Mckeown and new bass player Emily Doyle this week released an album after countless TV and football ground successes.
Footie fans even heard one of their psychedelic rock songs played at a Juventus match in Italy when the team played Empoli on January 27. That’s to add to airplay on the UK’s most-watched shows like Made In Chelsea, ITV Racing and Sky Sports coverage of The Carabao Cup. Royalties are helping with the Hall Green band’s ambitious plans – they get a minimum of £80 a minute when their music is played on TV.
One of the best moments for Glenn, as a Birmingham City fan, was when he recently arrived for a match at St Andrews.
Working as a clinical coding manager at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals
NHS Trust as a day job, he said: “I had a bit of a surreal weekend recently. As I walked through the gates of St Andrews, I heard one of our songs ‘Alcatraz’ belting out.
“Although as a Blues fan, MOTD2 using our song ‘Top of the World’ during the Aston Villa game last month was the most bittersweet thing ever. You can imagine how that felt as it was over a montage of their goals. We’ve been gearing up for the album launch and signing copies and all sorts in London.
“Bizarrely, copies of the album are already selling on ebay for £68. We are enjoying every moment and feel like it’s only a matter of time.”
The new self-titled album is on the legendary indie label Fierce Panda Records, which worked with Coldplay, Ash and Keane.
The band have been giving music fans in Birmingham and London a taster for a while and have been getting more exposure in recent months in the lead up to the launch.
Radio X DJ John Kennedy gave their single Top of the World airtime as did Mickey Bradley of The Undertones on his show for BBC Ulster. Solar Eyes recently expanded with new band member Emily, 30, joining as bass player.
Originally from Somerset, Emily moved to Birmingham to study chemistry at the University of Birmingham and stayed. By day, she is an artist and massage therapist.
“The creative scene is what’s kept me in Birmingham,” said Emily. “We’re so lucky to have such a vibrant and diverse music and arts offering and I’m proud to be a part of it. “Playing with Solar Eyes has been a great chance to jam with some supertalented musicians, and I can’t wait to show off what we’ve been working on to a hometown crowd this month. “The Hare and Hounds is one of my favourite venues in the city so the perfect spot for the album launch. Our label mate Sasha Assad is coming to play too, and I can’t wait to catch her set again.”