“The reaction has been unreal!” Sherlocks’ frontman Kieran Crook tells me about the band’s thoughts on their debut album ‘Live For The Moment.’ The Sherlocks have been quietly becoming one of the UK’s hottest prospects. The Yorkshire lads released their debut album via Infectious Music in late August as Quays Entertainment’s Will Whitby sat down with the band before performing to a packed HMV during an album signing.
The album cuts out the audacious production techniques and avant-garde instrumentation that current indie bands use to stand themselves out. Instead, The Sherlocks’ strip it all back to create an honest first effort of big guitar hooks, youthful lyrics, and addictive choruses.
The band struck gold signing to their record label at the start of 2017 after years of tireless shows around England, releasing singles and developing an underground cult following around the north of England as they became ‘the next big thing.”
“It just all seemed right,” said Crook in a thick, deep Yorkshire accent seemingly beyond his youthful looks. “We had songs in’bag, had fans in’bag, had a record deal. It was all good!” he modestly added.
In a rare occurrence, the band was allowed total creative control in the production of the album. “We had total say on our songs on the album, we were really lucky. It sounds just how we and hopefully the fans want it to.” Crook added.
“We all had out ideas as to what we wanted it to sound like and it all came through in the studio- we were pretty much able to do what we wanted” revealed the 20-year-old frontman.
“When you’re in the studio you just want to try out everything. We tried out so many instruments to see to change our songs” he added.
Crook added that working with producer, Gavin Monaghan, who had worked extensively with successful indie band, Editors, added a brilliant lifeline to help bring their ideas together.
“Most of the songs are made by me just tinkering away on the acoustic guitar in our conservatory. They usually come out really basic and crap but its when we come together as a band it takes shape” he said
Dropping out of education to pursue a career in music is a dream everyone in a band during their early 20s have. To The Sherlocks it almost came as a no-brainer “when we all left college or university we just decided we wanted to go for it and tour properly” said drummer and Kieran’s brother, Brandon.
All members started university and college but dropped out with frontman Kieran studying music. “Its way to restrictive to be in a band when you’re still in education or tied down to a job” Brandon added.
Debut albums can be something that bands can relentlessly threat over and have sleepless nights about. However, The Sherlocks’ modest approach saw them focus more on the fans: “It is nice for the fans who have been long-term fans to just have the record and chill out” Crook said
The massive hype surrounding The Sherlocks hasn’t happened overnight. The band has been together for 7 years now with four of those years them writing original material.
Grinding through over 1000 shows the length of the UK, this hard work and legions of indie fans nationwide is the catalyst that keeps the band so fresh. Big guitar hooks with even bigger choruses the band’s debut add fuel to the fire of indie rock that was made just to dance to. The group’s lyrical ability shines through as well with verses that cite influence from ‘kitchen sink, just describe everything’ lyricists like The Courteeners’, Liam Fray.
It’s just four young lads making good music to have a good time too. Indie rock has been at a crossroads recently as some claim to say it is on it’s way out as its motives slip away and the genres biggest bands move onto new sounds.
With guitar bands struggling to stay fresh and the focus of London straying away from traditional indie some questioned if the classic “42s” style of joyous indie would be around for much longer. The Sherlocks belief that they are going to be a driving force in its revival.
“Indie rock nearly died but it’s coming back and we’re part of it” Brandon confidently said.
Kieran later went onto add the importance of supporting your scene from the ground up. The band cut their teeth touring from town to town and city to city and then festival to festival. “It only takes a few bands to make a scene and it comes in waves. We could be on the cusp of another wave. It just takes a few good bands to make a scene and make people want to be a part of it.”
As the interview drew to a close Quays asked about the future ambitions of the band- “We’ll be doing arenas in 3 years” Brandon confidently added again.
Although the eagerness and desire is there, The Sherlocks, remain level-headed and are “taking each day as it comes” Crook confirmed. “Everything is happening the way we want it to so we don’t have to do anything crazy” he finally added
The Sherlocks’ debut album ‘Live For The Moment’ is available online and on vinyl and CD. The band return to Manchester in February playing the massive Victoria Warehouse.
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