Surfacing: Tom Fleming Of Wild Beasts Reveals Himself As One True Pairing [New Artist]

Words: Saam Das // Photo: Jenna Foxton

It's often disappointing to hear about a band calling it quits - often after years of literal blood, sweat, and tears. Kendal's finest musical quartet Wild Beasts were fortunate enough to gather accolades and success along the way, signing to Domino Records and receiving a Mercury Music Prize nomination, before ending in early 2018. From disappointment to excitement, band member Thomas Fleming has now re-emerged as One True Pairing, with a head-turning eponymous debut single.

Surfacing: Hayden Thorpe [New Act]

Words: Saam Das // Photo: Oliver Chanarin

It doesn't feel all that long ago that we caught Wild Beasts at Rockaway Beach 2018 - a bittersweet memory, reflective both of an impressive performance and sadness that this was to be one of their final live appearances. Now formally disbanded, former Wild Beasts' member Hayden Thorpe has once again unleashed his characteristic falsetto onto the masses, with the emergence of his first solo material. Listen to debut track, 'Diviner', below.

Festival Review: Rockaway Beach 2018

Rockaway Beach (Butlin's Bognor Regis, 12-15 Jan '18) // Words: Saam Das

Rockaway Beach delivered the double whammy of knocking off both a visit to seaside town Bognor Regis and traditional family resort Butlin's in one fell swoop. As well as showcasing a string of brilliant bands, both old and new. Work commitments meant that the bands were missed on the first evening, but The Horrors and The Orb received particularly strong word of mouth, and the rest of the festival pleasingly met the subsequently high expectations.

Festival Preview: Eight Of The Best Acts To See At Rockaway Beach 2018

Rockaway Beach (12-14 Jan '18, Butlin's Bognor Regis) // Words: Saam Das

Few music festivals can claim to offer top bands, a roof over your head, and a water-based adventure park all included in the (very reasonable) ticket price, but Rockaway Beach has stepped up to meet these unique needs. Now entering its third year, the first major UK festival of the year kicks off this weekend, featuring the likes of Gang Of Four, Alabama 3, and one of the final performances of the departing Wild Beasts. We've picked out some potential festival highlights across the 2018 edition of Rockaway Beach:

Mercury Music Prize: The FG Alternative Prize 2011

Words: Saam Das

We don't particularly have anything against the Mercury Music Prize but we thought we'd like to offer our own alternative Mercury 2011 winner. With the actual winner PJ Harvey also in our shortlist, we could well have ended up with the same result. Instead, it came down to the third albums from The Horrors and Wild Beasts. Three is a magic number?

Album Review: Wild Beasts - Smother

Wild Beasts - 'Smother' (UK Release: 9 May '11) // Words: Emily Solan

Hearing an album live before hearing it on record throws me personally, but that’s just what I did with Wild Beasts. And having had only a passing interest since their critically acclaimed and Mercury nominated 'Two Dancers', I’m not exactly au fait with the entirety of their back catalogue. But with such high expectations to live up to, Wild Beasts have accomplished so much more with an eerily therapeutic and haunting album full of love, lust and longing.