JW Paris are back with a new single ‘Sober’, a racket of powerful grunge-addled riffs and searing proto-Brit Pop stylistics which sticks two fierce fingers up to the posers, preachers and pretenders; the leeches of life who do their utmost to put you down.
The ascending alternative-rock duo last month announced former Babyshambles drummer Gemma Clarke as their new member and today they’ve released the title track from a new EP, due out in the spring, via Blaggers Records.
As an early indication of what to expect; ‘Sober’ is a pulverising cut that kicks and snarls like the mongrel cross-breed of Nirvana and Blur.
Ironically penned during a late-night drinking session, ‘Sober’ is a track about those painful pinches of clarity, when the haze of escapism falls away to reveal the cold hard truth that’s been staring you in the face for some time.
Speaking about the new track, JW Paris say the track is, “more about the sobering moments of realisation that we have from time to time. Moments that cut you down from all gusts of living and really make you think about where you are.
“The lyrics sort of came through collating various experiences with fake people over the years. Those who stick close and those who just want something from you. It can be quite draining as to not come across a narcissist yourself, you entertain it most of the time.
“You come to realise some relationships that hold no substance or character can really affect your mental state. Causing all sorts! Mild paranoia, anxiety. This song is a bit of a ‘Fuck You’, a dip into a life surrounded by fake angelic people.”
Written and recorded at Buffalo Studios, which has served as the band’s creative base for the last three years, ‘Sober’ was produced by the studios in-house mastermind JB. Featuring the patently fuzzy guitars of Daniel Collins and bass from Aaron Forde, the mellotron and the menagerie of additional instrumentation heard come courtesy of JB and Andy Peck (percussion).
Founded by Forde (vocals/bass) and Collins (vocals/guitar), JW Paris have been developing their signature sound from birth. With their respective Dads both members of the 90s EMI-signed Luton band Choke, the pair grew up like brothers and have retained a water-tight chemistry ever since.
An essential DIY act, together they have gone from finding their feet at rehearsals in a 24 hour storage lock-up in town, to supporting the likes of The Amazons (Chris Alderton, who has designed the artwork for ‘Sober’), Yonaka, Avalanche Party and The Blinders; while also selling-out headline shows of their own.
New single, ‘Sober’ is just the latest in a string of rave-received recent releases including ‘Favourite Thing’ and ‘Royalty’, which have seen the band earn national and international radio play from BBC 6 Music, Radio X through to SiriusXM, with Chris Hawkins at 6 Music praising the band’s sound as: “where gritty meets swaggery”.
The band have also been championed by Luton’s indie rock radio show Transmission and the town’s music and arts fanzine Vandalism Begins and Home.
Busying themselves with a socially distanced sold out show at the Amersham Arms in London tomorrow as well as a greatly received online Jagermeister sponsored show, JW Paris used the remainder of 2020 to focus on writing their debut album, which is expected for release later this year.
Taking influence from a broad spectrum of alternative acts, from Smashing Pumpkins and The Dandy Warhols, to, Blur and Suede, the band will be channelling their definitively Anglo-American, alt-rock swagger into a debut release also said to feature some the band’s most honest and open songwriting to date.
With a fresh line-up and some of their most impactful material to date in the bag, 2021 is surely JW Paris’ for the taking.
The band also appeared on Juicebox Live TV to talk about about getting Clarke onboard, writing new songs over lockdown, discovering a new sound and finally getting back gigging, with a trio of live dates now announced.
UPCOMING LIVE DATES
7th July – St Albans, The Horn with The Maida Vales
17 July – Bedford, Esquires (Ceremony #1)
30th July – London, Fiddler’s Elbow (Camden) with The Strange Days
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Excellent piece on the band.