The rising group talk new single “Homeward Bound” and their highly-anticipated debut album.
Back with another indie banger is rising group Two Weeks In Nashville with their new single “Homeward Bound”. Showcasing their signature rawness with heavy guitars and punching bass lines, the group deliver a fresh hit filled with lead singer Billy LeRiff’s crooning vocals. Pulling on inspiration from industry legends The Who and U2, the group are injecting a fresh sound into the indie-rock scene, merging old school influences with their own modern twist.
Speaking on the release, the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist Billy said, “’Homeward Bound’ was written on the last day of our first trip to Nashville. I think the fact we were heading back home the next day, the chords just spoke of that feeling of returning home to loved ones. We were on such buzz at the time too that life really couldn’t get much better! It seemed the perfect song to close off the album.”
With the young collective set to release their highly anticipated debut album PAPER PLANES AND RAZOR BLADES in the coming months, we sat down with the group and talked the album, creating their own sound, and what else they have in store for us.
Check out the interview below…
Hey guys – tell us about the new single?
The new tune, “Homeward Bound” was actually written on the last day of our first trip to Nashville and we had the pleasure of meeting and working with Mark Hadfield. It’s really for when you appreciate the important things in life. I think the fact we were heading back home the next day, the chords and melody just spoke that feeling of returning home to loved ones. We all shared the same feeling and we were on such buzz at the time too that life really couldn’t get much better!
How has 2020 been for you so far?
It’s been a strange one, as it has been for everyone in the world. Everyone’s been affected one way or another and the music industry being one of them has suffered particularly in terms of playing live. We had what was due to be our first European support tour with Bang Bang Romeo cancelled and release plans altered. Despite all we feel very fortunate and lucky! We have all been living together and it has given us a chance and time to take a step back and really assess what we’re doing and plan ahead. It’s been quite a productive year actually, we’ve been doing 20-minute live stream shows once a month, TWIN Live 20 linking up with some cool brands and venues online. We’ve been making our own music videos from home, releasing a few tunes and constantly writing and demoing new tracks. We’re very much ready for real live shows to start again now though! There’s only so much not playing to people we can take!!
Tell us about the gig with the Hoosiers how did it work with social distancing?
The Hoosiers show was pretty surreal… if you were to tell us our first live show after lockdown was going to be this year, in a new location and for it to be supporting a band we grew up hearing on the radio, we wouldn’t believe you! It was an incredible first show back, to a new crowd and in a super cool venue, Madding Crowd. It was all a new experience to live music, very Covid safe with plastic shielding around each of us on stage! Almost aquarium-like. It felt like a beacon of hope for the future though and great to meet new people and make new friends of The Hoosiers, Naipia and Jess Robyn who were the other acts on the night. Roll on 2021!
Where do you draw inspiration from?
For all of us, it’s been growing up listening to the great 60s/70s bands, The Stones, The Who, Free, The Beatles and in the last few years also really getting into U2 and Coldplay and the way they modernise and evolve their sound. It’s just the rawness, energy and positivity they bring in their music and live shows that really inspires us! In terms of writing and lyrics it comes from our experiences or friends life stories that we can put our own spin on! That’s where it feels most honest and natural to us.
How did you all meet and form a band?
Ian and I actually met a few years ago whilst studying music at ACM, then I met Jonny through a producer. We were all in different bands at the time, but I wanted to start a group with likeminded guys with the same passion for music. The three of us started jamming and it just clicked, we were all into the same music and 60s/70s rock was what came out! It wasn’t until late last year that we found Marc whilst looking for a guitarist online. He had only just moved to the UK from France with the aim to join a band or be a chef. After one rehearsal and a Michelin star meal we knew he was the final piece in the puzzle! We are lucky enough to now be living together, which meant we could continue making content and keep busy during lockdown. Luckily we all get on well too!
We hear in lockdown and since you have been more or less living in the studio and recording 24/7 tell us about the process.
We’ve been very fortunate that we’ve been living together over lockdown! We got a little studio set up quite early into the lockdown and have spent almost everyday demoing new ideas and working on old ideas we’d left on the shelf too! It’s been a nice process for us all, writing together again and all feeling more confident in voicing our opinions on each other’s work. When we’re not recording we’ve been filming videos too, with Jonny taking on the editing role! It’s been a cool little production house over the past few months! Look out Marvel!