It is safe to say that post-lockdown, we are all ready to inject some positivity into our lives. Well, Pattern Pusher is the three-piece musical collective that is on a mission to do just this with their new track “Come Along”. Featuring blaring instrumentation and the sounds of 60s and 70s funk, the offering is a summer anthem worthy of the name. With the infectious high-energy tune enchanting those who hear it with feel-good vibes, it takes effect instantly as flirty lyrics and vintage-sounding vocals complete the track.
“The song has a number of meanings to me, it’s a bit naughty in nature – about enticing others into your good time,” explains the band’s vocalist Alex. “I’ve been loving hearing people’s theories on the song’s message. It was written straight after the first UK lockdown on a summer’s day jamming in Ben – our drummer’s – backyard.”
The track also comes accompanied by a set of funky visuals. Hazy scenes filled with glittering disco balls and sliver streamers add to the retro feel of the song, as we see Alex, Benny G and Benjamin C decked out in vintage ‘fits whilst rocking out to their tune. And, with the band deep in the midst of songwriting and promising the release of autumn tour dates soon, it is clear that “Come Along” is just one of many exciting releases we can expect from them this year.
Check out our interview with Pattern Pusher below….
Hi guys, how have you been? Have the unprecedented events of the last year impacted your work at all?
Benny G (Bass & Guitars): Hello! We’re doing great thank you! It’s been a hard year for everyone. We try to be a glass-half-full kind of band, so we stayed positive as we watched plans melt away and instead took the opportunity to look inwards and really focus on the music.
How did you all meet and go on to form a band?
Benjamin C (Drums): Alex used to run a jam night in an old dusty bar in Exeter, the drum kit had holes in the skins and the guitars had missing strings. One night we all ended up on the stage at the same time and during a rendition of Bill Withers, something clicked. I’m pretty sure I was using some wooden spoons as drumsticks…
Benny G: Those jam nights were so fun, having a laugh and cutting our teeth. We started off as a protest against all the gloomy bands out there. Those ones that look so bored and like they’re too cool to even smile. That’s not me. If I’m up there I want to be bringing joy to people. There’s already enough reasons to be depressed in the world, I’d hope we can give people one reason to be happy.
Can you talk us through your musical inspirations?
Alex (Vocals & Keys): My dad brought me up on a healthy diet of retro sounds, New Orleans blues, the best British 60s and 70s bands, Motown and Soul. I’m grateful to have been shown great piano singer-songwriters like Donny Hathaway, Ray Charles, Allen Toussaint, Elton John, Jackson Browne the list goes on.
Benjamin C: My upbringing was mainly based on rock so I will always have that in my playing, I was definitely an Emo in secondary school. It wasn’t until college when I started playing music with other people that my tastes expanded. From there I got into more groove-based music, drummers such as Steve Jordan and Bernard Purdie became my new idols.
Benny G: I love everything from ambient electronica through to full-on cheese pop. I’ve got a real passion for anyone willing to take a few risks in the production, give me something new and exciting!
Congratulations on your new track “Come Along”, can you tell us a bit about it? What is the message at the heart of it?
Alex: Thank you! The song has a number of meanings to me, it’s a bit naughty in nature – about enticing others into your good time. I’ve been loving hearing people’s theories on the song’s message. It was written straight after the first UK lockdown on a summer’s day jamming in Ben – our drummer’s – backyard.
How do you want people to feel when they are listening to the song?
Benny G: Energy! It’s such an important thing to capture. We’re heavily inspired by music of the 60s and 70s, particularly Motown, funk, soul and disco where you can almost hear the blood, sweat and tears on the tape. They were limited with their choices and the imperfections gave the record’s character. In modern studios, we have every possible sound and an undo button. It’s easy to obsess about every detail, but that often leads you down a dark path where you’ve eventually wiped the track so clean it’s lost all individuality. I can only hope that the raw excitement we feel in the studio comes across as energy out the speakers!
