Get To Know…Fickle Friends
Fickle Friends is a band out of Brighton whose new single ‘Pretty Great’ will be a must-have on everyone’s indie pop playlists. Debuting with a Top 10 album in 2018 and selling out Shepherds Bush Empire in London a few months later, Fickle Friends has shown how far hard work and a great sound can take them. ‘Pretty Great’ arrives with a colorful, dreamy music video that seeks to show the human connections we might all be missing. It arrives as the second single, following up ‘Amateurs’, in anticipation of an album coming out later this year.
We got the chance to chat with the band about everything from their new single ‘Pretty Great’, their formation, creative process and so much more…
How did you all come together as a band? Did you always hope to pursue music, and was that a dream you developed together?
We all met at music school. It’s quite a competitive place to be, and we worked hard early on. I think we knew it was something worth continuing to develop once we started getting a bit of recognition. Being in this band is the dream!
You’ve mentioned that ‘Pretty Great’ came after a long day of unsuccessful writing before you guys finally let loose and have fun. How does that differ from your usual process for songwriting?
That’s about it, to be honest. We write and write like running a tap until the water runs clear. You’ve got to write a lot of shit before you get something good. You get the odd lucky day, but it’s mostly just trial and effort and sticking with it, and learning when to move onto something new.
Each track has such an upbeat sound, but do a lot of reflection on past relationships. Is there a particular emotion you feel encompasses the upcoming album as a whole?
It’s definitely a lot less about relationships with other people and more with yourself and the world around you. There are some deep moments which is a change for us. We were always afraid of a ballad, but we have embraced them for this record. I guess self-awareness encompasses this album.
Do you find it difficult to spend so much time looking back on past relationships as part of your creative process?
To be honest, I don’t do it a lot. Sometimes I write about a friend’s experiences or stuff I’ve read in books. I’ve had to revisit a few of my own, but I don’t think it’s good to dwell for too long, and I need inspiration from lots of other things.
The video for ‘Pretty Great’ shows how much we can miss out on by focusing on our phones and not the present moment that we’re in. How, as an up and coming band, do you find a balance between connecting with your fans online without leaving the real world behind?
It’s all about balance. Social media is really bad for my mental health. I’m very aware of that. I try to just check and reply to stuff certain points in the day, and I kind of put my phone to bed in the evening and don’t touch it until after an hour of waking up. It’s been a real game-changer!
With such a busy 2020 ahead of you, is there anything, in particular, you’re looking forward to the most or any specific goals you hope to achieve?
Getting back to festivals!!!!! It was tough being away from it all last year, and we are just so excited to bring this new record to life on stage.
Make sure to check out Fickle Friend’s new video for their track ‘Pretty Great’ below…
