Teetering between indie popularity and national recognition, United Kingdoms’ Coasts are right on the coast of greatness. With a breakout performance at the Glastonbury Festival this year and a debut album releasing this fall. Coasts is on track to some big things. Recently, we caught up with the band to talk about their big summer and what’s in store for the coming months.
You just played the Glastonbury festival. What was that experience like? Any favorite moments?
It was one of the most surreal moments of being in this band. The moment I walked out as our opening track was beginning was a highlight. To see a packed out John Peel tent was an incredibly life-affirming moment. I grew up only an hour or so away and so to be playing the festival at all was a dream.
You put out an EP with what you considered to be your best songs on them. How did you take what you learned from what worked on those songs and apply them to your upcoming debut album?
Our approach to songwriting is the same whatever we are doing so in that sense there isn’t really an application of something different for the album. We have a really strong collection of songs on this album that we are all immensely proud of. I’d actually say that my favourite song is one from the album that no one will have heard yet and that’s why I can’t wait to release it.
Your sound has been described as very summery and you’ve said that you’re very inspired by things like calypso and samba. How did you come to be inspired by these different kinds of music and how have you used them to create your sound?
The samba that you’re talking about came from a time when Ben, our drummer, began to take lessons in different styles of drumming to better himself. Those rhythms are really danceable and seemed to fit with the vibe of what we were writing at the time. We write upbeat music for the most part and that has leant itself really well to those summery/calypso sounds.
Your debut album is set to release in September. What was best part of writing and recording for it?
The best part of it is the experimentation. We spend a lot of time making sure the songs are written to be the best they can be and then once we’re in the studio it is all about letting the song take flight. It is a cathartic process for me hearing the sound my take shape around what I’ve written.
What can fans anticipate on the record? What sort of things do you talk about in your lyrics?
They can expect to hear an honest and ambitious record. The album is all about being optimistic, detailing the journey we’ve been on to get to this point with high and lows along the way. There are love stories and comments on how social interaction has changed. It’s essentially a really positive collection of songs.
Coming from the UK, what does it feel like to come overseas to the US and play shows?
It’s great that we’ve managed to get to a point where we can travel across the world and play shows to people that actually know and want to watch us. I think we owe a lot to the online community taking our music and sharing it. We love playing shows in America. The crowds are always super fun to play for.
Where has been your favorite place to play in the US?
We’ve had some great shows but I’d probably have to say our first headline show in NY at Bowery Ballroom which was sold out. We were blown away by the reception we got.
What would you say has been the most difficult part of your career for you all personally and collectively?
We’ve had so many moments in this band that have been tough. We’ve been best friends and playing music together for about 7 years now and so before we got signed there were many points at which we nearly gave up. Although being signed comes with its own problems such as relinquishing a little of the control you have over things. The pros of being in a band far outweigh anything that we would be doing otherwise.
How did you, or do you continue to, overcome these struggles?
It’s with the solid friendships we have built and realising that we are doing exactly what we want to be doing. Not a lot of people can say that.
What is the ‘highlight’ of your career so far?
The highlight for me was probably playing at Glastonbury on the John Peel Stage. I grew up only an hour away and so it was a dream for me to play there.
What is the one dream the moment at which point either personally or collectively you would be able to say yes I’ve achieved this, I’m living my dreams?
I think we are sort of doing that at the moment really. I guess when we sell out Wembley stadium…
You can keep up with Coasts on all things social, and be sure to check out their debut album, available this fall.
