THIS REBEL shares new song “Cheap Thought”. They will release their self-titled debut album on March 8 on Jump The Cut Records via Townsend Music/Absolute Label Services.
Inspired by a love of Murder Ballads and free noise, armed with a Space Echo, Eventide H910 and a story to tell, This Rebel is a chemically driven loose-lipped collective with Phil Etheridge (The Twang) and Jon 'Simmo' Simcox. (Liam Gallagher, The Kills, FKA Twigs, Bring Me The Horizon) at the helm. Cheap Thought follows previous singles “Heartstopper” and “Same Every Time.”
Sometimes nothing good comes from the truth, “Sometimes it's better not to know” says Etheridge, discussing the theme of “Cheap Thinking.” “It was one of the first songs on This Rebel that was completely finished and became a trend-setter for the rest of the record.” Simmo adds: “It was the first time Phil heard the Eventide H910 go crazy, stretching the fabric of space and time; “It definitely inspired the sound of the early demos.”
Watch the video for 'Cheap Thought' – BELOW:
Forged in the depths of what is known in the United Kingdom as The Black Country (the Midlands of England), the story of This Rebel began in 2008 when Jon 'Simmo' Simcox met The Twang frontman Phil Etheridge while he was touring as a monitor engineer for the Birmingham indie rock band, which led to a close friendship and blossoming creative relationship. Simmo produced multiple Twang albums while working as an accomplished monitor engineer for artists such as Liam Gallagher, The Kills, FKA Twigs and, most recently, Bring Me The Horizon. “I always found it very easy to work with Simmo” Phil says, “I knew it was only a matter of time before we had a collection of songs.”
The Etheridge and Simcox writers' partnership coalesced into a clear vision during the turbulent months of spring 2020. “It's been a strange few years for everyone,” Phil explains. “During that time when we were all stuck at home worrying about how we were going to kill our grandmother by giving her groceries, it was a huge relief when Simmo sent me some music to write.” For the locked-down couple, writing music became a hobby to pass the hours and a basis for keeping their mental health in check. “When the world was stuck at home, we found ourselves with more time: time to be inspired.” Jon agrees, “Writing helped us stay sane during the crazy times and the bunch of songs we wrote during those months began to take shape as a cohesive full-length record…”
“The first track we finished was 'Duvet Helmet' and from there I knew we had something worth pursuing.” Phil continues. “The whole process felt like when I started writing: a no-pressure situation.” To develop their growing concept of a cinematic cocktail of soulful, blues-tinged indie rock, the pair recruited old friend Jonny Scott (Chvrches) and vocalist Cat Matigue (Tom Grennan) to create This Rebel's self-titled first record.
Describing the previous single, “Same Every Time”, the duo say that it is a “Indie, garage and Americana fusion sonic howl about the bewildering journey through youthful independence and first love.” Etheridge adds: “Simmo's house is a cozy place where a lot of good conversations happen. He always feels as if he specially ordered and turned on the garden lights. Same Every Time was a song Sim gave me when I was about to leave after hanging out with him sharing some wines and putting the world to rights. I remember him saying, “I have this idea. “You probably won’t feel it, but see if something comes.” He texted me the song and I wrote most of the lyrics that night on my short walk home. I've said it before, but that night especially I felt very lucky to have a friend willing to let me ramble on about something he spent hours doing. About a week later we went to our studio in Brum and I told him I had some lines for the track he had given me. Within an hour or two the song was finished and we both sat there with goofy smiles on our faces and the feeling that anything is possible. Two days later we did the same thing again with Heartstopper and that's when This Rebel became a thing.”
On the topic of what's next for the collective, Etheridge says: “Wherever he goes and whatever happens, we are both very proud of it; “It's documented the last years of our lives, so it's a beautiful thing.” He smiles. “I feel like I've found my voice again and made the kind of songs I always wanted to make.”
TRACK LISTING
Stops the heart
Nordic helmet
cheap thinking
A king without a throne
Baby tooth
It's the same every time
If I wrote you a letter
Kisses
Wallflowers
It's easy if you try
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