English Teacher

“English Teacher is part of a new generation of British bands updating post-punk in their own image” The New York Times

“One of the decade’s most exciting new indie acts” TIME Magazine

“The rising stars of indie music” The Guardian/Observer

“A Leeds post-punk four-piece who take their place in the front rank of great new British bands” The Sunday Times

“Wonky art-rock…2024 feels like it could be their year” Evening Standard

 “A vital voice from the heart of UK guitar music" NME

“A brilliant new voice in UK guitar music” DIY

“One of the UK’s best new bands” Dork

“English Teacher is probably your favourite band’s favourite band by now” So Young Magazine

“A crisp, relentless motorik pulse…infernos of distortion” Stereogum

“A sound that mixes post-punk, dream-pop and the wry, slightly skewed worldview of songwriter Lily Fontaine” Brooklyn Vegan

“Surprisingly angelic” NYLON

"A band with a dry wit and a sharp tongue" The Fader

“This is a band with an identity all their own” Loud & Quiet

“They could be your new favourite band” The Line Of Best Fit

“Matching barbed, often hilarious lyricism against bundles of askew guitar pop riffery” Clash

"Hotly tipped" Rolling Stone UK

“Infectious, crystalline, anthemic” Consequence of Sound

Leeds indie figureheads English Teacher share intoxicating new effort ‘R&B’, out now (following its BBC 6 Music Huw Stephens premiere), marking the latest single taken from debut LP ‘This Could Be Texas’ (pre-order here), set for release April 12th via Island Records ahead of their biggest UK headline tour to date.

Commenting ahead of the single’s arrival, frontwoman Lily Fontaine explained: “When I was with him I had writer’s block and to add insult to irony, the only idea I had was for an R&B top line - the genre people always assumed I worked in. As soon as he ended it, I converted that top line into the lyrics and riff for ‘R&B’, and took it to my three best mates. Putting the effort that you could potentially put into a partner, back into yourself and your career, is cool and sexy and gets you signed to Island Records and writing press quotes in a tour van in Holland and you get to meet Jools Holland. Thanks lad.”

Preceded by initial LP reveals ‘Albert Road’, ‘Mastermind Specialism’, ‘Nearly Daffodils’ and ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’ (the latter three all A-listed on BBC 6 Music), English Teacher’s stunning ascent continues to reach new levels, having completed sold-out debut UK and US headline runs last autumn, following their thrilling debut appearance on Later With…Jools Holland (watch here). Named as Official Independent Venue Week Artist Ambassador for 2024 (following in the footsteps of Wolf Alice, Arlo Parks, Wet Leg & Beabadoobee), the four-piece have just finished a sold-out UK run, having previously been vocal advocates for unblocking the regional pipeline (Fontaine has written pieces for both NME & DIY on these issues). Currently in the midst of an extensive European tour with Irish outfit SPRINTS, Fontaine will also be DJ-ing at BBC 6 Music Festival in Manchester this March, before the band embark on their biggest UK headline tour to date later in the spring to coincide with their album release.

With acclaimed debut EP ‘Polyawkward’ ushering their extraordinary rise in the last few years, the band’s biting social commentary and unique musical soundscapes have certainly positioned them as influential figures within the emerging indie landscape. Critical praise throughout the broadsheets (The Guardian/Observer, The Times, The Independent, The Sunday Times, The New York Times, Evening Standard) and key UK/US indie titans (NME, DIY, Dork, So Young, TIME Magazine, The FADER, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, NYLON, Rolling Stone UK, Loud & Quiet, The Line Of Best Fit, Clash, The Forty-Five), as well as on the BBC Radio 1 (Jack Saunders, Gemma Bradley), BBC 6 Music (Steve Lamacq, Lauren Laverne) and Apple Music (Elton John) airwaves has enhanced their profile significantly; whilst on the live circuit the group have already supported acts including Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Paolo Nutini, Parquet Courts and Yard Act, in addition to notable debut slots at SXSW and Glastonbury.

Detailing the accompanying visuals (directed by Sarah Oglesby and Sodium Films), the group revealed: “This is an ode to 2021’s original ‘R&B’ video and to Douglas snogging himself. It’s an ode to self-love and an ode to not putting up with bullshit. It’s an ode to the chaos of the calm and the calm of the chaos. It’s an ode to the greatest TV show of all time - The Shivering Truth. Here’s to theatre and here’s to behind the scenes. We fight. We break up. We kiss. We make up. Once again directed by the incredibly talented Sarah Oglesby (Sodium Films), we hope you enjoy.”

Produced by Marta Salogni (Bjork, Bon Iver, M.I.A.), English Teacher’s ‘R&B’ is out now via Island Records and available on all digital platforms.

English Teacher is Lily Fontaine (vocals, rhythm guitar, synth), Douglas Frost (drums, piano, vocals), Nicholas Eden (bass), Lewis Whiting (lead guitar)