Flat Party

"escapist art-pop aimed directly at the future...remarkable"
CLASH Magazine

"gleefully sardonic...with jangly, pleasingly indulgent guitar-hero riffs"
DIY Magazine

(21st November) London based indie-risers Flat Party have released their new single "Hindsight" - the latest taster of the band's self-titled debut EP, out digitally and on 12" vinyl on 19th January 2024 via Submarine Cat Records. Wrapping flamboyance, humour and complicated emotions around urgent indie rock, the band's upcoming debut EP was recorded and produced by Andy Savours (My Bloody Valentine, Black Country New Road, Rina Sawayama, Sorry) at Battery Studios in north west London. 

New released single "Hindsight" is a politically charged track about hateful immigration policies and terrible leadership. “Our generation is often seen as this group of people who moan for no reason, but it really does feel like we’ve got absolutely no power to try and shift things for the better," bemoans vocalist Jack Lawther. Flat Party might not be able to change that, but at least they can make people feel heard and offer them a sense of community, through their artistic, extravagant art-pop.

Speaking more on new single "Hindsight", Jack continued:

"The lyrics for this came just after the first lockdown, which inspired the anger behind the end passage. There’s a lot to unpack with the rest of the song, but its ultimately about frustration, especially at the attitudes that are commonly directed to our generation about the state of the world and how “ungrateful” we are."

On the creation of the song, guitarist Rory O’Rourke added:

"Musically, it was a song that seemingly materialised out of nowhere. Once the chords were recorded, the rest just flowed effortlessly - which doesn’t happen too often. I shared it with Jack, who then helped craft the big grandiose ending."

Flat Party initially formed in 2019 while Jack and Rory were studying at Bath Spa University. Both had been in bands before, but there was something about this partnership that felt new. “It was very genuine and allowed us to write the type of music we actually wanted to do,” explains Jack, with the pair bonding over the Beatles, Sparks and The Replacements alongside the personality driven, on-the-nose indie of The Cribs and the ambitious pop of MGMT. “I was always obsessed with bands that felt more like a lifestyle when I was younger,” continues Jack, who just couldn’t find that in a lot of the newer bands at the time. “We’ve just always loved larger than life characters in music.”

Moving between jagged art-rock and crooning sixties-tinged pop, Flat Party have now expanded into a close-knit six-piece band, which has helped the group expand on their ambitious, sprawling vision, while also keeping things focused.

Completed by Nic Morris (bass) Dylan Tarayan-Bibbs (guitar), Zander Hearn (drums), and Tom Hunt (keys) - Flat Party are adamant they do not want to be pigeonholed. With collective influences ranging from Big Star and Suede to Japanese Breakfast and David Bowie, Flat Party's music and overriding ethos is rooted in escapism.

"Rory and I have had similar upbringings, we both grew up in towns devoid of any real culture and so music, art and literature were the only things that excited us; I think this is why our lyrics are very visual. We want to paint worlds for people to step into for three minutes and just forget about everything else."

Flat Party self-released their debut single "Fish" towards the end of 2022 - an agitated slice of modern art-rock, before blistering second single "Dig Up Concrete With A Plastic Shovel" arrived, further enhancing their reputation with notable hat tips from CLASH and DIY Magazine. In recent months the band have followed up that initial wave of excitement a full schedule of touring and festivals with live appearances alongside FEET, Walt Disco, Goat Girl, Tommy Lefroy, Mystery Jets and more.

Flat Party's self-titled debut EP will be released digitally and on 12" vinyl (pre-order on bandcamp here) on 19th January 2024. New single "Hindsight" is out now via Submarine Cat Records. Flat Party continue their headline tour of the UK, remaining dates below.

London based indie-risers Flat Party have announced their self-titled debut EP will be released digitally and on 12" vinyl on 19th January 2024 via Submarine Cat Records. Wrapping flamboyance, humour and complicated emotions around urgent indie rock, the band's upcoming debut EP was recorded and produced by Andy Savours (My Bloody Valentine, Black Country New Road, Sorry)