Honey Guide

Leeds based Honey Guide - AKA Jacob Andrews - releases new single ‘Nom De Plume’ today via Bam Bam Records, the label and collective set-up by indie-risers Eades. His debut EP ‘A Tidy Room Is A Tidy Mind’ is out December 10th.  

Reminiscent in elements of Whitney, Kevin Morby or Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, with a sardonic British twist, ‘Nom De Plume’ further expands Honey Guide’s sonic world by adding subtle jazz-tinged elements to his trademark, woozy Americana. It joins cuts so far released - ‘I Feel Funny’, ‘Oh Why?’, and ‘Just My Style’ - in establishing a formidable cannon. 

The most chilled-out, contemplative release from Honey Guide so far, ‘Nom De Plume’ is night-time listening. The introductory, stumbling groove of the guitar conjuring to mind the dying embers of a snoozing fireplace. The all-encompassing washes that comes from the instrumentation as Jacob drops into the reflective chorus widen the eyes to further possibilities. Jacob elaborates on the wistful themes expressed: 

"Nom De Plume is essentially about wishing to start again, with whatever it may be. I often find myself battling with the thought that I’d have done things a little differently, spent a little more time and patience on someone, spent a little more time doing something that would have been worth my while, wishing that I’d have planned a little better. I remember getting asked ‘If you could change the name of your project from Honey Guide to something else, would you?’. The answer is absolutely not. The name Honey Guide is my Nom De Plume (or pen name) for writing music, as I didn’t really like the idea of using my actual name. I kind of liked the idea of it sort of being an alter ego in a sense. Guiding anyone who listened to something sweeter.” 

A spirit of collectiveness is pervading the music in Leeds right now - with various projects trading ideas, members and resources to uplift the entire indie scene. Honey Guide falls squarely into this, working with members of rising band Eades in their Bam Bam Studios before releasing on the associated label. Jacob has also played with Far Caspian, Niall Summerton and Harry Hanson, as well as working on demos with Louis Sadler of Van Houten.