Introducing: The Ultra Violets

With a name as bold as their sound, The Ultra Violets aren’t here to play nice. Since forming in 2020, the Cornwall-based band have earned a reputation for their high-voltage live shows and a string of standout support slots with acts like The Libertines, McFly and Red Rum Club—not to mention coveted festival appearances at Boardmasters, Isle of Wight and Y Not?

Now, they’re back with HONEY PIE—a blistering new single that takes aim at the sugar-coated illusion of social media. Written as a sharp critique of our dopamine-fuelled addiction to curated perfection, the track pulls no punches, both sonically and lyrically. “People only want the sweet stuff,” the band say, “even when the world is on fire.”

We sat down with The Ultra Violets to talk digital disillusionment, dopamine hits, and why HONEY PIE might be their most vital release yet.

1. ‘HONEY PIE’ is a punchy critique of social media culture — was there a particular moment or experience that inspired you to write it?

I was just playing the guitar one evening and just started to absolutely hammer it, I normally get my phone out and record myself a voice note of how the structure will go so the next day I can remember it and then start to tackle it with some words, but I just remember making up the structure of the song on the spot and I was like bang that’s it. So it was a pretty aggressive chord progression and structure so I had to write some angry words to it… I mean I couldn’t write a song about love again could I.

2. The track feels both urgent and relatable — how did you balance its social message with the energy and edge of your signature indie-rock sound?

I feel that should come hand in hand naturally, I wouldn’t want a song to sound like Metallica but the message was how I’d like to go for a high tea with my granny on a Tuesday afternoon, know what I mean? It wasn’t planned, the chord progression / feel of the song is what inspired the lyrics.

3. You’ve supported big names like The Libertines and McFly, and played festivals like Isle of Wight — how have those experiences shaped your performance style or songwriting approach?

Good question, the bigger the gigs you play the more you wanna write stadium rock belters, to be honest from day one I’ve always written like that, so it’s kinda nice when we do get to play these massive shows, I feel completely at home and comfortable playing these songs to the masses.

4. Working with Ross Rothero-Bourge and your bandmate Perran Nicholls at The Cube must’ve brought some unique dynamics to the recording process — what was that like behind the scenes?

Well working with myself is a dream haha but working with Ross is great, he seems to get what we want really fast and he makes us all work hard. He loves a pasty that boy.

5. The music video drops the same day as the single — how did you approach the visuals for ‘HONEY PIE’ and what do you hope people take away from it after watching?

From the very second I wrote HONEY PIE I knew what the video was gonna look like, I just had to get my image in my head across to the person who was shooting it, luckily the lovely and very talented Natalie Allen shot it and she just gets me instantly and that makes working with her a dream.

I just wanted a white room (took ages to find) and the band all in black, wanted it fast paced with big text over the top, it’s so visually pleasing. What do I want people to take away from it after watching? Umm just that they like it, it’s that simple I’m not here to tell people how to think or feel, that’s up to them, but it’s cool if they like it, and equally as cool if they don’t.