Stannington Talks 'Roads': Embracing a Bold New Sound and Gearing Up for Their First UK Tour

Following their imploring debut single "Through You," Stannington is back with the acerbic follow-up track "Roads." While their first single offered a jangly croon reminiscent of Sarah Records' jangle pop, "Roads" boldly shifts gears, embracing a more dynamic and abrasive sound. This new track showcases the band’s self-confident attitude and takes a fresh spin on British guitar music, blending the raw energy of early Britpop with the edge of Scottish noise rock. With layered guitars, cutting solos, oscillating vocals, and a busy rhythm section, "Roads" reveals a different side of Stannington ahead of their first UK tour.

"Roads" will be available digitally on July 19th, with a limited cassette release featuring "Through You" and exclusive demos "Living Saints" and "Dangerous Dogs." Look out for Stannington’s debut "Farmers’ Market" EP, set for release in 2025.

1. Your debut single "Through You" and follow-up track "Roads" showcase different musical styles. Can you describe the transition from the jangly pop sound of "Through You" to the more dynamic and abrasive sound of "Roads"?

(Lewis Thompson, vocals) Initially, we considered “Roads” to be the single that would demonstrate our pop sensibilities compared to the other material we had. We recorded both of the singles in the same session and learned a lot about the songs as we were putting them down. “Through You” is actually the older song written pre-Stannington and then re-worked, but “Roads” was one of the first we had written together in 2022 and seemed to be the one we would always end our set with. Thinking back, we joked about wanting to write something that sounded like it could be featured on a “driving songs” compilation given away for free with some rag newspaper or magazine.

2. "Roads" introduces a renewed take on British guitar music, influenced by early Britpop and Scottish noise rock. How do these influences shape your music, and what drew you to these particular genres?

(Mark McGarry, guitars) Our influences are many, and we all bring something different to the table when it comes to writing songs. Though we do have points of reference which guide us through the songwriting process - based on a British rock tradition and its earlier folk counterpart - we take more enjoyment in writing music that sounds like us. We can’t deny that our music has its debts, but creating something unique is what we set out to do. 

3. With your debut EP "Farmers' Market" scheduled for release in 2025, what can fans expect from this upcoming project, and how does it build on the sounds introduced in "Through You" and "Roads"?

(M) Fans should expect nothing surprising. As with the two singles, our first longer release will be the end result of getting our current live set down on tape and understanding more about what makes those particular songs work. We learned very quickly that the studio extends and enhances a song, so we look forward to the opportunity to polish what we already have. We’ve opted to call it an EP for now, as it’ll be based on our first live set, and won’t have any narrative of its own. 

4. The lyrics of "Roads" explore themes of daily life and self-reflection. Can you share the inspiration behind the song's lyrics and how they connect with the overall message of the track?

(L) I don’t know if the song has a message. It intends to connect people through a shared desperation and comments on the sensitivity of achievement through competition in the world of sport, particularly the cycling world. I would notice that athletes could dominate their field and be mostly unknown to the world, then to be surpassed by another in a matter of days and weeks. The world we have has always been competitive, so it is written for those who have been dropped but are still enjoying the race. The drama of a lost opportunity paired with the smug feeling of knowing you’re not the only one to be forgotten. 

5. You have a series of live dates coming up, including your first UK tour. How do you prepare for live performances, and what can audiences expect from a Stannington show?

(M) Like many unsigned and independent musicians working today, our writing and rehearsing is scheduled (in a rushed fashion) around our work commitments; we work in hospitality, IT, education, and freelance graphic design. Although this makes it difficult to plan ahead, we make it work, and make the most of it. When we first started performing, it took a little while for local audiences to be receptive, which surprisingly gave us confidence - we enjoyed that we were outliers in a music scene built around noisier, punk-influenced music, and that audiences struggled to make their minds up about the group. I expect more of that whenever we play somewhere new, but we’ll welcome it with open arms.