WHAT WILL BE: FINDING POWER IN INTENSITY, ATMOSPHERE AND EMOTION

Rising alt-rock outfit What Will Be are stepping into a bigger, bolder era. Blending the emotional scale of early-2000s alternative rock with modern synth textures and cinematic piano, the band have evolved from indie newcomers into a heavier, more expansive force. With new EP Primordial built around elemental themes and a growing reputation for immersive live shows, the band are locking into a sound — and identity — that feels fully realised.

Below, the band talk about evolution, confidence, creative freedom and what they want fans to take away from the next chapter.

Your sound pulls from early-2000s alternative rock but also leans into modern synths and piano. How conscious was that balance, and how did you land on the version of the band we hear now?

That balance was very conscious, but it took time to arrive at it naturally. We all grew up on early-2000s alternative rock, so that emotional weight and sense of scale has always been in our DNA. The synths and piano came in as we started thinking more about atmosphere and dynamics — how to give songs more space and movement. The version of 'What Will Be' you hear now feels like the point where everything finally clicked and nothing feels forced anymore.

Since forming in 2019, you’ve moved from a more indie-leaning sound to something heavier and more anthemic. What triggered that shift — was it musical influences, live shows, or just growing into yourselves as a band?

It was a mix of all three. Playing live definitely pushed us toward something bigger and heavier — certain songs just demanded more impact on stage. At the same time, our listening habits were shifting and we became more confident leaning into intensity and emotion rather than holding back. We also built our own studio in Salford which allowed us to work on our tracks at our own pace. We could fully flesh out ideas in our studio and not have to worry about how long the process took as we weren't paying for time. As we grew as a band, it felt natural to let the songs be bolder and more anthemic instead of trying to fit a specific indie mould.

The new EP Primordial is built around the elements: wind, water, fire and earth. Where did that concept come from, and how did it shape the way you wrote and arranged the songs?

The concept came from wanting a simple but powerful framework that reflected different emotional states. The elements gave us a shared language — wind for movement and uncertainty, water for resilience, fire for confrontation, and earth for reflection. It influenced not just the lyrics but also the arrangements: how dense or sparse a track felt, how it moved, and how grounded or volatile it sounded. It helped keep the EP cohesive while letting each song stand on its own.

‘Tides’ was the first glimpse into this new era. What did that track unlock creatively, and why did it feel like the right bridge between the debut EP and Primordial?

Tides unlocked a sense of confidence for us, it's probably the track on the EP that sounds most like our previous work whereas the last track on the EP 'Fall From Earth' showed us that we could blend heaviness with melody and atmosphere without losing emotional clarity. Creatively, it felt like the first time everything — songwriting, production, and mood — aligned with where we wanted to go next. It worked as a bridge because it still had the introspection of the debut EP, but pointed clearly toward the broader, more elemental world of Primordial.

You’ve had strong support from BBC Radio and built momentum through live shows like Night & Day Café. Looking ahead to touring in 2026, what do you want people to feel walking out of a What Will Be show?

We want people to leave feeling something genuine. Over the years we've focused a lot on our live show to make it an experience that stands out from other gig/shows. Our live shows are about creating a space where people can fully lose themselves for a moment. Ideally, people walk out feeling lighter, louder, and more connected — not just to us, but to whatever they brought into the room with them.