Twitter: @brandnewfriendz Instagram: @brandnewfriendz

It isn’t as often as you’d like that a band and their sound are seemingly one. Youthful, flying in the face of luck and chance, bright-eyed and winging it, just like their blazing guitars; in tune with their feelings and growing up with the subtlety of keys winding through unexpectedly revealing lyrics; and facing up to life by avoiding the ordinary through a rhythm section navigating and plunging forward without fear.

Brand New Friend have come further than they’d ever thought possible while brother and sister Taylor and Lauren Johnson dreamed and played in Castlerock, hanging off of Northern Ireland’s north coast. In just a few years, they’ve gone from Taylor receiving his first guitar for doing well in his GCSEs to signing with Xtra Mile Recordings and releasing their debut album. “Just the experience of playing in pubs with our mates, that was the dream to us,” says Taylor, a bundle of energy who can’t quite believe what’s happening despite being the chief motivator. “We never expected to write an album or go on real tours or sign a record deal, get management. To us, playing those small grungy gigs was just everything. Every second we’re able to do this and avoid real life is the best thing in the world. We’ll ride this ‘til the wheels come off!”