Faux Pas bring us their new EP as a real alternative....

I caught up with Lewis from Faux Pas to ask about their beginnings, inspirations and new EP...

Hi Lewis, thanks for the interview, can I ask about your background, how you got involved in music, how you got together as a band and how you'd best describe your style plus main inspirations, etc?

We formed in York after me and Ru met at Sixth Form, and started off just wanting to put on shows for the fun of it. About a year later we won a slot at Leeds and Reading through the Martin House Centre Stage battle of the bands. I think this is what really made us start taking things seriously. Joey’s (drums) first gig with us was actually the final of this competition at the O2 in Leeds, and we then met Arthur at uni in Manchester. Our inspirations change regularly, but I would have to say we currently take influence from bands like Sonic Youth, Pixies, Wand and Jeff Buckley. However, we all listen to a massive range of stuff so inspiration comes from everywhere.

Has lockdown impacted you creatively at all as both individuals and as a group, and how have you coped over the past 18 months?

Our upcoming EP ‘I Feel Pretty, So Should You’ was actually recorded pre-covid, but we put off releasing it until live music returned. We have written loads of music since then, so the main thing we have noticed is the change in sound across the material, and having to retroactively get yourself in that headspace. Having taken a while off rehearsing, when we came back everything felt different, but in a refreshing, good way.

In terms of personal impact, we all missed performing massively as that’s really what it’s all about for us. I found myself struggling with such a significant change to my life, not being able to do the thing I love most. I felt without purpose, lost and, as a musician, abandoned by the government. It was beneficial to discover other outlets than music, but the feeling of playing that first gig back reminded me of what I really love.

What's your latest work/project and what inspired you to make it?

The latest project is our EP ‘I Feel Pretty, So Should You’, which provides a visceral exploration of intimate pain, whilst highlighting shared vulnerability as a tool against suicide. According to Ru, ‘the record was created as a way of expressing the issues he tackled during a critical stage of his therapy, chronologically documenting the most painful moments of his life from childhood through to adulthood ranging from the loss of a father figure to prolonged bullying and drug abuse’. As an ensemble, we took the EP as an opportunity to explore being open and vulnerable with each other, and the impact that can have on your relationships. I believe the result of it is our most honest work to date, and for us personally, a beautiful understanding of one another.

Where can folks get to see your work?

We are playing a run of shows this Autumn: Hull Inner City Sesh 18/09, Barnsley Live Launch Party 24/09, Gathering Sounds Festival 25/09, Fuel Cafe Manchester 08/10, YMF Leeds 14/10, New Adelphi Club Hull 05/11, Amersham Arms London 18/11. We are also in the process of adding to this list so keep an eye on our socials.

Can you list your social media links?

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/faux_pas_official/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/FauxPasUK/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/FauxPas_UK

What's next for you?

We have a load of new music we are writing for after the EP, so we will be looking to get ready for 2022 with this!

Anything else you'd like to add about your work, or a message for the readers?

Be honest with your friends and family, and be there for them too. When things seem hopeless that’s what will get you through.