THIS REBEL share new single ‘Same Every Time’

This Rebel
Credit: Charlotte Simcox

Towards the end of last year, This Rebel announced their self-titled debut album, which will be released on 8th March on Jump The Cut Records, and shared the first taste of what’s to come with “Heartstopper.” Today, they release “Same Every Time.”

This Rebel is a chemically-propelled, loose-lipped collective with Phil Etheridge (The Twang) and Jon ‘Simmo’ Simcox (Liam Gallagher, The Kills, FKA Twigs, Bring Me The Horizon) at the helm, inspired by a love of Murder Ballads and free noise, armed with a Space Echo, Eventide H910 and a story to tell.

Describing “Same Every Time”, the duo say it is “a sonic howl of Indie, garage and Americana fusion about the bewildering journey through youthful independence and first love.” Etheridge adds, “Simmo’s house is a welcoming place where much good talk happens. It always feels like he’s had a tidy up and put the garden lights on specially. “Same Every Time” was a track Sim gave me as I was about to leave after being round his sharing a few wines and putting the world to rights. I remember him saying, “I’ve got this idea. You probably won’t be feeling it but see if anything comes.” He texted me the track and I wrote most of the lyrics that night on my short walk home. I’ve said it before but especially that night I felt so lucky to have a friend willing to let me ramble over something he’s spent hours making. About a week later we went into our studio in Brum and I told him I’d got a few lines for that track he’d given me. Within an hour or two the song was done and we both sat there with silly grins on our faces and the feeling that anything’s possible. Two days later we did the same thing again with Heartstopper and that’s when This Rebel became a thing.”

Watch the video for ‘Same Every Time’ – BELOW:

Forged in the depths of what is known in the UK as The Black Country (England’s Midlands), This Rebel’s story began in 2008 when Jon ‘Simmo’ Simcox met The Twang frontman Phil Etheridge while touring as the Birmingham indie rock band’s monitor engineer, which led to a close friendship and burgeoning creative relationship. Simmo went on to produce multiple Twang albums while working as an accomplished monitor engineer for the likes of Liam Gallagher, The Kills, FKA Twigs and, most recently, Bring Me The Horizon. “I always found it so easy to work with Simmo,” says Phil, “I knew it was only a matter of time before we got a collection of songs together ourselves.”

Etheridge and Simcox’s writing partnership coalesced into a clear vision during the turbulent months of Spring 2020. “It’d been a strange few years for everyone,” Phil explains. “During that time when we were all stuck indoors worrying about how we might kill our gran by giving her the shopping, it was a massive relief to have Simmo sending me some music to write to.”

For the locked-down pair, writing music became a pastime to while away the hours and a foundation to keep their mental health in check. “When the world was stuck indoors, we found ourselves with more time: time to get inspired,” Jon agrees, “writing helped keep us sane during the mad times and the bunch of songs we went on to write during those months began to take shape as a cohesive full-length record…”

“The first track we finished was ‘Duvet Helmet’ and from there on I knew we had something worth pursuing,” continues Phil. “The whole process felt like it used to when I first started writing: a no-pressure situation.” To flesh out their growing concept of a cinematic cocktail of soulful, blues-tinged indie rock, the pair recruited longtime friend Jonny Scott (Chvrches) and vocalist Cat Matigue (Tom Grennan) to create This Rebel’s first self-titled record.

On the subject of what is next for the collective, Simmo promises: “We’ll be doing some interesting live shows in early 2024 and getting the record out there for folks to hear.“ Likewise, Phil is enthused to let This Rebel blaze its own trail: “Wherever it goes and whatever happens we’re both super proud of it; its documented the last few years of our lives so it’s a beautiful thing,” he smiles. “I feel I’ve found my voice again and made the type of songs I’ve always wanted to make.”

this rebel

TRACKLISTING

Heartstopper

Duvet Helmet

Cheap Thought

A King Without A Throne

Milk Tooth

It’s The Same Every Time

If I Wrote You A Letter

Kisses

Wallflowers

It’s Easy If You Try

 

Xsnoize Author
Mark Millar is the founder of XS Noize and looks after the daily running of the website as well as hosting interviews for the weekly XS Noize Podcast.Mark's favourite album is Achtung Baby by U2.

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