Deep Blue unleash ‘stunning sound of the summer’ with their beautiful new single

Having just completed their most successful UK Tour to date, including sell-outs at London’s Camden Assembly and Manchester’s Deaf Institute, the band’s new single begins the countdown to their latest EP release, with all four tracks on Sugarcoat being released on Friday 7 July 2023.

The band range from all over, Niamh is from the Republic of Ireland, Georgia’s from Scotland, Sophie is from Wales and Katie’s from Kent. But they each bonded at university in Manchester and have found a home in the city, where they have lived for seven years.

The Deep Blue’s new single

With their stunning harmonies and pin-sharp songwriting coming across in full effect, the deeply personal themes on Lakehouse find The Deep Blue turning to the shimmering, ethereal folk influences of the likes of The Staves, setting their poppier sensibilities aside to get brutally real.

Cherishing their bond as friends as much as performers, the confessional weepy finds the hotly-tipped band exposing their most bruising emotional experiences for the benefit of their listeners.

The band’s latest single, Lakehouse

The soundtrack to a Manchester summer

With body politics and the patriarchy squarely in their crosshairs, Manchester’s harmony-rich, ass-kicking The Deep Blue return to shake things up with their new Saturday night, pre-disco, sing-in-the-shower bop, How About It?

How About It? is distilled, worldly-wise and world-weary, acerbic commentary turned pop.

Both deeply personal and instantly accessible, this energising banger is set free for anyone to take as their own and, in the wishes of the band: ask questions of the world as they dance around their kitchen.

Speaking about the new single, the band said: “Turning a blind eye doesn’t come naturally to The Deep Blue. ‘HowAbout It?’ attempts to describe how it feels when the mere thought of being in your body puts you in danger.

“It’s poetic and is bound to make you want to move. It’s a bop but, at its core, this is a protest song. A soft f-u to the patriarchy.”

Tearing back into listeners’ lives with an unequivocal single finger salute from the sisterhood to anyone willing to take them on, the track launches the four piece’s Sugarcoat EP, released this summertime, whilst the band take to the road for four, newly announced live dates from next month.

We sat down with the Niamh from band to talk about their new single, Manchester’s music and the themes of their writing.

Can you tell us about the band?

“We’re called The Deep Blue. We’re an indie folk girl band based in Manchester. We’ve all been here for seven years or more and formed the band during the pandemic.

“We’re an indie folk band with elements of indie pop. Our songs feature strong three-part harmonies, which is a key aspect of our sound.

“We all met at uni, where we were all studying music, apart from Georgia, who did physics. That’s how we found our powerful group of women!”

Can you tell us a bit about your creative process?

“It’s a fluid process. We write about our lives and current events, and then Georgia, our guitarist and producer, arranges the songs. We all contribute to the songwriting, drawing from our different musical backgrounds. It could either be jazz, or opera, or folk, we’re a real eclectic bunch.

“One of the big themes in our work is about violence against women, and being able to walk home safely at night. These are things that affect all women and we use our songs as a mouthpiece for the struggles we face.

“These are things that we all need to open up conversations about.

“Although sometimes the content matter is a bit dark, our music is very upbeat, and danceable!

“The three part harmonies just take you away to somewhere nice.”

Can you tell us about your latest single?

“It’s the third track from our second EP, “Sugar Coat.” We’re currently in the middle of our EP release, and we have track four coming soon.

“Previously we’ve put out Taking on Water EP, 2021 single Jealous Sea and Yellow and Gold too (see below).”

Yellow and Gold 

What’s it like to be part of Manchester’s music scene?

“The music community in Manchester is incredible. I think it’s the main reason why none of us have left.

“There are so many supportive venues but shout out to the Whiskey Jar, where Joe Macca fosters an amazing sense of community among bands at the open mic night. He even came down to photograph us at the Deaf Institute, so big up to him.

“The atmosphere there is great, you can really connect to the music, and the standard of musicians there is mind blowing.

“We have a close bond with other artists and feel respected as musicians. You don’t always get that in other places.

“Our favourite venue I think is the Deaf Institute. We played there at the end of our tour and it was great to be back in the city we love.

“That being said, there are some amazing venues here. The Apollo, the Ritz, The Albert Hall.The list is endless. We’d love to play them all.”

Does the city inspire some of your work?

“Yeah, we definitely feel inspired here. It’s such a wonderfully city and so culturally rich, even without music. Theatre, Art, Food, everything you could ever want is right here.

“I think when people hear, we’re a Manchester band, Everyone has a really good story about a gig they’ve been to in Manchester. It’s part of the fabric of life here.”

What are your plans for this summer?

“Well, it’s festival season and we’ve got a busy roster coming up. But we’re all looking forward to it.

“We’ve got Tramlines in Sheffield, Y Not Festival in Derbyshire, Herefordshire’s Nozstock and Victorious on the south coast in Portsmouth.

“It’s going to be busy, but Im sure it’s going to be an amazing experience. We can’t wait.”

With the release of their Sugarcoat EP in sight, released on Fri 7 July 2023, Lakehouse’s gentle balm, borne of lived experience in the field of love and loss, is a study of indisciplined songwriting and effective, restrained performance.

Where the EP’s first single, How About It? roared out of the blocks as a ‘protest bop’ for the ages, and last month’s release of lost Boy appeared to glide, effortlessly, into the world on wings of lush instrumentation and those vocals, Lakehouse weaves beats-based modernity with a touch that could only be human and fragile heart.

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