Youth is a sacred thing. While every human is destined to age and experience change over the span of a lifetime, the essential formative years ground a person and outline an impression for one to either follow or subvert. Fascinated by youth, Irish-born Aoife Power, Niall Burns and Andrew Flood set out on a journey together connected by heritage and guided by an honest passion to play music.
Unlike most bands fresh-faced and raring to make their mark, the members of whenyoung each found themselves transplanted into a foreign city without any support system or structure to keep them busy, so like most young people they turned to their childhood friends — and then naturally the music followed. Forming in London, the trio soon found supporters outside of their circle, spurring momentum on the gig scene and slowly creating a discography.
Releasing early singles ‘Actor’ and ‘Silverchair’ on Hate Hate Hate Records in November of 2017, the band quickly raised attention to their efforts, continuing upwards propulsion the three hit the road for their first UK tour collecting miles warming up for Superfood. The two songs each offered intriguing angles for the members’ individual powers to shine through alongside a distinctive and astute knack for crafting indispensable indie guitar music. A further double release was signified when YALA! Records partnered with the band in March of 2018 to share ‘Pretty Pure’ and ‘The Collector’ — a pair of opposing sonics: one animated and gleeful, the other pensive and intricate; insightful to the band’s ever-expanding musical palette.
The songwriting has edge, whenyoung don’t constrain their creativity they cover a plethora of topics: artificiality, wistfulness, individualism, current world affairs – basically a perceptive (but vivacious) personal entry on living in the modern era. Since launching, the trio have shared a collection of original tracks, their most recent ‘Heaven on Earth’ provides the catchiest chorus yet and a blistering rhythmic punch — plus a stamp of industry approval as the release earmarks the band’s first on Virgin EMI.
The thriving upbeats of their melody-heavy compositions are well captured in their recordings but nonetheless become irresistible when played on stage — and the band have seen many live rooms and festival fields over the past 10 months. Sharing bills with Dream Wife, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Declan McKenna, and Peace to name a few, the trio have built up a formidable CV and appear to have found their calling.
This wave of popularity hasn’t slowed them down either, remaining true to their homeland and paying respect to their childhood inspirations whenyoung have lovingly laid down their take on The Cranberries’ classic, ‘Dreams.’ For a faithful and euphoric version of the track which praises the strength in embracing vulnerability and letting love in. No more validation necessary, whenyoung are here to go the distance — count us on board for the ride.
‘Dreams’ is available to Stream/Purchase here. whenyoung will be touring the UK and Ireland across September through December.
whenyoung Tour Dates:
September
26th – The Key Club, Leeds
27th – EBGBS, Liverpool
28th – Think Tank? Underground, Newcastle
29th – Tenement Trial Festival, Glasgow
October
3rd – Boileroom, Guildford
4th – Purple Turtle, Reading
5th – The Cookie, Leicester
6th – Neighbourhood Fest, Manchester
10th – Komedia, Brighton
11th – Boston Music Room, London
12th – Kasbah, Coventry
13th – Heartbreakers, Southampton
November
2nd – The Workman’s Club, Dublin
3rd – Dolans, Limerick
4th – Cyprus Avenue, Cork
December
3rd – O2 Academy, Glasgow- (w/ Blossoms)
4th – O2 Academy, Sheffield (w/ Blossoms)
5th – Rock City, Nottingham (w/ Blossoms)
7th – O2 Academy, Birmingham (w/ Blossoms)
8th – Victoria Warehouse, Manchester (w/ Blossoms)
9th – Victoria Warehouse, Manchester (w/ Blossoms)
11th – O2 Guildhall, Southampton (w/ Blossoms)
12th – O2 Academy, Bristol (w/ Blossoms)
13th – O2 Academy, Brixton (w/ Blossoms)
