THE buzz band of the moment, Glasgow-based three piece Prides have just changed their name and their musical attitudes.
The change in question is from their previous name Midnight Lion to Prides. Not only has the aesthetics of their title changed, they feel everything else has too. Nailing performances and locking down tracks in a way that they haven’t before.
“It’s so good it seems a bit selfish to keep it to ourselves”
Originally starting as a two-piece with just drums and vocals, Lewis and Stewart then enlisted the help of Callum to play as a live band. The band started writing as a three piece, their music evolving into much slicker tracks: “As things began to change, we felt it warranted the name change.
“A lot of bands go through the same thing, we were thinking should we change it, should we not? Ever since we have changed the name you know, it feels like a new thing and it just feels right.
“We were real bedroom producers before, it feels like a band now.
“There’s a lot of stuff on the old tracks that was a lot harder to do live. But now, its much more streamlined and its all coming together perfectly for the live shows.
“The live show is pretty slick now. All the new tracks that we have been writing are a lot more exciting and have a lot more to them.
“Live shows are so important; that’s how people come across music- stumbling across you at a festival or while you are supporting a band they like.
“We have a nice balance now, we have music with depth, music that is interesting and exciting but still immediate. When you hear it you still think, ‘wow’.”
Also flying the flag for Scottish music, Prides are big supporters of their fellow acts: “There are loads of Scottish bands we love. Frightened Rabbit are a favourite, when they played at T in the Park last month we felt like it was a bit of a moment for them.
“We also really like Admiral Fallow and Paws- and of course CHRVCHES as they fly the Scottish electro flag.”
Prides are no strangers to the festival circuit, they played a great set at T in the Park last month: “T in the Park was great for us, it was nice to have people wander in and out. There’s been a lot of people getting in touch with us since saying they stumbled across us at T in the Park.
“That’s the great thing about T Break, people can stumble upon some amazing music.”
The band played their Prides and Pals slot at King Tuts last week, a tour they are yet to fully confirm as they set about finding new pals for the shows: “We’ve announced some of our pals. But we are on the hunt, let’s see what friends we can find.”
Since seeing Hector Bizerk, this year’s toast of T Break, at Insider, the band went straight up to Louie from the act after their set: “There’s something about Scottish rappers as well, they are all the nicest guys.
“We just had a rehearsal with him. He came into rehearsal with us and fucking killed it.
“We are going to do a studio recorded version of it to make available for download. It’s so good it seems a bit selfish to keep it to ourselves.
“The track is called Run and Jump, he just took that title and fucking ran with it.”
Words: Nadine Walker
