Black Honey (band)
Black Honey is a British four-piece indie rock band formed in Brighton, England in 2014. The band is composed of lead singer and guitarist Izzy Baxter Phillips, guitarist Chris Ostler, bassist Tommy Taylor, and drummer Alex Woodward, who joined the group after the departure of former drummer Tom Dewhurst. The band released an eponymous self-titled debut EP in late 2014 followed by a series of singles leading to the release of self-titled debut album in 2018.
In early incarnations, Black Honey were partly defined by their signature guitar sound which evokes spaghetti westerns, Tarantino movies and Twin Peaks type connotations. Although this sound continues to be present in the latest material, the band's repertoire in this aspect has expanded since the middle of 2017.
Through 2014 to 2017, Black Honey's output consisted of the regular release of Singles and EP's. The EP "Black Honey" was released in 2014, and the EP "Headspin" followed in 2016. One of the characteristics of these releases was the vinyl format, featuring ambitious artwork by Olivia Savage, which remains an emblematic element of a Black Honey "physical copy".
The self titled debut album was released on 21 September 2018, it reached number 33 in the UK album chart, despite being unsigned to any major record label. The album is wide-ranging in its genres, borrowing elements from pop, hip-hop, indie and rock. With this album, the band have clearly pursued a more ambitious objective than previously.
The musicians are known as being protective of their creative control and as a result have released material when they think it is right. The band members are directly involved in all aspects of music production and also video production in collaboration with chosen directors/producers. The band are also involved with other artistic content such as fashion, publicity and album art.
History
2014
Self titled debut EP was released early 2014 on CD and 12" vinyl formats. It featured the songs Sleep Forever, Teenager, The Taste and Bloodlust.A second Black Honey single was released in October 2014. It was released as a 7" vinyl and featured songs bloodlust and Corrine acoustic.
2015
- Tour dates: 19/01/2015 Lexington | 20/01/2015 The Old Blue Last | 03/02/2015 Red Rooms Nottingham |
- Tour dates: 08/04/15 Birmingham - supporting Superfood 09/04/15 London - supporting Superfood 25/05/15 Focus Wales Festival 02/05/15 Live at Leeds 03/05/15 Live at Glasgow 14/05/15 - 16/05/15 The Great Escape Festival 30/05/15 Wychwood Festival 22/07/15 Croatia Rocks 24/07/15 Secret Garden Party 31/07/15 2000 Trees - July 2015 Y Not Festival 01/08/15 Standon Calling 02/08/15 Kendal Calling Sunflower Lounge Birmingham, Sunday 18 October 2015
- Black Honey generated a lot of interest in the media during 2015.
- Black Honey single Spinning Wheel
- Black Honey single Madonna.
- Black Honey were invited to do a prestigious BBC radio 1 Session for Huw Stephens.
- Black Honey got a break supporting Superfood at The Rainbow Warehouse Birmingham on Wed 8 April 2015
2016
- UK Tour took place.
- Black Honey generated much interest in newspapers and in the blogspace during 2016.
- Black Honey were invited to support Catfish And The Bottlemen on their UK tour.
- Their second EP, "Headspin" was released.
2017
- Headline UK Tour
- NPO 3FM Festival - Netherlands
- Black Honey generated much interest in the media worldwide during 2017.
- UK and Europe arena tour supporting Royal Blood
2018
- Black Honey touring the UK in 2018: | The Rodeo 16 March 2018 | 09/05 Welly Club, Hull | 10/05 Sugarmill, Stoke | 11/05 The Leadmill, Sheffield | 13/05 The Globe, Cardiff | 14/05 O2 Academy 2, Oxford | 15/05 Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
- Black Honey featured in many newspaper and blog interviews during 2018.
- Black Honey released their first album on the 21st of September 2018.
- Black Honey embarked on an autumn tour around the UK in 2018 to promote their debut album.
- Black Honey went on a European headline tour later in 2018: Friday 2 November, Le Botanique Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode, Belgium | Saturday 3 November, Bitterzoet, Amsterdam, Netherlands | Monday 5 November, Molotow Skybar, Hamburg-Nord, Germany | Tuesday 6 November Cassiopeia, Berlin, Germany | NOV 8 THU MTC Club, Koln, Germany | Friday 9 November, LE GIBUS, Paris, France
- Black Honey released a single Crowded City, with accompanying video during November 2018.
In 2019
- The band were reported to be writing and recording songs for a second studio album predicted to be released early 2020.
- NME Front cover stars. Long read. April 2019.
- Black Honey continue to tour during 2019, selling out most venues. Headline spring dates include: | Esquires, Bedford 29 April 2019 | Sugarmill, Stoke 30 April 2019 | Caves, Edinburgh 1 May 2019 | Grand Social, Dublin 2 May 2019 | Live at Leeds Saturday 4 May 2019 | Handmade Festival, Leicester on Sunday 5 May 2019 | Joiners, Southampton on 6 May 2019 | The Forum, Tunbridge Wells on 7 May 2019 | The Boileroom, Guildford on 8 May 2019.
- New song, "I Don't Ever Wanna Love" was being played during live setlists.
- During UK tour: Black Honey additional YouTube material : "le Crousti Garçons".
- The Great Escape, Brighton, 10 May 2019.
- Midnight video nominated at the Berlin Music Video Awards.
- Poltimore Festival, Exeter, 26 May 2019.
- Spring Tour, European leg: | Dauwpop Fest, Netherlands. 30.05 | Vestrock Fest, Netherlands 31.05 | Hurricane Festival, Scheeßel, Deutschland 21 June 2019 | Privatclub, Berlin 22.06 | Southside19, Neuhausen, Deutschland on 23 June 2019 | Chelsea, Vienna 26.06 | Cafe V Lese, Prague 27.06 | Exil, Zurich 28.06 | Rock Werchter Fest, Belgium. 30.06.
- Summer 2019 dates: | Y Not Festival, Matlock, Uk, 25-28 July 2019 | Neverworld Festival, Edenbridge, Uk, 1-4 August 2019 | Grape Festival, Slovakia, 9 August 2019 | Summer Well Festival, Domeniul Stirbey, Buftea, Romania, Sunday 11 August 2019 | Reading Festival, Uk, 23 August 2019 | Leeds Festival, Uk, 24 August 2019 | Lost Village, Lincoln, Uk. 22-25 August 2019 |
- Black Honey release a music video for new single "I Don't Ever Wanna Love" featuring an art deco Ibiza hotel during the video, Friday 14 June 2019.
Musical style and influences
Band Members
- Izzy Phillips - Lead Vocals, Guitar
- Chris Ostler - Vocals, Guitar, Synthesizers
- Tommy Taylor - Vocals, Bass Guitar
- Alex Woodward - Drums
Discography
Studio albums
- Black Honey
EPs
- Black Honey
- Sleep Forever
- Teenager
- The Taste
- Bloodlust
- Headspin
- All My Pride
- Headspin
- On Your Time
- Mocking Swing
Singles
- Madonna / Spinning Wheel
- Corrine/mothership
- All my pride/On your time
- Hello Today/Ghost
- Somebody Better / Cadillac
- Bloodlust/Ghost acoustic
- Dig/Corrine acoustic
- I Only Hurt the One's I Love/Midnight
- Crowded City/Blue Romance
- I Don't Ever Wanna Love
Music videos
Awards and recognition
- The gig at Concorde 2 on 14 October 2018 was lauded in the press as one of the finest of the year.
- The video for Midnight is nominated for best art director at the Berlin Music Video Awards 2019.