HONESTY photo credit Barney Maguire
New to our ears is Leeds based group Honesty. We thought we need to delve further after hearing ‘Cease’. There will be more to dive into when ‘Box’ comes out on the 25th of April.
A 40 min continuous mix of instrumentals, remixes, and new material, ‘BOX’ sees HONESTY venture further into an introspective, subversive, melting-pot version of club music. The mix features appearances from Florence Shaw (Dry Cleaning), vocalist Ryan Cooke as well as verses from rising UK rappers Rarelyalways and Kosi Tides.
Led by the whispered vocals of guest turned permanent member, ImiHolmes, “CEASE.” explores the futility of anger in situations slipping beyond our control.
Speaking about the new track which was premiered by MattWilkinson on AppleRadio1, HONESTY said:
“‘CEASE.’ is a very early idea that went through several different versions and multiple vocalists, eventually ending up as it is now: a lean, stripped-back pop song where our electronic & more traditional band based elements are fighting for dominance. Lyrically, we are talking about feelings of abandonment and disappointment, through the eyes of someone who’s dedicated themselves to someone else, and now just wants those feelings to ‘CEASE.’.”
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With four core members – George Mitchell, Matt Peel, Josh Lewis and Imi Holmes – and a rotating cast of collaborators, HONESTY emerged as an exercise in doing things differently. The project was born in 2020, initially as a remedy to Matt and Josh’s frustrations with the creative restrictions of their previous bands. Out went defined parts and play-by-numbers riffs, in came fluid roles and studio experimentation. Tapping up friend George Mitchell who Matt had worked with in Mitchell’s previous band Eagulls, they went on the hunt for vocalists. Step up Imi Holmes who moved in over marathon track edits and late-night McDonalds sessions. Based in Matt’s Leeds studio The Nave, HONESTY became friends through making music, hanging out their way to a sound that they still can’t put their collective fingers on.
DeClunk 