Just one look at what Feral Family are doing right now, and it immediately starts to feel like this moment in time is somewhat of a turning point for the Yorkshire trio. Having now been on the radar of anyone who enjoys punk rock, garage rock, and generally hard-hitting guitar music with a sharp edge, they have most recently released a single, ‘The Razor’, which marks a shift into a new gear both in terms of themes and of sound. As for the former, the track starts as an exploration of personal struggle in order to delve into something much more universal, quickly becoming a tight, claustrophobic spiral of helplessness which then explodes into a breaking point of release. The music mirrors this trajectory, starting with something close to static and making clever use of repetition to create a thrumming sonic cage mirroring the feeling of being constantly beaten down, a contrast with the vocals, which remain defiant throughout. Overall, it is a sound that feels less sprawling than the band’s previous offerings, echoing the soundscapes of artists like The Dead Weather in its blend of garage rock structures and more distorted, thick-and-heavy layers of guitar noise. As the lyrics describe the feeling of being pulled down, the very sensation is mimicked, almost physically, by the way the guitar line stretches out and elongates into the end of the track, a breaking out that feels at the same time like a race into the inevitable.

The song comes across as more ambitious than anything Feral Family have done thus far, and this is a mirror to their trajectory outside the studio, too. With ‘The Razor’ receiving substantial accolades and being showcased on the likes of BBC 6, the band are making it clear that, far from turning their back on the grassroots scene in which they have their roots, they are tying themselves to it even more closely. As a way of championing that scene and shining a spotlight on the crisis which is affecting both grassroots venues and access to gigs in a time of continuous financial pressure, they are running a series of gigs this coming December with deliberately capped prices, a statement of intent that will certainly not go unnoticed.

We had a chat with vocalist Jamie Lowe and guitarist Oscar Woods to unpack the process behind the new music, their inspirations, and the joys and tribulations of the touring life.

Introduce yourselves for our readers: who you are, how you got started, where you’re at now.

OW: Me and Jamie have been playing together for quite some time in different guises and Regan (drums) joined us a couple years ago, which has added a whole new depth to our sound in the studio and live.

Most recently, you have released your second EP, ‘So Far Behind…’, last February. What was the process of working on this record like?

JL: ‘So Far Behind…’ was a bigger project than we initially set out to do. Most artists might do a four-track EP, but what we wrote at the time couldn’t be condensed down at the end. We managed to have it down to six tracks but it’s more like a compacted album than an EP. My personal favourite has got to be ‘Down In The Dirt’, I woke up one morning and the first line of the song just came to me, it was a real pleasure for the whole process with that one. Some songs can be trickier to craft and mould, but not during that time. We started the recording process for the EP in January 2024 before we released our debut album, then as the year went on, we kept returning to the studio in Wolverhampton every few months. We would only concentrate on one or two songs at a time so we could give everything to the recordings. The key with our sound is you’re not just hearing a song: you’re hearing a relationship between the band and Liam, the producer. So I believe the producer is the most important integral part of our music because he adds so much value and ideas to our songs. 

The music in your recent releases feels sweeping and intense, with a larger-than-life sound. What vibe and emotions are you trying to tap into?

JL: Each song we create has its emotional weight and story to it. Once we put them into the world, I think it’s up to the listener to interpret the songs’ meaning and what it means to them.

What are the inspirations that have been most influential in your recent songwriting?

OW: Mostly conversations with me and Jamie, generally and about what we want to convey in each song. We sit and talk, ponder, and laugh over each line or lyric.

What are you listening to right now, or what music would you recommend to someone who wants to understand what you as a band are about?

JL: I’m listening to The Velvet Underground right now, always end up coming back to them at some point.

You have a string of headline shows coming up in December. What can we expect? What are you most excited for?

OW: There’s nothing better than getting on the road, playing our songs that we work so hard on in a live environment. We’ve got a few really good support acts for each show that we’re digging - so yeah, the shows will be quality.

This is also part of a Music Venue Trust initiative to make grassroots music more affordable. Tell us more about it!

JL: We’ve taken the reins on this tour, we’ve hired the venues out ourselves, doing it all DIY, and we’ve set the ticket prices to £5. Three top bands for £5. We want to stand tall on our own. We own our music - and we want to be in control of our destiny. We stand to learn and gain so much more from being the headline band and doing it all ourselves. It feels like the only way you’re going to get a constant touring schedule in the current climate. And live music should never feel like a luxury. Give the people what they want and don’t rip them off.

Do you have a touring anecdote you are particularly fond of, or that was especially weird or memorable?

JL: The shows we play that have the audience singing back to us, those are pretty special to us. It makes all the years of hard work worth it.

What’s in the future for Feral Family, and is there something in particular you are working on right now?

JL: We’re always working on something. Right now, we’re working on songs for our second album and solidifying our live sound. Plenty more to come, keep your ears to the ground.

Feral Family will be touring this coming December with dates in Leeds (December 4th), Hull (December 10th), Manchester (December 11th), and London (December 19th). Tickets are available here. 

Chiara Strazzulla

@cstrazzull

Image: Courtesy of press

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