AFTERDRIVE RETURN WITH NEW SONG
The return of AFTERDRIVE is marked by the arrival of their latest single, ‘Fashion,’ which serves as a dark and hazy immersion into the complexities of modern romance.
AFTERDRIVE are rapidly establishing themselves as a band on the rise, successfully honing a signature sound that manages to feel both strikingly fresh and strangely inevitable. Their newest offering, ‘Fashion,’ carries the weight of a future classic; it is an uptempo, contemporary anthem that confidently blends their diverse influences with standout individual performances. Far from being just another guitar-driven group, AFTERDRIVE actively push beyond their indie-rock roots by weaving intricate layers of modern synths and electronics beneath the effortlessly cool vocal delivery of frontman Ben Watts.
The narrative of ‘Fashion’ unfolds amidst a backdrop of late nights and chaotic encounters, centered on a magnetic infatuation with a partner who is as volatile as they are exciting. It depicts a presence so commanding that it pulls you in even when your intuition warns of the danger. Beneath that initial adrenaline rush, however, the track reveals a colder core, examining how love can feel increasingly hollow in a social-media-driven era where connections are effortless yet disposable, often constructed on surface-level allure rather than genuine intimacy. Through this lens, AFTERDRIVE expertly taps into the profound frustration of being physically intimate with someone while remaining emotionally miles apart, inhabiting a relationship defined by tension, heavy silences, and the weight of things left unsaid. Moody, impulsive, and sharply self-aware, the single was produced and mixed by Thomas Mitchener to capture a generation caught in the crosshairs of craving closeness and being seduced by image, a world where desire burns with intensity, but authentic connection remains just out of reach.
The band faces a demanding schedule throughout February and the coming spring. Earlier this month, they hit the road as the primary support for The Entitled Sons on their UK tour, and this April will see them supporting American superstar Maggie Lindemann across her UK and EU tour dates, which commence in Dublin on April 14th. Additionally, the group is preparing to announce a very special hometown warm-up show in Ipswich in the near future. This follows their recent sold-out headline appearance at The Waterfront Studio on January 31st, where they debuted "Fashion" to a live audience and were subsequently swarmed by fans for signings and meet-and-greets. This momentum carries them into next month’s intimate single launch event at London’s The Social on March 9th.
The previous year was equally monumental for the band, highlighted by an invitation to support Ed Sheeran at his massive Portman Road stadium show and the November release of their track ‘Necklace.’ Their output has garnered significant acclaim from BBC Radio 1, where Alyx Holcombe featured them and remarked: “A band who is brand new to the show and I don’t think I’ve ever fallen in love with a band as quick as this to be honest. Kinda giving me the Weeknd fused with the 1975 vibes”. The group has also enjoyed repeated airplay from Jess Iszatt on her own BBC Radio 1 program. Furthermore, AFTERDRIVE were invited back for a second live session last year by their local BBC Introducing host Angelle Joseph, who has remained a consistent champion of their work. Beyond the airwaves, the band has earned the attention of major tastemakers including Rolling Stone UK, Kerrang, and The Independent.
AFTERDRIVE consists of Ben Watts on vocals, Ed Ruff on bass, Joe Watts on drums, and Luke Ellis on guitar.
