Black Honey (band)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Black Honey
Black Honey performing live at Southside Festival 2019
Black Honey performing live at Southside Festival 2019
Background information
OriginBrighton, England
Genres
Years active2014–present
Labels
  • Duly Noted
  • Foxfive
Websiteblackhoneyuk.co.uk
MembersIzzy B. Phillips
Chris Ostler
Tommy Taylor
Alex Woodward
Past membersTom Dewhurst

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 Tom Dewhurst.[3][4][5][6]

The band released an eponymous self-titled debut EP in late 2014 followed by a self-titled debut album in 2018.[7] The album reached number 33 on the UK Albums Chart.[8] Black Honey released their second album, Written & Directed, in March 2021. The album reached number 7 on the UK Albums Chart.

In early incarnations, Black Honey were partly defined by their signature guitar sound. 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.

History[]

2014[]

Black Honey the band was formed and a self-titled debut EP was released early in 2014 on CD and 12" vinyl formats. It featured the songs Sleep Forever, Teenager, The Taste and Bloodlust.[9][10] A second Black Honey single was released in October 2014. It was released as a 7" vinyl and featured the songs "Bloodlust" and the acoustic version of "Corrine".[11]

2015[]

They toured during the year as well as played Focus Wales Festival; Live at Leeds; Live at Glasgow; The Great Escape Festival; Wychwood Festival; Croatia Rocks; Secret Garden Party; 2000 Trees; Y Not Festival; Standon Calling; Kendal Calling; and Sunflower Lounge Birmingham.[12]

Black Honey generated a lot of interest in the media during 2015.[13] They released the single: Spinning Wheel during April.[14][15] In July the single: Madonna was released.[16] They were invited to do a BBC radio 1 Session for Huw Stephens and supported Superfood at The Rainbow Warehouse Birmingham on Wed 8 April 2015[17]

2016[]

Black Honey toured various venues in the Uk during 2016. They supported Catfish And The Bottlemen on their UK tour. A second EP, Headspin, was released later in 2016.[18][19][20]

2017[]

Black Honey embarked on a headline UK tour during spring 2017.[21] Later in the year they were in the Netherlands for the NPO 3FM Festival. Finally, a UK and Europe arena tour took place where Black Honey supported Royal Blood [22]

2018[]

2018 began with touring in the UK. They embarked on an autumn tour around the UK to promote the debut album. Next, they were in Europe for a further headline tour later in the year. They released the single "Crowded City", with accompanying video during November 2018.[23]

2019[]

For 2019 Black Honey were reported to be writing and recording songs for a second studio album which was predicted to be released early 2020. They were NME Front cover stars in April 2019.[24]

Black Honey did a headlining tour during 2019. They also played Live at Leeds (UK Festival) and Handmade Festival, Leicester (UK).

A New song, "I Don't Ever Wanna Love" was now being played during live setlists and during the UK tour, Black Honey came up with additional YouTube material named: "le Crousti Garçons", which was just a bit of fun for the fans.[25][26] The Great Escape, Brighton, 10 May 2019.

The video for the single, "Midnight" was nominated at the Berlin Music Video Awards.[27]

There were more tour dates during 2019 we asll as at Poltimore Festival, Exeter; Dauwpop Fest, Netherlands; Vestrock Fest, Netherlands; Hurricane Festival, Scheeßel, Germany; and Rock Werchter Fest, Belgium.[28] Summer 2019 dates were: Y Not Festival, Matlock, Uk; Neverworld Festival, Edenbridge, Uk; Grape Festival, Slovakia; Summer Well Festival, Domeniul Stirbey, Buftea, Romania; Reading Festival, Uk; Leeds Festival, Uk; and Lost Village, Lincoln, Uk;

In June 2019, Black Honey released a music video for their new single "I Don't Ever Wanna Love" featuring an art deco Ibiza hotel as a backdrop.[29][30]

A change of personnel occurred late in the year and Tom Dewhurst left the band, to be replaced on the drum kit and percussion by Alex Woodward.

2020[]

First gig of 2020 and first also with new band member Alex Woodward on drums was at the Green Door Store, Brighton (29 January 2020).[31]

A new Black Honey single was released in July 2020 called "Beaches".[32] At the same time a music video was also released. It was directed and produced "in house" by the band during COVID-19 restrictions.[33]

DIY put on a 100th issue party. A live gig under COVID-19-compliant distancing conditions happened. Black Honey headlined the gig on 9 September 2020.

Next for 2020 was another new single release, 18 September 2020, "Run for Cover" along with its accompanying video; released on 25 September 2020. Filmed in an empty working men's club. Directed by Sam Kinsella. Production and styling: Craig Hemming.[34]

2021[]

New single release, 8 January 2021, "Believer".[35]

New single release, 19 February 2021, "Disinfect", along with accompanying video.[36]

Release of the second album Written & Directed on 19 March 2021. At No. 1 in the iTunes UK Album chart during a lot of release week.[37] The UK official album chart was released on the 26 March 2021 with "Written and Directed" at position No 7 overall. It achieved No 1 in the UK independent chart. Scottish Album chart position #3. UK vinyl chart position: #2. UK cassette chart: #2. UK physical chart: #4.[38]

Band members[]

  • Izzy Phillips – lead vocals, guitar
  • Chris Ostler – vocals, guitar, synthesizers
  • Tommy Taylor – vocals, bass guitar
  • Alex Woodward – drums

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

EPs[]

  • Black Honey (2014)
  • Headspin (2016)
  • All My Pride (2017)

Singles[]

  • "Sleep Forever" (Demo) / "Teenager" (Demo) (2014)
  • "Spinning Wheel" / "Madonna" (2015)
  • "Corrine" / "Mothership" (2015)
  • "All My Pride" / "On Your Time" (2016)
  • "Hello Today" / "Ghost" (2016)
  • "Somebody Better" / "Cadillac" (2017)
  • "Bloodlust" / "Ghost" (Acoustic) (2017)
  • "Dig" / "Corrine" (Acoustic) (2017)
  • "Midnight" / "I Only Hurt the Ones I Love" (2018)
  • "Blue Romance" / "Crowded City" (2018)
  • "I Don't Ever Wanna Love" (2019)
  • "Beaches" (2020)
  • "Run for Cover" (2020)
  • "I Like the Way You Die" (2020)
  • "Believer" (2021)
  • "Disinfect" (2021)
  • "Fire" (2021)

Music videos[]

List of music videos
Title Year Director
"Hello Today" 2016 Nadia Lee Cohen
"Somebody Better" 2017
"Dig" Shaun James Grant
"Bad Friends" 2018 Black Honey
"I Only Hurt the Ones I Love" Sam Kinsella
"Midnight" Shaun James Grant
"Crowded City" Sam Kinsella
"Baby" 2019
"I Don't Ever Wanna Love"
"Beaches" 2020 Black Honey
"Run for Cover" Sam Kinsella
"I Like the Way You Die" Frances O’Sullivan
"Believer" 2021 Sam Kinsella
"Disinfect" Craig Hemming
"Back Of The Bar" Jamie Noise
"Fire" Craig Hemming

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.[39]
  • The video for "Midnight" was nominated for Best Art Director at the Berlin Music Video Awards 2019.[40]

References[]

  1. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/black-honey-mn0002621316
  2. ^ https://www.exposedmagazine.co.uk/music/review-black-honey/
  3. ^ "Interview: Black Honey - M Magazine". M magazine: PRS for Music online magazine. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  4. ^ Lester, Paul (4 December 2015). "New Band of the Week: Black Honey". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Black Honey showcase new bangers at riotous Brighton homecoming". NME. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Black Honey announce departure of drummer Tom Dewhurst". diymag.com. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Black Honey interview: Having a vagina in music can be f****** scary". standard.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Black Honey". iTunes Store. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Article: Black Honey - Indeep music". 11 January 2015.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Record Review: Teenager - The 405". 5 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Article: Black Honey - blahblahblah Science". 24 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Live review: Black Honey Sunflower Lounge Birmingham". 18 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Most Blogged Artist of 2015 (UK blogs) - Black Honey - BBC". 13 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Review: Black Honey - Gron Artist Spy". 19 March 2015.
  15. ^ "Record Review: Spinning Wheel - The 405". 8 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Review: Black Honey Madonna - Eleven pdx". 1 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Live review: Black Honey Superfood The Rainbow Warehouse Birmingham". 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Review: Black Honey Headspin EP - The Review". 25 May 2016.
  19. ^ "Review: Black Honey - Nicorola de". 29 March 2016.
  20. ^ "Review: Black Honey All my Pride - DIY". 29 March 2016.
  21. ^ "Black Honey announce March/April UK tour". Dork. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  22. ^ Subscribe. "At The Drive In and Black Honey are supporting Royal Blood!". diymag.com. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Video review : Black Honey, Crowded City - Far Out Magazine". 1 November 2018.
  24. ^ "Video review, article : Black Honey, NME". 4 May 2019.
  25. ^ "Video review : Black Honey, le Crousti Garçons". 4 May 2019.
  26. ^ "Video review : Black Honey, le Crousti Garçons". 4 May 2019.
  27. ^ "Video Awards, Black Honey, Berlin Music Video Awards". 17 May 2019. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  28. ^ "Hidden gem: Black Honey at Rock Werchter, article : Black Honey, Festileaks". 16 May 2019.
  29. ^ "Black Honey unveil the most ostentatious Video of the year, 'I Don't Ever Wanna Love' - DIY Mag". 14 June 2019.
  30. ^ "Black Honey are back with a new single, 'I Don't Ever Wanna Love' - Dork". 14 June 2019.
  31. ^ "Gig review : Black Honey, Green Door Store (NME)". 3 February 2020.
  32. ^ "Music review : Black Honey, Beaches; NME". 29 July 2020.
  33. ^ "Black Honey, Beaches - Vevo Youtube Video". 29 July 2020.
  34. ^ "Single video : Black Honey, Run For Cover". 25 September 2020.
  35. ^ "Black Honey, Believer - Youtube Video". 8 January 2021.
  36. ^ "Music review : Black Honey, Disinfect; Gigwise". 19 February 2021.
  37. ^ "iTunes UK Chart". 26 March 2021.
  38. ^ "UK official album charts". 26 March 2021.
  39. ^ "Review: Black Honey - Favourite Gig of 2018 - Brighton's Finest". 10 December 2018.
  40. ^ "Video Awards, Black Honey, Berlin Music Video Awards". 17 May 2019. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2019.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""