In conversation with Fawlers: “not much can compare to seeing people resonate with a song you put your heart and soul into”

Less than a year after forming, Fawlers have already built a reputation for thunderous live shows and emotionally charged alternative rock. Fresh off the release of “in the sun”, the band reflects on their rapid ascent, their creative process, and why authenticity still matters.

Few bands find their footing as quickly as Fawlers. In less than twelve months, the Oxford-based quartet has gone from a brand-new project to one that's steadily capturing attention with its anthemic sound and energetic live performances. Their latest single, “in the sun”, pairs soaring guitars with a thoughtful reflection on the illusion of online life. As Fawlers continues to gain momentum, we caught up with them to talk about their whirlwind first year, the making of their latest release, and where they're hoping the journey takes them next.

Fawlers was created less than a year ago, for anyone discovering you, can you describe your band in 3 words?

Anthemic, loud, and intense.

You've built momentum fairly quickly. Has anything about the past year surprised you?

To be honest, mainly just how many people have resonated with our music so quickly, - we weren't really expecting anyone to notice us, but people are really loving it. It’s a great feeling to know that people dig you and that your music means something to them.

Your latest single “in the sun” got released this month. Can you tell me a bit more about this track? 

“in the sun” was one of those songs that we knew had to be in the first batch we recorded. We loved the way the guitars kind of float around for the whole song as it’s held together with bass and drums. They’re really the only instruments playing on beat in the whole song, it creates a really cool effect. 

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Most songs have a moment where it suddenly "clicks." What was that moment for “in the sun”?

“in the sun” “clicked” really fast honestly. We had it since day one kicking about in a demo folder from Ben's previous writing sessions. We had been playing it from the first practice session, and as soon as each member added their spin onto it, it became an automatic part of the set.

Without giving away too much, what does “in the sun” mean to each of you? Has its meaning changed since you first wrote it?

The song is basically just a take on social media. The title is a metaphor for being online in a fake world I guess. You can take what you want from the song - but for us, it’s just a reminder that not everything you see online is necessarily real. 

Was there a particular artist, album or even a life experience that influenced the sound or atmosphere of the track?

The “song” itself was just more of an acoustic folky type of thing, but the real influence is in the rhythm section. Our drummer Jamie always said it reminds him of early incubus, so we were trying to harness that in a more raw, modern way. 

Have there been any memorable moments recently that perfectly sum up where the band is right now?

Honestly it’s all been really good. I don’t think much can compare to seeing people resonate with a song you put your heart and soul into. That’s a really good feeling.

How does songwriting usually work for you? Do you all brainstorm together?

Song writing for us happens in a few different ways. Most of the time, it’ll be a rough demo from Ben that we then take into the practice room where everyone puts their own parts into it and it becomes something new. Other times it can start with a guitar riff from Alistair, or even a jam in practice that just clicks really fast. 

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Are there any activities/interests you have aside from music that you feel helps creatively?

If you asked me to name them I probably couldn’t - but I guess if you think about it, everything has an impact on creativity. Everything you experience has a subliminal effect on your mind whether that’s movies, or just people watching. Most of our songs are about life in general, so I guess that’s the main creative inspiration.

You played quite a few live shows recently, what’s your favourite thing about being on stage? 

Our favourite thing about being on stage is just forgetting everything for that 30-45 minutes. In that moment, you can let everything go and just put all your energy into your music. That’s a magical feeling that nothing else really compares to.

What can one expect from a Fawlers’ gig?

Loud guitars, high energy and something you won’t forget.

If I interviewed you again in five years, what would you hope I identify as the first clue to where Fawlers was headed?

We hope that by this time that our music has connected with more people around the world, and that we’re able to take our songs to stages beyond the UK.