‘First, last, and everything in between’ is an interview feature where upcoming artists talk about some of the favourite music from throughout their lives.
Retroview are an indie rock four-piece from Manchester, who put out their debut single last September. Ahead of the release of new single, You Say You Want To Change Me, they told us about the music that has inspired them.
Who makes up Retroview and how did you get together?
Liam (Lead vocals and rhythm guitar) Kian (backing vocals and lead guitar), Bailey (drums), Tom (bass).
Liam and Kian met at college in Liverpool and started to record demos digitally during lockdown and then both went to a music university in Manchester. They put a post in the uni Facebook group looking for a drummer, which Bailey contacted them about. They were also looking for a bass player so Bailey asked his housemate, Tom, if he’d be interested as Tom played guitar. The classic bass player origin story.
First song you remember falling in love with?
Liam: The Scientist by Coldplay was the first song I remember thinking was an amazingly well written song. I’d been familiar with their later music as a kid but songs like that opened my eyes to different styles of music.
Kian: Lithium by Nirvana; it made me want to learn guitar.
Bailey: The first song I can remember being obsessed with was Smile by Lily Allen; I would play it on my iPod shuffle to everyone I spoke to. But the first song I properly fell in love with was A Certain Romance by Arctic Monkeys.
Tom: Transmission by Joy Division.
I think most people really start to form their musical ‘identity’ as teens. What music would best define your teenage years?
Liam: Bands like The Beatles, Coldplay and Oasis really made me fall in love with music, but then the likes of Radiohead and Jeff Buckley took that to a new level.
Bailey: In year 8 my dad got me an iPod which he loaded with all his music, which I grew up listening to. This included a lot of 90/00s indie/rock bands such as Radiohead, Oasis, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Arctic Monkeys, who became my favourite.
What’s your go-to sad song?
Liam: For No One by The Beatles. Absolutely stunning song, probably my favourite song by my favourite band.
Bailey: Motion Picture Soundtrack by Radiohead, as it evokes emotion in my robot mind.
Tom: Nutshell by Alice in Chains, the lyrics are dark and so is the whole vibe of the song.
What’s your go-to banger?
Bailey: This is why by Paramore is one I had on repeat when it was released.
Tom: Rock ‘n’ Roll Star by Oasis. Great way to start the day.
Who/what are some of the key influences on your music?
Artists such as The Beatles, The Cure, Jeff Buckley, Oasis, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys and Pink Floyd.
Do you have any musical guilty pleasures?
Kian: Step Back in Time by Kylie Minogue.
Bailey: McFly as they are the 21st century Beatles.
What have you got lined up for 2024?
Releasing new music, playing a bunch of gigs and seeing where we can take the band.
Finally. What’s the last song you fell in love with?
Liam: Oh Very Young by Cat Stevens.
Kian: On and On by Stephen Bishop.
Bailey: The last song I fell in love with was Last Goodbye by Jeff Buckley, after hearing it in the finale of Sex Education.
Tom: Easy lover by Phil Collins
And you can find them on social media via the links below.
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