Posted by UBR Admin | 28 August 2012

Absolute Radio Airplay Winners: Battle of You

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Following an Olympics-shaped hiatus, we were more than happy to catch up with our pal Pete Donaldson at Absolute Radio and throw some more of your amazing music his way. After fighting off some fierce competition, London-based alt-poppers Battle of You were chosen for airplay on the Sunday Night Music Club at the weekend. Just so you know- if you ask us what day the show was on, we may need to stop hanging out.

Obviously, the band were pretty happy to be hitting the national airwaves. ‘It was awesome!’ They told us. ‘We’ve all been working really hard and so to get recognition like that felt really great. We’re just so happy people are listening and enjoying what we’re doing.’ And ain’t that what it’s all about, eh? It was with that in mind that we were delighted to offer Battle of You a slot on the Emerging Icons stage in the Olympic Park at the Paralympics. It was something that meant a lot to them, with the inspiring atmosphere of the occasion making quite an impact on this impassioned bunch. ‘The Paralympians are incredible people, who have fought their battles and overcome them to achieve their dreams. It’s an honour to play, and we’re so excited!’

So what are Battle of You all about? Who are they and what makes them unique? Aside from the indie edged pop, a distinct rawness and a Scrappy Doo attitude to life, of course. ‘Its the hair cuts’ they told us. Well, it worked for Pat Sharp when it comes to becoming immortal, but we refused that could be the only thing in this case. How right we were. ‘We try to create and put across the rawest thing we feel in the hope that other people feel it too. We’re not ashamed of our influences and we don’t hide how we feel. We don’t like to politicise or intellectualise our music- we want to bridge the gap.’ See, that’s definitely a whole lot deeper than a haircut.

It’s a depth that we probably should have worked out through the name, really. Bursting with connotations of internal conflict, we needed a little more embellishment on where it actually came from- or is it just one of those silly names that don’t really have anything to say- like Buck’s Fizz of Wham? ‘The Battle of You is something that every person goes through,’ they said. ‘We’re all difficult people just like everyone else. Everyone is fighting for something. We have all fought so hard to just be ourselves and to do what we love.’ So it does make sense. It is with this concept driving them that they took to the streets to go and delve deep within the public’s consciousness (as well as very niftily spreading the word about their band. Clever.) The ‘What’s Your Battle?’ campaign is an intriguing project in which people from all walks of life reveal their own personal battles, culminating in sets of cracking portraits to interest the artsy, the philosophical and the nosy alike. You’ll have to check it out.

With their motto to keep fighting always at the forefront of their motivation, Battle of You bear a grittiness that simmers through their music as well as their attitude- but that really is only half the story. An ever complex proposition, the group do still have their roots firmly in the world of pop music. For example, you wouldn’t necessarily expect this band of warriors to casually come out with ‘we were all singing the Baywatch theme tune and appreciating the complex musicality the other day’, but what else would you expect from those brought up on a healthy diet of Smash Hits and the fizzy intensity of the 90s? Yes, despite being ‘alternative’, Battle of You are in no way ashamed to be labelled as pop. Hitting them square in the heart, the universal relatability of the genre has been something they have loved since childhood…perhaps to the point of obsession. ‘I loved Boyzone,’ said Mel. ‘I had the lunchbox, the T-shirts. Even a bin. I miss that lunchbox.’ It’s with this lament for long-lost Tupperware that we can really see the soft core of these fighters, which just makes them all the more loveable.

There’s an EP due for release around November, so given the all-round brilliant response for ‘Rebecca’, we can’t wait to hear it. With that cracking track winning them the airplay on Absolute Radio, we asked Battle of You to pick their favourite tracks from the other bands that were shortlisted for Sunday Night Music Club:

Gentleman Starkey - ‘Bones’

This one and James Craise’s are our favourite tracks of the four. This guy’s voice is intense, and the lyrics are so simple but so good. We love a good desperate love song in Battle of You, and we bet this band is great live! This track is everything we stand for- you don’t have to be complex to make a good tune and to get across how you feel. Plus, they’re the coolest looking men ever. A billion and two out of 10!

James Craise - ‘Checkmate’

This is deep. The voice is like a more acoustic Alex Clare, and the song is so great. This guy’s Emerging Icons profile bio is great too, he’s fought against so much and you can hear that in the music. We can really relate to this, awesome stuff! A billion and 1 out of 10!

Andy Muscat - Benefit

Love the arrangement on this, and the production is great. He’s telling a common story but in a new way and that’s awesome. His voice and style is so British. Also, his hair is nearly as good as mine. Which is a very hard feat. A billion out of 10 (Minus 1 for trying to beat the hair.)

Samuel J - Silhouettes

The guitar work on all of his tracks is amazing, and we love the laid back feel he has to his tunes. They’re perfect summer songs for sitting in the park. Like a Jack Johnson/John Mayer hybrid. Pretty sweet. And the Argentinian half of our band can understand what he’s singing when the language changes- so boxes well and truly ticked! A billion and a half out of 10 (extra half a point for the bilingual angle.)

Battle of You are gigging at Camden Barfly on September 4th, as well as a top-secret location in Soho to be announced soon!

For plenty more fun, games and tunes with Battle of You, head over to their Emerging Icons profile now. RIGHT NOW.