In 2009, they toured Europe and the USA and spent a lot of time in the studio, with producer Gareth Jones. At Glastonbury they won "Emerging Talent Competition 2009" & now, hoping to prove the critics correct, with their début album, "WHB" (Apr 2010). A new album "Movements" (28 Apr 2014) is planned, produced by band member Thomas and co-produced and mixed by Tim Goldsworthy (DFA Records, LCD Soundsystem, Unkle, Mo'Wax).
Drawing from a well of influences that include ESG, Animal Collective and The Rapture, the band created their own sound - a 21st Century mixtape that defies categorisation or pigeonholing. With the prime focus on making people dance, they quickly took the big step of taking their music to the stage, despite having little to no previous experience between them. “We learnt quickly” says Dede, “I never thought I’d be in a band, I definitely didn’t ever see myself on a stage! But after the first few shows you get over the scary bit and the buzz just took over – there was no looking back.”
‘The snowball effect’ is a fitting description for the band’s first year; play a few shows in London, play a few more outside of London, start getting a lot more hits on MySpace, NME and Dazed & Confused get in touch about doing ‘ones to watch’ features, label’s start calling and before you know it they have their first release. Early singles like the vibrating punk funk monsters 'Oh!' (released on 50 Bones records) and ‘You Came Out’ (released on Kill Em All) as well as the fuzzy, descending disco of 'Hear It In The Cans' (available on the sixth Kitsuné Maison compilation) showed the trio's playful, disco side but those looking for 12 identical tracks on ‘WHB’ may be in for a surprise.
"The singles are poppy, danceable and catchy but there's another side to us," says Thomas. Indeed tracks like 'Buffet' and 'Piano' hint at a rougher, more complex element to the discoball dream. "We like a lot of dark music. Joy Division, early OMD, and Talking Heads are just some of the things that we listen to,” adds Darren. "The three of us have lots of different influences and they’ve all come out on ‘WHB’."
The DIY ethos of the band has meant that they've succeeded without being tied to a record label. "We didn't want to focus on getting a deal, we went out and did everything ourselves. We got on with existing as a band on our own terms," says Darren. This has meant the freedom to tour extensively around the world. "If we were signed to a label, the record company wouldn't have allowed us to tour as much as we have," says Thomas. "I was looking at my passport today and I thought that I needed to get a new one soon, it's nearly run out of pages!" Thanks to this, Dede says, the band have a large international fan-base. "When you go to France or Russia and fans who don't necessarily know English are singing your songs back to you word for word, that's an amazing feeling. You just think 'how do they know the songs?!'"
From the humble beginnings of 'WHB', the trio wrote the rest of the 11 sonically diverse songs that make up their brilliantly eclectic album in between touring, over the course of 2009. The final product is much bigger than their singles and beloved MySpace songs suggest. Beat heavy, yes, but also warm, organic and much more complex, melody driven and beautiful than you would expect.
So here you have it, ‘WHB’, the debut album from We Have Band that really is the full story of everything they’ve achieved as a band, from the very beginning up until now.
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After All
We Have Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But being biblical is so dramatic
We took this hook to sooth the fevers
By hook by crook, become believers
Look at me, this fruit's not fell
Far from the tree
But this fruit feels ripe
So we take our chance
Amongst the heathens
By holding fast, become believers
Come alive, facilitate me
Wash away and elevate me
Currency is not accepted
While we try, we are defective
If I could make only half of this right
Then this lonely day would turn into
Populous night and this poverty of clarity
Would not stop me from sleeping this time
Come alive, facilitate me
Wash away and elevate me
Currency is not accepted
While we try, we are defective
The lyrics of We Have Band's After All seem to be expressing the feeling of being in a state of bliss or paradise, but with a touch of dramatic irony. The lyrics suggest that although they perceive their present circumstances as heaven, they are aware that being religiously inclined often amplifies dramatic tendencies. The line "We took this hook to soothe the fevers" seems to point to a self-awareness of using music as a tool for coping or escaping from reality. This is emphasized by the repetition of the phrase "by hook by crook," which suggests utilizing any means necessary to achieve a sense of spiritual or emotional fulfillment.
The lyrics continue to describe the singer's satisfaction with their present state, despite the possibility that their upbringing or background may suggest otherwise. They describe themselves as "this fruit" that has not fallen far from the tree, but has ripened in a way that they are happy with. The lines "So we take our chance amongst the heathens/By holding fast, become believers" seem to suggest that they are taking a chance and turning towards a new way of life, perhaps one that is not characteristic of their upbringing. They are holding fast to their newfound beliefs and using it as a way to transform themselves.
The chorus of the song seems to suggest a desire for transcendence, with the repetition of the lines "Come alive, facilitate me/Wash away and elevate me." The singer seems to be pleading for some sort of divine intervention or guidance, perhaps to help them sustain their newly found beliefs or to help them break free from their current state of being. The final lines of the song emphasize the difficulty of this journey, with the acknowledgement that "while we try, we are defective."
Line by Line Meaning
After all, this is heaven
Despite the challenges we face, we consider our current situation to be favorable and close to perfection.
But being biblical is so dramatic
Following strict religious principles can be intense and overly complex.
We took this hook to sooth the fevers
We found a solution to our problems and used it to calm ourselves down.
By hook by crook, become believers
We did whatever it takes to achieve our desired outcome, to become true believers.
Look at me, this fruit's not fell
Despite coming from a similar background, I have not followed the same path as others.
Far from the tree
I am not like my family or previous generations.
But this fruit feels ripe
I feel ready to take on new challenges and opportunities.
And that's all right by me
I am accepting of this new direction I am taking, and I am content with it.
So we take our chance
We choose to risk everything for a better outcome.
Amongst the heathens
We venture into unfamiliar and possibly dangerous territory.
By holding fast, become believers
We remain steadfast and dedicated to our newfound beliefs and values.
Come alive, facilitate me
I am seeking renewal and assistance to help me grow and evolve.
Wash away and elevate me
I want to cleanse myself of any negativity and rise above my current situation.
Currency is not accepted
Money cannot buy what we are searching for or solve our problems.
While we try, we are defective
We are not perfect, and our efforts may fall short of our expectations.
If I could make only half of this right
If I could improve just a portion of my current situation, it would be a significant step forward.
Then this lonely day would turn into
If I could find a solution to my problems, my current feelings of isolation and disconnection would dissipate.
Populous night and this poverty of clarity
I would no longer feel alone and overwhelmed by my lack of understanding and awareness.
Would not stop me from sleeping this time
I would be able to rest peacefully and comfortably without my worries keeping me up at night.
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@moongrime
Dede is so lovely!!
@GregHudson
Awesome
@RapinoBanch
Wooow!
@tzotneezugbaia6047
I want to have band too!
@TheAppologies
Putain.