Getting To Know... Sorrell

After following up their much-loved 2022 EP 'Wait For Bliss' with their stunning comeback single 'Good News' earlier this year, Leicester-based outfit Sorrell return once again with their shimmering new effort 'For Once'.

Capturing more of that rich and illuminating indie-rock aesthetic they are known for, 'For Once' makes for a beautifully serene listen from start to finish. With its warm and inviting textures perfectly set to some soaring hooks throughout, they are continuing to cement themselves as one of the more exciting names on the rise right now.

So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with vocalist Dylan Lee to find out more about his background and what has been inspiring him most over the years.

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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?

I think I first became obsessed with guitar in my early teens when we got Guitar Hero: World Tour. I remember really wanting to play the solo to Hotel California on a real guitar. I only actually ended up learning it a couple months ago.

What kind of music did you love when you were younger?

Anything with guitars that was big in the mid 2000's, Foo Fighters, Oasis, Kasabian. Then as a moody teenager I got into the more alternative stuff like Radiohead, Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, and became obsessed with the effects pedal stuff that came to define a lot of our sound.

What was the first album you remember owning?

Most of my early CD's were just ones that were stolen from my parents' collections, but it was probably the Oasis compilation time flies or Kasabian West Ryder.

What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?

Personally, Radiohead's no surprises is definitely one of them. It's a simple song with a perfect melody and sharp lyrics, and it resonates with people instantly. It's a song that I play whenever I pick up my guitar at home and it's a great lesson in songwriting generally.

Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?

I'm very much a guitar noodler when I want to write, I'll just hide away and play for hours until a progression or riff really captivates me, and try to build a melody around it. Lyrics and structures usually come a lot later as we build the song as a group. We've become a lot better at just coming up with a few simple ideas, and slowly crafting it as a real collaborative effort with our songwriting recently.

Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?

It's always a very random assortment for me. Stella Donnelly has been a recent go-to because her voice and fantastic lyricism are always a pleasure. MF doom has randomly been on repeat too. And Dismemberment Plan for the 2nd wave emo kick.

If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?

I would love to support Deerhunter, they were a big influence for us when we were starting out so it would be a meaningful one. We used to do a half-decent cover of their song Desire Lines.

What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?

Playing live, when we're all really clicking and the crowd is engaged, it's a real delight, and reminds me what I love about being in a band and playing music. The bigger the stage, the better!

And what is the most frustrating part?

Dealing with the anxiety of releasing and writing music can be incredibly frustrating, but on the other side, the performance of it can also be cathartic. I try to channel that energy into the songs themselves.

And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?

Probably just the age old advice that is to play live as often as possible. Hone your craft on the stage. We've really found that the more we have played, our confidence in what we do has grown massively.

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Sorrell's new single 'For Once' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.