With less than two weeks until the return of Victorious Festival, excitement is building as the event once again shines a spotlight on local talent. Among the standout acts, Crystal Tides are set to take the Common Stage by storm on Saturday afternoon. Drawing inspiration from bands like The Strokes and Two Door Cinema Club, Crystal Tides is rapidly emerging as a must-watch in the indie rock scene. Their infectious energy and compelling sound promise to make their performance a highlight of the festival.
Could you tell me about how the band came to be formed?
Me (Billy, Singer) and Harry (Lead Guitarist) started writing songs in our breaks at university and in our final year started to take those songs into a practice room. Eventually recorded some of them and showed people and were encouraged to start taking it further. The band formed then really, we started gigging and had a few member changes over the years, George and Neil joined after working on different projects with Billy in the past and then we actually nicked Joe from another band!
Can you describe how you felt after you released your first single?
Excited. We felt then as we do now, like we are really onto something with our music!
For those who are new to your music which three tracks would you encourage them to check out first and why?
Honey, Headcase and Courtney Love. They all display our catchy energetic hooks that define our unique sound!
Over the years has your approach to performing live changed and if so how?
We have always been very conscious of our live show as it is our strongest asset. Over the years we have fine tuned it by all playing with in ear monitors and made some well needed outfit adjustments! But overall we still pride ourselves in our tight and punchy sound that gets people going as soon as we start!
How do you feel when you share your music for the first time? Do you prefer to share new music live where you can see the crowd’s reaction first hand or online perhaps?
It all depends on the song. Sometimes we prefer live sometimes we prefer a release. If it’s a song we feel is going to get a big crowd reaction we incorporate it into our live set in advance.
What bands and artists are you currently listening to and how are they inspiring you to explore and implement new ideas with your music?
Listening to a lot of other growing indie artists currently. The Ks, Overpass, Red Rum Club to name a few. We try not to focus on other artists sounds to much as we want our sound to stay true to us but it’s always helpful to know what other artists are successful with when writing.
Have you noticed a change (for better or worse) in the music industry since Covid?
The music industry feels a bit like a minefield. It’s hard to navigate.
For those fortunate enough to have tickets to your shows what can they expect?
Lots of fun, lots of energy and lots of singalongs! (Even if you don’t know the words)
What are your experiences with Victorious Festival in the past?
Starting on the smallest of stages on an acoustic guitar are some of my greatest memories. All of us have played it in different projects but never on the scale that Crystal Tides have reached. It’s really special to all of us to have grown with the festival.
What can we expect from you over the next twelve months?
Lots more shows. Our tour is coming up, we are releasing a new EP that we are super excited for! It’s going to be a big end of the year for us and we can’t wait!
With early bird options now sold out, day tickets are available starting at £83, while full weekend passes begin at £225. Don’t miss out—visit their website through the link below to purchase your tickets and check out the T&Cs.
Website: victoriousfestival.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/VictoriousFestival
Twitter: twitter.com/VictoriousFest
Instagram: instagram.com/victoriousfestival
Photo: Harry Dobson
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