South Coast rock outfit The Fever Dreams return with ‘Hairclip Things’, a swaggering new single packed with driving riffs, booming drums and the kind of larger-than-life energy that feels built for packed venues and raised pints. Equal parts tongue-in-cheek and anthemic, the track transforms a breakup story into a playful slice of modern rock and roll, complete with a title born from an unforgettable songwriting room moment.
Already earning support from BBC Introducing Solent, Voice FM, and the South Coast Music Charts, the five-piece have quickly developed a reputation as one of the region’s most exciting live bands. We caught up with the band’s lead guitarist Duke to discuss the making of ‘Hairclip Things’, their mission to bring big guitar anthems back to the forefront, and their plans to take their high-energy live show far beyond the South Coast.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
My first exposure was my parents playing Elvis and The Beach Boys on our record player. I was 8 years old and used to stick them on and dance in the living room for hours.. the next exposure really came from Tony Hawks games and then finally Guitar Hero shaped my love for classic rock and actually got me playing guitar – at my parents’ insistence. I listened to a lot of Metalcore as a teenager but got fully back into the classics at 20, and kind of never looked back.
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
Oh, Slash, for sure. Guns N’ Roses are absolutely my favourite band. He just has the meanest way of playing, intensely emotional and aggressive and no one else has a sound like him. Aside from him, Mick Taylor is probably a close second – he’s not a fast flashy player but has incredible phrasing and is a brilliant improviser. Lastly, Sean Long from While She Sleeps. In my mind he will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest in history. Similar to Slash, he has an incredible emotional edge to his playing that is unique, plus his riffs are heavy as fuck.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
I saw Guns N’ Roses at Hyde Park on the 23rd just as me and Kieron started to write.. It was one of my first gigs in a long time, and it changed something in me. It made me realise if I worked hard enough it could be possible to get there. But they were amazing, and I’ve never been in a crowd that went from 0-100 like that before. Best show of my life. So far.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
Writing looks different now as we’re writing more as a band, but the bones of the first record was written entirely by me and Kieron in his apartment, a few drinks to ease the creative flow and within 4-5 months we had an albums worth of material – and we’d never seriously song written before with anyone. The demos were then fleshed out by the rest of the band once we got everyone together, most of the songs sound totally different because of everyone else’s angle which I love.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
I don’t know, just life I guess. Some stuff generic subjects but some personal experience. Music wise whatever riffs I’ve had kicking around for a while, or if I’m listening to a certain band a lot I’ll end up playing something akin to them. Hairclip Things in particular came when I started to get into The Black Keys.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
Have a good time, all the time!
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
The amount of fucking hoops you’ve gotta jump through now. Labels don’t sign you based on talent anymore, you’ve gotta have socials and an online presence and followers and be dancing clowns just to get any sort of recognition to go further, it’s complete ********.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
Playing shows where we thought people wouldn’t turn up but still managing to fill out a room by the time we’re onstage is always rewarding. Also coming to the end of the record which has been in the works for a few years – if it never goes anywhere I’d still be stoked to achieve a life goal of mine in a body of work that represents myself and my brothers and it’s exactly what I would’ve always wanted to write.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
Not doing stupid dance videos for fucking TikTok.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
Fans can expect an entire album that is 100% self produced and sounds, to my ears, like a breath of fresh air in Rock Music. Show wise we haven’t been pushing anything just so we can focus on finishing the album.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
Hopefully on tour with some of our favourite bands, and eventually our own headline tour.
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Listen to The Fever Dreams’ new single ‘Hairclip Things’ below.
