Villanelle have released their debut single ‘Hinge’, marking the arrival of a band already generating serious buzz. The trio – Gene Gallagher (vocals/guitar), Ben Taylor (guitar) and Jack Schiavo (bass) – are preparing their first EP and have announced an underplay headline tour for December.
‘Hinge’ is a scrappy, high-energy statement of intent. Its jagged riffs and rumbling low-end nod to Nirvana’s Incesticide, Smashing Pumpkins, Dinosaur Jr and Black Sabbath, with flashes of My Bloody Valentine’s wall-of-sound maximalism. Gene explains, “That’s my favourite sort of music, so there’s some of that in everything I write. ‘Hinge’ is about paranoia derived from sleepless nights. I was probably hungover when I wrote it.”
Ben adds: “‘Hinge’ is just simple and high energy. Anyone can play it, but no one can play it like us.”
Formed in summer 2023, Villanelle balance Gene’s chaotic spark with Ben’s meticulous approach, while Jack provides the glue that holds it together. Already compared to both Britrock stalwarts and US alt heavyweights, the trio lean into grunge revivalism while keeping their sound sharp and immediate.
The band launch the single with a sold-out show at London’s Jaguar Shoes on 11th September before heading out on tour later this year, with dates in Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford, London and more.
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