Bengal Lancers have released their latest emotionally charged single Resolutions, out now.
Combing an understated delicacy with euphoric melodies and poignant lyrics, Bengal Lancers effortlessly create heartfelt yet rousing indie rock that is as expansive as it is brooding. Describing the song, Bengal Lancers said, “Resolutions is a song of acceptance. Accepting who you are, where you’ve been and being content enough to embrace a future unknown. We spend so much time worrying about how we look or what other people think of us instead of focusing on what’s happening right now, there and then – this song is all about focusing on the moment and being happy in your own head.”
In this interview spotlight, I chat with members of the band about the latest project, challenges, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
Max: Well, to some extent, you just get into things that resonate with you, and that can be difficult to characterise. I guess that, especially as an emotional teenager, it offered a deeper sort of catharsis than most other genres, both lyrically and stylistically. It’s also a very flexible genre – there’s a lot of scope to expand and try new things, which is very exciting to listen to and to play.
Harry: I definitely think we’re products of our youth – when I started properly taking song writing seriously, it was in the middle of that early 00’s indie guitar revival – Bloc Party, Foals, Bombay Bicycle Club definitely influenced my early guitar style. As I grew up I started spreading out and I think we’ve taken bits and pieces along the way. After seeing some of bands like Frightened Rabbit, Augustines and We Were Promised Jetpacks I realised that was the sort of music I wanted to write – high energy, engaging the audience to take part and really cathartic for everyone involved.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
Max: We had guitars hanging on the walls in my childhood home, so I suppose it was just a matter of time, but the turning point from a band perspective was me and my friend as 11 year olds playing smoke on the water with my dads guitar and pots and pans. It was a real taste of what it was like to collaborate and make music with a proper band.
On a bigger scale, we’ve all got slightly different reasons, but it stems from a mutual love of music and a desire to make something for others to relate to. Especially for Harry, who writes the lyrics, it’s a piece of ourselves. Sharing it with people follows naturally from that – we want our music to resonate with others in the same way that music has resonated with us over the years. It sounds corny, but we’ve had a surprising number of people reach out to tell us that a particular song has spoken to them or had a positive effect on them, and that’s the absolute dream! Live shows are an extension of that too, because we get to deliver it in person, and share it with the audience.
Harry: I probably have my brother to thank! He’d gotten a guitar so sibling rivalry immediately kicked in, but there was a real trigger moment – we were in the car and he’d stuck Jimmy Eat World “Bleed American”. When the solo in “get it faster” kicked in I was adamant I play guitar. My Mum forked out for a squier and despite several months of complaining I eventually was hooked.
The song writing came much later – I was 18 and started working in a pub. I was obsessed with Bon Iver and after my own little bit of teenage heart break I decided to start writing lyrics and become the next big thing. My boss loved live music so I started hosting open mics and it started from there. I wasn’t booed off stage straight away and it felt good getting things off my chest this way so just like with guitar I stuck with it. As Max says, that sense of togetherness and cathartic release are the main drivers to keep on writing.
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
Max: When I was 4 or 5, my dad made me a mix tape that we used to listen to in the car. It contained all sorts, from Flanders and Swann to Nirvana, and that’s where I started… I was very lucky to have parents with a broad music taste and record/tape/CD collection, and that’s responsible for Pink Floyd, Prince, R.E.M., Sisters of Mercy, Robert Cray, Genesis, Dave Brubeck and countless others. Metal, Funk, Blues, Pop Punk and Electronica were added to the melting-pot over time. Particular influences for me are Steven Wilson, Charlie Simpson, Josh Homme and Stevie Wonder, all of whom turn everything they touch to gold, while somehow constantly evolving. My music taste hasn’t really changed since I was a teenager, but being in Bengal Lancers has really forced me to be more discerning!
Harry: My tastes are all over the place – I grew up as a little metal head and whilst I’ll always have a soft spot for picking up the guitar and playing some Lamb of God, I’d definitely say my tastes have softened over the years – the National, Ben Howard, Radiohead and that more ambient style of play made a massive impact on me, but I’m constantly listening to new things and trying to learn from them. We have a group Spotify and try to add any new tracks we’re listening to in order to give a flavour of where our head is at the time. It’s great because you’ll be listening to Run the Jewels at one moment and then IDLES the next. Variety keeps the cogs whirring.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
Max: This song (and the others still to come!) represent a more optimistic approach, trying to take in more of the broad spectrum of life… or something. I suppose we’ve also put more of a focus on trying to reflect our live shows in our recordings, trying to pack intimacy and familiarity in with a punch in the face!
Harry: Yeah – I think when we were writing these, there was a sense of trying to see the brighter side of things. I’ve always been a bit of a worrier and I think as I’ve grown older I’ve come to terms with how I operate. These tracks are very much about that sense of growing older and understanding the space inside your own head and how that affects the perception of the world around you. It’s quite weird how appropriate that feels during the current situation with the lock down. Whilst it wasn’t written with anything like this in mind I think there’s definitely a relatable element of focusing on the good things when the world seems quite a scary place. We’re innately communal animals and I think there’s a real need for being mentally positive and supportive to those struggling more than ever at the moment.
What was the last song you listened to?
Max: Steven Wilson – Refuge
Harry: Everything Everything – In Birdsong
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Max: I grew up with loads of Vinyls, but – plot twist – I like CDs. More flexibility than vinyl, but better quality than MP3 and you still get the liner notes.
Harry: Very much a fan of the return of vinyl. Something very tactile about all the bumps and cracks as the tracks play through that makes it feel more personal.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
Max: Spotify! It’s a bit of a cop-out, but I just find it the easiest to get along with, plus very user-friendly for artists.
Harry: Yeah, Spotify is probably the easiest to navigate and provides quite a lot of information to understand who’s listening to you and where.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
Max: Probably the big variety in demographics using different platforms. In order to connect with each group of people on each platform, you have to speak a slightly different language, and engage in the right way. I can’t get a handle on it at all. Luckily Harry and Aidan are pretty plugged in!
Harry: That sense of having to be always on across all these different channels can be exhausting at times – the music isn’t necessarily the answer anymore. You have to make sure you’re being seen to be heard.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
Max: Spotify is obviously a great place to start, and not just because our music is on there. We, as a four-piece, actually share 2 pairs of birthdays – Charlie and Harry in March, and Aidan and I in August. We’ve got a semi-regular tradition of making collaborative playlists on our birthdays, so head there if you want to check out a mix of our influences and favourite tracks.
Harry: Yeah – you’ll find all our music across all the usual channels – we semi regularly post blog updates on the site (www.bengallancers.co.uk) and you’ll probably be seeing a lot more of us on Instagram (@bengal_lancers) in the coming weeks as we try to work out some isolation shows from our separate homes.
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
Max: music is helping us cope at the moment – hopefully we can return the favour with these tracks and give everyone some positivity.
Harry: To everyone that listens to the track, cheers for the support – we’ve got more on the way very soon so watch this space. Stay safe!
