With new 80s-inspired single ‘Drive’ set to be released very soon, a debut album in the pipeline and a spoken word cameo from none other than Stephen Fry, the dreamy sonic textures and melodical post-punk of Tourists has caught the attention of Radio 1, Clash and DIY to name but a few. I got in touch with frontman Jamie Giles and synth player Tom Wilkinson to chat about what the future holds for the five piece.

Can you give us a brief history of the band and how it was formed?
The writing process began a few years ago when Scott was looking for people to start a new band with. He found Jamie’s songs online and instantly connected with them. Tom, Matt and Lloyd were in other bands at the time which then split. We all came together as a five-piece around 18 months ago following a line-up switch. It’s cool because we’ve still got this buzz of being in a new band yet all this material behind us already.

How would you describe your music?
It’s quite difficult to say as our music fuses quite a few different styles and influences. If I had to pick, I’d probably say “dream-pop”… but with a dark, more sinister edge. “Endless layers of dreamy, melodic bliss” were BBC Introducing’s words. That’ll do.

There seems to have been an evolution of your sound within the releases, was that a natural occurrence?
I don’t think it’s a conscious thing. I think it just depends on what we’re listening to at that time. We love getting excited by new music and different/weird sounds that we hear, and I guess they naturally creep into the stuff that we’re working on. It’s not like we’ve sat down around a table and said, “We need to sound more like this”, so yeah I guess it’s been a more natural evolution.

What can we expect from future releases?
We’re releasing our new single ‘Drive’ real soon. It’s a cool, 80s-inspired track, with a big synth lead and some catchy hooks. Kenny McCracken – a Scottish film-maker currently living in Brighton – has just shot the video, which also features Brighton-based actress/model Tess Dimos. It’s our best yet so we are excited about getting it out there.

Can you pinpoint the influences behind your music?
Again it often depends what we’re listening to at the time. Recent influences have ranged from DIIV to Drake! I think the deeper-rooted post-punk/new-wave influence is always there. That combined with elements of shoegaze/psychedelia and 80s synth-pop makes a good mix.

Tell us about the music scene in Devon, are there any exciting releases we should keep an ear out for?
There is some real talent in Devon – see Skeleton Frames, Peacock Affect, Pattern Pusher, Sam Piper, Martyn Crocker. The local scene is struggling though in my opinion. I think it’s the same for most towns outside of the big cities. It’s a problem that comes from higher up though – the bands are still there, doing their thing, but there isn’t the same culture or live scene as there once was. The mindless closing of music venues across the country is symptomatic of a government that doesn’t respect the importance of the arts and which is continually pricing working class people out of a night out. Hopefully things can change.

Is there a particular process that your songwriting goes through when crafting the tracks?
Part of the writing process is being patient and waiting to find the best melody to fit the song. Once you stumble on the right melody to fit the bassline you know. It’s not just about writing a nice tune – you want something that’s going to strike emotionally. We want people to feel something when they listen to it.

You’ve managed to sample Stephen Fry in your latest single ‘Quiet Room’, how did you go about doing so and getting the legal clearance from him?
We sent the demo to his management and he was cool with us using it, so long as we referenced the entire interview he did with RTV – they wanted people to know the context of what he was saying, and that it wasn’t just a spontaneous outburst on god or religion/faith. His follow-up documentary on living with bipolar disorder had just aired and I found it really moving, so for me it was extra special that he was involved. There was a real witch-hunt in the media for him at the time, after some of his comments were taken out of context, so it felt a nice thing telling him how inspiring that documentary was when he must have felt pretty disillusioned and frustrated with stuff elsewhere.

If you could work with any artist, who would it be and what would they bring to?Tourists? ?
For me it would be Kevin Parker (Tame Impala). The textures and layers in Lonerism and Currents in particular are so fluid and effortless and reflect someone who has perfected their craft, with a love and knowledge for music like no other. He’s a great producer and definitely has a Midas touch – just look at the other projects he’s been involved in (Melody’s Echo Chamber, Koi Child, Mark Ronson, Pond). Other than that it would be Zachary Cole Smith [DIIV]. I love the live quality of both DIIV albums and Cole seems to have this gift at finding notes that make you feel every fucking emotion.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve had Warpaint – Heads Up on repeat since last Friday – it’s a masterpiece. I think it’s their best work to date. The new Angel Olsen album is great too… ‘Sister’ is one of my favourite tracks of the year. It’s beautiful. Other than that… Preoccupations, The Growlers, Metronomy.

What has been a musical eye-opener and how has it affected you?
Listening to Joy Division for the first time. It made me realise how simple and raw music can be. It’s all about picking the right notes, creating an atmosphere and not overcomplicating things.

Is there a particular ethos that drives you as a band?
We’re pretty hard-working but chilled with it at the same time – it’s a good balance. We’re all on the same page and have the same ambitions of where we want the band to go, so we’re pretty lucky in that respect. It’s as important as the music in my opinion – if you don’t get along, you’re fucked.

What has been your relationship with the city of Brighton, how do you find the city and are there any future gigs planned?
We love Brighton. Being from Torquay, by the sea, it’s a little like a home from home. Although there’s obviously a lot more going on in Brighton. Brighton has a lot of character and people are free to be who they want to be here; they’re not afraid to express themselves. The music venues and food are also great. We’re hoping to organise a few shows in Brighton next year. A slot at Great Escape would be great.

What are your plans for the next 12 months?
We have the next few singles recorded and ready to release over the next few months. The last few singles have done well so we want to keep building the exposure. Other than that our main priority is to focus on writing and getting things in place to finish recording our debut LP with our producer James Bragg (Gengahr, Saltwater Sun). We’ve recorded half of the album and want to finish the rest early next year. We’ve put everything into it and think we’re making something special.
Paul Hill

Website: touristsband.com
Facebook: facebook.com/touristsband
Twitter: twitter.com/touristsuk