Words: Darci Jackson
Photos: Alisha Lawton
Indie rock heroes Circa Waves have been a constant force on the circuit since 2013, tackling almost every indie subgenre with each record; from the heavier tones of their sophomore album Different Creatures to the nuanced pop sprinkled over What’s It Like Over There?
Now, still thriving over a century after they first formed, the Liverpool quartet return with their sixth offering Death & Love, Pt.1, an album smothered in soaring synths and euphoric riffs, with an overarching theme of lump-in-your-throat emotion which, even after 6 albums, still gives Circa Waves that fresh, uncharted territory sound.
Circa Waves are Kieran Shudall (guitar, vocals), Joe Falconer (lead guitar), Sam Rourke (bass) and Colin Jones (drums).
Frontman Shudall underwent emergency heart surgery in 2023, the same year their fifth album Never Going Under was released, after doctors found a severe blockage in his main artery. The band were touring Never Going Under when after excruciating chest pain he went for a scan to find that he could die at any minute. Being rushed into hospital for emergency surgery back home in Liverpool, he was then given a form to sign stating that there’s a one in 100 chance of dying during the operation.
Following the surgery, and his too close for comfort meeting with death, Shudall was back on the road with the band touring Australia, and his outlook on life brightened considerably, romanticising the ordinary and looking at everything with rose-tinted glasses. He describes writing the album as ‘free therapy.’
And so came Death and Love, Pt. 1, filled with beautiful stories of life and tackling the themes of death. It feels like a real get up and go, telling us that life is meant to be lived and to not fear the inevitable. It feels like a real eye opener to existence, but also a comfort blanket to wrap around yourself when things do get too much.
Even with a brand-new album, we must go back to their roots and to their debut record Young Chasers, a summery, melodic masterpiece about being young and naïve that really stands the test of time. And although Circa Waves are still very much flying through their Best Years, it’s been 10 years since the release of Young Chasers.
‘I would like to do something, I don’t know what,’ pondered Shudall when Dizzy Magazine asked if we’d be getting anything special for the anniversary.
‘I think we thought about releasing all the demos but there’s no plans as of yet.’
And there’s one track on the album that still never fails to be a fan favourite, a festival favourite, and we now know, a Shudall favourite.
‘I think my favourite song is still T-Shirt Weather because of what it’s become and what it’s turned out to mean to people.’
Circa Waves have collaborated with numerous artists previously, namely with Alfie Templeman on the 2020 single Lemonade, and a couple of dance tracks too. Shudall co-wrote on fellow scousers Courting’s debut album Guitar Music as well.
‘I’m always writing with people,’ he started.
‘I’ve done some more stuff with Miles Kane and done some stuff with Jamie Webster and STONE. I write a lot of dance music as well, you never know what’s going to get released.’
As Stokies, the four-piece’s cover of Robbie William’s Angels for Australian radio station Triple J had us (and continues to have us) hooked. Alas, a live version does not seem likely any time soon, not even in Stoke.
‘I don’t remember the chords anymore!’ remarked Shudall.
‘We learned it just for Triple J, it was fun actually. I mean, you realise when you record a song like that for someone how well written it was. It’s quite a complicated song even though it seems like a simple pop song.’
Shudall then went on to disclose how he was struggling to write the setlists for their own tour, never mind adding a cover in too.
But the set was written in such a way that it felt like we were at a Circa Waves greatest hits gig, holding the right balance of songs from each album. If there’s one band that know what an audience wants, then it’s absolutely Circa Waves.
Rounding out the UK tour for Death & Love, Pt. 1 saw the Liverpudlians travelling back to their hometown and to the Olympia, with its bruised wooden floors and ornate orange walls gilded with gold trim. One thing the band do time and time again, no matter the size of the room, is creating an intensely intimate atmosphere. From the moment they walk on stage, to the second they walk off, the tension between band and audience is so palpable and purely electrifying.
‘It’s a pleasure to be back,’ Shudall muttered, grin on his face, following the storm of confetti that rained down on us during Hell On Earth, as he held the entirety of the Olympia in the palm of his hand. Circa Waves carry all the intricacies and talent of a band on their 6th album. No beats missed and everything pitch perfect. They always create this kind and lively indie rock atmosphere that is nothing short of a pleasure to feel. If you close your eyes at a Circa Waves gig, you can almost feel the sun beaming down on you and smell the warm breeze whistling across your skin.
Ah. Can you tell we miss festivals?
‘Does anyone remember our first record?’ Shudall asked to pure screams of excitement. Which were quickly followed by a disappointed sigh as he continued with ‘this song’s not from our first record,’ and then more screams of excitement as Like You Did Before lit up the room.
But the highlight of this hometown headline had to be bassist Sam Rourke. We’re not sure what got into him (apart from the bottle of wine he was holding), but from repeating everything Shudall said, to throwing his bass to the one of the techs after Fire That Burns and sharing the microphone with Shudall for backing vocals on Le Bateau, his tomfoolery and banter was nothing short of hilarious.
We must mention that the actual Jacqueline was in the crowd the at the show. Shudall told us how the catchy, hopeful tune was written about his cousin Jacqueline, before dedicating it to her. Which was then followed by chants of ‘we love you Jacqueline, we do!’
‘I’m not starting ‘til you shut the fuck up,’ Shudall joked as he tried to shush the Olympia for the final song of the night. But the excitement got the better of us all, as after his failed attempt to quiet the zoo, he began to lightly strum the T-Shirt Weather riff, giving us a knowing grin and rallying the troops for the final dance of the night.
And although we’ve lived through part one of Death & Love, could there be a part two on the horizon very soon?