supersonic
Artist Information
Biography
Secret Rivals are a three-piece indie pop band based in Oxford. Their split boy-girl vocals sing of fall-outs, secrets and despair, with hope and longing to put things right. Musically influenced by the sharp edges of The Cribs, Idlewild, Pixies and The Wedding Present, they produce a sound which has been described as 80s-synth-infused lo-fi indie punk pop in the mould of The Cure and Los Campesinos with vocals likened to riot grrrl bands, Bis and Huggy Bear.
The band played at Bestival last year and will be on the festival circuit again in 2012, performing at Liverpool Sound City and Wychwood to promote new EP 'Make Do And Mend (Part 2)'. It follows on from the 'Make Do And Mend' mini-album released in September 2011.
The single 'Tonight Matthew...' was Rob Da Bank's “Tune of the Day” on BBC Radio 1, while 'Once More With Heart' has received airplay from Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music, featured on Sky Sports TV show 'Soccer AM', and had its video exclusively streamed on NME.com.
Secret Rivals first made waves with energetic live performances and debut EP 'Start Fires', which was played on BBC 6 Music by Tom Robinson and Steve Lamacq and on BBC Introducing in Oxford and in Berkshire. Stages have been shared with the likes of Summer Camp, The Big Pink, The Chapman Family, La Faro, The Rural Alberta Advantage, and Wilder.
SECRET RIVALS DEBUT ALBUM IS RELEASED IN MAY 2013 AFTER A SUCCESSFUL PLEDGE CAMPAIGN FROM THERE FAN BASE
“80s British punk sheen with catchy choruses and shared vocals between Jamie and Clouds, highlighting their obvious chemistry.” - BBC Oxford (February 2011)
“...forraged around in the Los Campesinos undergrowth, producing a series of sweetly-stabbing singy-shouty pop nuggets.” - Steve Lamacq (August 2011)
“Great band from Oxford. Indie guitars, pounding drums and soaring melodies that would be at home in the indie clubs” - Soccer AM (January 2012)
“Tune of the day” - Rob Da Bank, Radio 1 (12 March 2011)
“Considering the successes they've enjoyed with their last releases, this record with a bit of proper promotion, could easily be the one that propels them into the big time.” - Oxford Music Scene magazine (May 2012)
“Power pop perfectness... The boy/girl shared vocals works well accompanying the punkish jagged guitars... Infectious and definitely worth a listen. Lots of listens.” - This Is A Popscene (February 2012)
“Energetic, open-hearted and pleasingly free of pretension. At this rate they won’t stay secret for much longer.” - Nightshift magazine (May 2012)
Instrumentation
Discography
Start Fires - E.P (Oct 2010) - played on BBC 6 Music by Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson
Tonight Matthew - single (March 2011) - Rob Da Bank's Track Of The Day on BBC Radio 1
Make Do And Mend - mini-album (15th September 2011) - played on BBC 6 Music by Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson
Make Do And Mend (Part 2) - E.P (28th May 2012) - played on Sky Sports 'Soccer AM', NME.com
