Wikipedia

Island of Love (band)

Island of Love was an English rock band formed in London in 2019. The first UK signing to United States record label Third Man Records, the band released two EPs alongside their 2023 debut album Island of Love.

Island of Love
Island of Love performing in 2023
Background information
Also known asLove Island
OriginLondon, U.K.
Genres
Years active2019–2023
LabelsThird Man
Past members
  • Karim Newble
  • Linus Munch
  • Daniel Alvarez-Giraldo
  • Jimmy Guvercin

History edit

Island of Love was formed by members of multiple hardcore punk bands.[1] Karim Newble, Daniel Alvarez-Giraldo and Linus Munch were all members of Sterile, amongst other groups, and Jimmy Guvercin was a member of Urine Charge.[2][3] The members met at East London recording studio Fuzzbrain studios in 2019 through these previous bands and soon began discussing the formation of a band together.[4] Named for the ITV dating show Love Island,[5] they began writing music at Newble and Munch's parents houses, with the first written being "Low", while at Newble's mum's house.[6] following the September 2020 fire which burn down Fuzzbrain, both Newble and Linus began writing and recording demos separately with Fuzzbrain's Ben Spence at his parents' house.[4][7] This culminated in the band's debut release, March 2020's Promo Tape EP, which was released physically by Smoking Room Records.[8] In September 2021, they performed at London's the Blue Basement venue owned by Third Man Records, following which, the record label's co-owner Ben Swank approached the band with the offer of signing them.[9] On 9 February 2022, they released the single "Songs of Love".[10] The release was coincided with the announcement that the band were the first signing to the London imprint of Third Man Records, and that the label would be releasing their debut EP Songs of Love on 18 March.[11] On 17 February 2023, they released their double single "Grow / Blues 2000" and announced that their debut album Island of Love would be released on 12 May.[12] On 14 March, they released the EP's second single "At Home".[13] In June, they performed at Bigfoot Festival 2022,[14] and opened for Jack White, at the Hammersmith Apollo.[15] On 17 March, the album's third single "Fed Rock" was released,[16] followed on 23 April, by the release of "I’ve Got the Secret".[17] On 11 October, the band announced on their Instagram page that the band had disbanded.

Musical style edit

Critics have categorised the band as alternative rock,[18][19] indie rock,[20][21] garage rock[22][23] and indie pop,[13] often making use of elements of pop,[24] grunge,[25] jangle pop,[26] college rock,[27] power pop, garage punk,[28] shoegaze, punk rock, noise rock and post-punk.[10] Their music often makes use of fuzz in both guitar tones and vocals. They also use lo-fi production techniques.[10] DIY writer Bella Martin likened their sound to "90s slacker rock with a DIY punk aesthetic, or the Cribs at their least immediate via the kind of tempered sonic layering that circa-2010 breakthroughs Japandroids and Cloud Nothings were fond of".[26] NME writer Becky Rogers cited them as merging influences from Black Sabbath, the Beach Boys and the garage rock revival.[1] Brighton and Hove News writer Nick Linazasoro described them their music as "loud, ragged and raw punk, but with a melodic west coast indie Barracudas grunge edge".[3]

They have cited influenced including Dinosaur Jr., Hüsker Dü,[29] Built to Spill, Rick Maguire of Pile, John Fahey, Michael Hurley, the Cribs, the Maccabees, Steve Hartlett of Ovlov, Neil Young,[30] Duster, Sebadoh,[7] Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, the Rolling Stones, the Ramones, Natasha Bedingfield, the Strokes and Girls.[31]

Members edit

Final
  • Karim Newble – guitar, vocals (2019–present)
  • Linus Munch – guitar, vocals (2019–present)
  • Daniel Alvarez-Giraldo – bass (2019–present)
Former
  • Jimmy Guvercin – drums (2019–2022)

Discography edit

Albums
  • Island of Love (2023)
EPs
  • Promo Tape (2020)
  • Songs of Love (2022)

References edit

  1. ^ a b Rogers, Becky (15 March 2022). "Island Of Love: Meet the first band signed to Jack White's Third Man Records London imprint". NME. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  2. ^ Gardner, Noel. "Straight Hedge! Noel Gardner Reviews Punk & HC For June". The Quietus. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b Linazasoro, Nick (5 December 2021). "'Coming Up Tough' at Chubby And The Gang Brighton gig". Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b Baines, Huw (2 May 2023). "'It's a foolproof plan until the studio burns down': how a community rallied round for aspiring musicians". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  5. ^ "ISLAND OF LOVE HAVE SHARED THEIR NEW EP, 'SONGS OF LOVE'". Dork. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Island Of Love Tease Debut Record With Double A-Side". 15 February 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  7. ^ a b Ling, Dave (21 June 2023). "Island Of Love: the Third Man signings hitting the sweet spot between spit and polish". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  8. ^ Mills, Al (20 January 2022). "London's Island Of Love – Wholesome Scuzz For Daydream Believers". Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  9. ^ Mason, Julian (15 February 2023). "NEWS: THIRD MAN LONDON FIRST UK SIGNING ISLAND OF LOVE RELEASE DOUBLE A SINGLE 'GROW' / 'BLUES 2000', ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM AND CONFIRM UK AND EU DATES". Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  10. ^ a b c Golsen, Tyler (9 February 2022). "Island of Love share new single 'Songs of Love'". Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  11. ^ Moore, Sam (9 February 2022). "Third Man Records London announce their first signing, Island Of Love". NME. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Island of Love". 17 February 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  13. ^ a b Murray, Robin (14 March 2022). "Island Of Love Share Indie Pop Fizzer 'At Home'". Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  14. ^ Krol, Charlotte (2 March 2022). "Khruangbin confirmed to headline Bigfoot Festival 2022 with Happy Mondays and Caribou". NME. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Biography Island of Love". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  16. ^ Johnson, Tommy (17 March 2023). "Island Of Love Share Latest Single "Fed Rock"". Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  17. ^ FARRELL, MARGARET. "Consequential Jealousy and Paranoia on "I've Got the Secret"". Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  18. ^ Horsley, Jonathan (2 June 2023). "We're Borrowing Amps for Every Show". Total Guitar. It's hard to tell if their recordings are from an obscure '90s alternative rock band's demo or are from the modern day.
  19. ^ Helms, William Ruben. "NEW VIDEO: ISLAND OF LOVE SHARE MOSH PIT FRIENDLY RIPPER "FED ROCK"". Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  20. ^ Golsen, Tyler (12 February 2022). "Essential Listening: This week's best new music". Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  21. ^ Ackroyd, Stephen (10 February 2022). "Island of Love become the first signing to Third Man Records London". Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  22. ^ Rogers, Becky (12 May 2023). "Island Of Love – 'Island Of Love' review: Jack White-approved rockers show their range". NME. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Music update, May 2023". Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  24. ^ James, Luke (26 May 2023). "REVIEW ISLAND OF LOVE – ISLAND OF LOVE". Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  25. ^ Deville, Chris (14 February 2023). "Island Of Love – "Grow" & "Blues 2000"". Stereogum. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  26. ^ a b Martin, Bella (10 May 2023). "ISLAND OF LOVE - ISLAND OF LOVE". DIY. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  27. ^ Martin, Bella. "ISLAND OF LOVE - SONGS OF LOVE". DIY. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  28. ^ Brocklebank, Alisha. "Island of Love Battle Quarantine Blues on New Single "At Home"". Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  29. ^ Renshaw, David. "The 20 best rock songs right now". The Fader. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  30. ^ Horsley, Jonathan (10 July 2023). "Island of Love's Karim Newble and Linus Munch: "When we started rehearsing we didn't even have a fuzz pedal. We are still borrowing amps every single show"". Guitar World. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  31. ^ Mitchell, Matt. "Island of Love Unveil the Inspiration Behind Every Track on Their Self-Titled Debut". Paste. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
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