STAY FOR TOMORROW
Photo Cred: Lewis Milne
22 JUNE 2021
Alt-rock band, Stay For Tomorrow have released their new single, 'I Don't Need You To Save Me' after plans to release music were halted by the pandemic.
The energetic track is packed with zingy guitar riffs and centres on “cutting ties” with a toxic relationship as lead singer, Joe passionately sings ‘I’ll face my fears.”
The four-piece Dunfermline band have been compared to the likes of Biffy Clyro, Twin Atlantic and the Foo Fighters who spoke to its live about their music, influences and future plans.
Formed in 2018, Stay For Tomorrow’s line up consists of Joe MacFarlane on lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Sean Priestley on drums; Nic Holson on lead guitar and Ollie Cobbett on bass.
Sean revealed their catchy name derived from firing around countless suggestions together to which the word, ‘tomorrow’ seemed to stick: “We thought well, stay for tomorrow is quite cool actually…it sounded quite American, pop punk.”
Their music influences include Paramore, Creed, Black Stone Cherry and the Stereophonics who helped form their “signature sound."
However, Joe touched on the contrasting music interests among the band: “I think it is an incredible thing that we all make the same type of music because we have such different music tastes.”
Sean jokingly agreed noting, “Even looking at us, you have a Retro Video Club t-shirt on, and I have Killswitch t-shirt on, total different spectrum of music.”
Previous Tracks: Rumours by Stay For Tomorrow
Yet, this works in the band’s favour who are able implement different ideas within the creative process: “it gives us a lot of space to sort of influence different genres together to create unique and fresh music.” (Joe) This has included infusing electronic music and backing vocals into the mix.
Their latest single, 'I Don't Need You To Save Me' released late May, encompasses “rebuilding your self-worth” after a toxic relationship, to know you are better off from walking away.
Alongside their single, they released an animated music video created by Adam Blotner showing all four band members in cartoon style. This idea was sparked from Nick whilst brainstorming on how to create a video in a pandemic. Joe delved into the process behind it: “Originally it had like a really complicated story and then he showed us the characters that he had made for us and the likeness for them were great, and we were then like, can we just have us playing and still keep the story throughout. It’s good fun and nice and quirky.”
Art Work Cred: Adam Blotner
Before the pandemic hit, Stay For Tomorrow were in the midst of recording new music and had a number of gigs in the pipeline. However, lockdown halted any release of tracks said Joe: “Everything was so uncertain. We didn’t feel like it was the right time to release anything yet and so, we waited…making sure that now is definitely the right time to break the silence for it.”
Instead, group practicing became more difficult and like many bands, live streaming became their only outlet to perform and connect with fans.
This was a sharp contrast to the beginning of their career when Stay For Tomorrow were first, “launched into the deep end” of Scotland’s buzzing music industry: “it was mad when we all started. Our first gig at Monty’s in Dunfermline was at capacity and it was just crazy.” (Joe)
"I think it is an incredible thing that we all make the same type of music because we have such different music tastes"
Just a few weeks later they would headline Glasgow’s legendary music venue, King Tuts which Sean labelled as their most memorable gig: “Like even seeing all the steps with everyone’s names on it and they’ve got a big poster wall where there is signed tickets from bands who have played there over the years, it’s pretty cool.”
Both band members are most excited for when live gigs can finally return, and Joe feels the rest of the world is too: “Everyone is just so ready to listen to live music…you see people that will be like ‘I’ll go see anyone and everyone now.’”
"Everyone is just so ready to listen to live music"
Stay For Tomorrow are currently preparing to release additional singles this year including another music video. However, Sean revealed a date is yet to be confirmed to allow the band to perfect their work: “We want to make sure that the content it comes with is enough. We’ve invested a lot of time and money to get these tracks to a point where we are happy with them.”
As the music industry begins to open up, look out for Stay For Tomorrow who plan to deliver audiences with an electrifying performance packed with fresh new music: “it’s not just going to be four guys playing instruments, you are going to be there to see a show and…ready to be bigger than ever, a 2.0 experience.” (Joe)
Author: Karina Caulfield
CHECK OUT THE SINGLE HERE: