To those looking for a new independent and widely self-made group to support, Pale Blue Eyes is a band that ticks all the boxes. On Friday the 11th they were performing in the Brighton seaside venue, Dust, a show opened by another small band, DB Cooper. Written by Alicia Masse
“The setting of this interview feels closely tied to the band’s creative process and the story of how they came together.”. After running into the band’s vocalist and guitarist Matthew Board outside of the venue before the show, he explained that the other band members were sitting on the beach together and suggested we do the interview there, on the pebbles facing the sea. The interview was punctuated by seagulls screeching and groups of people laughing, enjoying the weather and singing. An informal and friendly setting for an interview that helped uncover the creative processes of a friendly and spontaneous band.Â
We first discussed the history of the band, and how it came to be. Matthew—previously mentioned—and drummer Lucy Board shared how Aubrey Simpson came to join the band. They recalled those early recording sessions, back when the group had no name and a bassist who was supposed to play but never made it—having missed two trains after sleeping through most of the day.
This is when their friend Aubrey offered to be their bassist, learned all the songs in about an hour and allowed them to continue writing and developing their album, and the concept of this new band. They rehearsed for about six months, until they were able to do a handful of gigs but were interrupted by Covid 19 a few months after. They made use of their time in isolation to write and record, and when music venues opened their doors again, Lucy explains that for about 18 months, they were launched into doing gigs after gigs, supporting other artists and touring.Â
When asked about the band’s name, Pale Blue Eyes, Matthew referenced the Velvet Underground song of the same name. He explains that he associated this song with his family. He describes, “on a Sunday my dad would always play that tune, you’d hear it wafting around the house as he was getting into his Sunday… it just reflected a really lovely moment in time”.
On the topic of genre, the identity of the group lies in their eclectic nature. They do not feel the need to define the genre of music they create, as it is done through the influence of each member’s personal background and taste blending together. According to Lucy, it is hard to know, as a band member, how to define the band. They create more on an instinctive basis and would rather leave room to explore and develop. “They explain that they don’t feel the need to overanalyze their process — they ‘just sort of do it.’ Still, they find it interesting to hear how listeners interpret and describe their music in their own terms.”
The freedom to create outside of labels is also tied to their “do-it-yourself” ethos which, while it is partly due to necessity when working in a fluctuating music scene as Matthew explains, the lack of budget isn’t stopping them from bringing their visions to life. He emphasises the fact that “whatever it takes [they] will get it done” by adapting and having band members who have more than one string to their bows.Â
As Matthew says, “it was born out of necessity, but we realised that between us all we were able to do loads of things, so we may as well keep it between us all”. Aubrey illustrates this by telling us about how Matthew, Lucy and her dad built a studio on their own, in the back of their garden, in which the band records and does everything. Aubrey also does the photography and design for the album himself.
Lucy explains that they are in a sector of the industry that requires bands like them to really be willing to do things on their own to keep the band on the road, and she reminisces on the joy of meeting other artists who share this ethos and are willing to accept help, but do what they need to do when it comes to it. Ultimately, they aren’t a punk band but draw a lot from the DIY punk and pop-rock scene.Â
When asked individually about their favourite song of theirs, Lucy names Seven Years, which she describes through “musical textures”, some of which came from Aubrey experimenting with a fretless bass he partially made himself, added on top of her synth notes.
Matthew chose Now and Again for its emotional importance. It was the last song written in their old house, where “all the boxes were packed up around us and all I had was an acoustic guitar. I started playing that song and it kind of just fell out, written in one go the day before moving out surrounded by my family belongings”.Â
On stage, the band exudes a warm, dynamic presence, with an energy that evolves with every song. The audience simply had to follow the flow — embracing the shifting textures and genre-blending sounds that defined the night. For anyone eager to witness the rise of a hardworking band carving out their own unique identity, the tour continues until the 17th of this month, culminating at the Assembly Hall in London.
