When William Doyle first performed live as East India Youth in November 2012 to a dozen people in a tiny Dalston basement venue.
Over the next two years his achievements seemed as effortlessly gained as they were well-deserved. He released the 'Hostel' EP via the Quietus Phonographic Corporation in March 2013 and then his critically acclaimed debut album 'TOTAL STRIFE FOREVER' on Stolen Recordings in January 2014, which would go on to be nominated for the Mercury Prize. He went on tour with Factory Floor, supported These New Puritans and by the Summer of 2014 became a big festival draw in his own right.
But in November 2014, almost two years to the night after his first ever gig, he played his biggest headline show to date - a sold out night in Heaven, the legendary London nightclub. After playing all of 'TOTAL STRIFE FOREVER' - it was time for an EIY first. He stepped out from behind his table into the spotlights and sang 'CAROUSEL' - the heart-breaking new electronic ballad which forms the centrepiece of his astounding second album, 'CULTURE OF VOLUME' released by XL. Essentially he walked on stage that night as an electronic musician and walked off it as a pop star. It was time for East India Youth as a project to step out of the shadows and into the light; it was time to leave the hinterland and claim the centre stage space as his own.
Speaking now, the 24 year old explains: "It was performing live that made me realise that I wanted to be more of a front person. It was quite a big gesture, because I'd been stood behind the table for two years - striking quite an electronic musician stance. This new persona requires me to be a bit more flamboyant and a bit more energetic. I was definitely letting people know that night that this was the first bit of the next step for East India Youth and this was how it was going to be from then on. 'Big "pop stars" get to sing over backing tracks' I thought, 'so why can't I do it as well?!'"
