Based in north London, Shy Nature are a three-piece alternative rock band. The distinctive, delicate vocals of singer William Blackaby contrast an urgent mix of jangly guitars and rasping organ, drawing inspiration from timeless sixties songwriting and New York garage groups. Having originally met in Liverpool, Glasgow and Maidstone, the band came together in London in late 2012. Often marrying darker lyrical themes with bright instrumentation, their name references the silent observations which often inform the songs. A strong DIY ethos has seen them self-produce much of their material – from music videos to live acoustic performances.
Shy Nature have had a busy 15 months. Things kicked off last June, when Huw Stephens made their track ‘Deadly Sin’ a BBC Introducing Discovery. They released their self-titled debut EP last September, followed by the single ‘Lie Back’ in February and free download ‘She Comes She Goes’ in May, which saw them garner further support from XFM (‘Lie Back’ was playlisted), 6Music’s Steve Lamacq, Phil & Alice and Jen Long at BBC Radio 1 and Amazing Radio.
Following a support slot with The Breeders at a sold-out 2000+ capacity The Forum and a series of dates opening for Splashh last year, February 2014 saw their first UK headline tour, leading on to festival appearances at Field Day, BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, Live at Leeds, Liverpool Sound City, Tramlines, The Great Escape, City Sound Project and Split Festival.
On 10th November they will release the hotly anticipated ‘Birthday Club’ EP – a collection of songs recorded over the past year and bound together by a common theme of growing up: from the teenage nostalgia of title track “Birthday Club” to observations of the fickle adult world in “She Comes She Goes” and the wry optimism of “Tonight Is On Your Side”.
With an album expected in the new year, Shy Nature are ones to watch for 2015.
