How Lovejoy’s influences and inspirations fuse together nu-metal and indie
Lovejoy seem to have their song formula down pat – swooning, sweet verses, roaring, banging and technically complex choruses – yet when considering the music the four members have grown fondest of as listeners themselves, Lovejoy’s amalgamation of sounds and techniques reflect an ode to the artists they love.
Lovejoy’s favourite description for themselves is “the only indie rock band with a double kick drum” and that is thanks to Mark Boardman’s adoration for heavy metal and drums that pack a punch. Favouring bands like Invent Animate, which he has previously described as “phat af,” and Crooks UK, which is one of the bands that made him fall in love with the metal genre – the drum track in Crooks UK’ ‘A Few Peaceful Days’ showing off exactly why Boardman adores the band – Boardman’s personal taste adds finesse and technique not often found in alt-rock and indie.
If one were to isolate the drum tracks in a Lovejoy song, it would be similar to that of a metal song. However, Ash Kabosu is the bridge between the metal that Boardman adores and the indie and alt that Will Gold’s and Joe Goldsmith find themselves gravitating to. Kabosu’s love for the Deftones can help explain the grunge-y yet meticulous bass lines found throughout Lovejoy’s discography, – ‘Portrait of a Blank Slate’ comes to mind – even still Kabosu manages to add a bit more flair and eccentricity with his own style. Combining the experimental alternative metal sounds of the Deftones with the sweet, catchy melodies of another favourite of his, Bombay Bicycle Club, Kabosu crafts a rather juxtaposed style. Upbeat and catchy, while maintaining a certain meticulousness and complication that accentuates the bass in each Lovejoy track.
With the drums and bass of Lovejoy leaning towards the darker and moodier side of sound, there’s a lightness to Lovejoy that is crafted by the guitars. Joe Goldsmith’s love for The Smiths begins to bridge the alt-rock and indie sound that Lovejoy crafts. The Smiths embody a romantic sound, with light guitars and poetic verses, contrasted by Morrissey’s deep tone and inherently moody aura. Not quite a stark contrast, but still quite different, Goldsmith’s partiality to Kings of Leon can help explain the energy Goldsmith brings throughout his work in Lovejoy. Looking for ways to incorporate upbeat riffs and melodies, Goldsmith builds on his influences and meshes them together to create a push-and-pull style that drives forth Lovejoy tracks.
Tied together with Will Gold’s infatuation with lyricism, his own fascination with good songwriting and clever ways to tell stories and paint pictures, the band becomes borderline progressive-indie, with techniques and technicalities that fit in the progressive genre, but song structures that fit in indie genres. Gravitating towards Arctic Monkeys and Modest Mouse, Gold’s ability to imagine stories and narratives allows for the sonic nature of Lovejoy to explore further, as they push boundaries on what can fit within the indie genre, and simply, not fitting in those boxes.
A technically complex band, a true love letter to the artists that they adore, Lovejoy brings together techniques from their influences and construct a sound that is simply theirs.
In the meantime, you can keep up with Lovejoy on Instagram, TikTok, their new official Subreddit, their official YouTube, and their vlog YouTube channel.
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