Blossoms set to bloom in the overcrowded world of indie pop

After being named in the BBC 'Sound of New Music' list at the start of the year, Blossoms have since seen their song Charlamene become a firm favourite among music fans in the know, while recording their debut album - due for release next month.

"It’s the maddest year we have ever had, with all the stuff that’s happening," frontman Tom Ogden said.

"Everyone seems to be talking about us and stuff and it’s all leading up to the album.

"We don’t feel like we have made it. We’re in the bubble and you don’t have time to take it in, as such.

"It’s an exciting place to be, with people excited about you before the album is even out."

The band, completed by Charlie Salt on bass, Josh Dewhurst on lead guitar, Joe Donovan on drums and Myles Kellock on keyboards, takes its name from the Blossoms public house at the corner of Bramhall Lane and Buxton Road in Stockport.

And the story behind the name is at home with the down-to-earth work ethic the band has employed to see them scaling the heights of music majesty.

Last year's single, Charlemagne, propelled them into the national consciousness, with the song still being touted as the 2016 'song of the summer', combining synth pop with guitar-led indie.

The band's sound, honed by producers Rich Turvey and The Coral’s James Skelly, harks back to the best of Manchester indie, while carving out something of a new sonic space in the busy indie pop landscape.

And it has so far served them well.

Tom was speaking the morning after the band - aged between 19 and 24 - played to a packed Etihad Stadium in their home city, supporting indie icons The Stone Roses.

“It’s surreal. We’re all City fans too, so to support one of your favourite bands at the home ground of your team is amazing," he said.

“We’re all local too, so friends and family were there.”

The eponymous album, due for release on August 5, continues along the lines of Charlemagne, mixing lively synths, melodic guitars with open and honest lyrics.

And it is the honesty so obvious in the tunes that Tom cites as being something which separates Blossoms from the wealth of generic indie popsters currently on the scene - which fans can, unusually, thank the late Amy Winehouse for. 

“I watched that Amy Winehouse documentary and I had never been that comfortable being that honest about myself but after that thought, go for it," Tom explains.

"I was going through a break up myself when we went to record so it’s real - and I think you can hear that.

“When the lyrics are really honest, I don’t think you can knock that."

That honesty, combined with hook-laden tracks, is winning the band fans wherever they go, with a successful slot at Glastonbury under their belts, they are moving up the bills of festivals, including a slot on the NME Stage at Reading and Leeds in August.

So does Tom feel any pressure with the growing anticipation surrounding the album?

"I’m glad we waited this long to release the album as we wanted to be in a good position," he said.

"It’s made for more excitement really. We want people to be excited to hear it.

"I think we’re dead confident in it. It exceeded our expectations and they (producers) did a great job on it."

But while you can hear echoes of Manchester legends including New Order and James (who the band followed at Glastonbury) on the album, there is a modern edge to Blossoms.

“That (Manchester indie) is what I was brought up on, that’s all I know," says Tom.

“We wanted to sound as modern as we could. You can have influences but it can’t sound like it’s recorded back then.

"We wanted to fuse this modern sound with it.

“It’s a mix of synths and guitars. Charlemagne was a break through and the rest of the album is an extention of that.

“But we don’t have just one tune, it’s an album full of songs.

“It sounds like it’s from our region, it’s got that kind of five-lads-wanting-to-break-out feel.

"You can hear where it’s coming from.

“Like the Stone Roses, they’re a band that’s personal to people and I think we have that as well.

“Our fans support us like a football team.

“That’s the real thing coming across; five lads doing their thing, and people can relate to it and and you don’t really know why.

“They feel like they know you.

“People can message you and things with social media and I’ve had people message me to say ‘your songs have helped me’ and that’s what music is about."

But with the sound of tens of thousands still ringing in their ears after the Etihad gig - where do five lads from Stockport go from there?

“You do it yourself," says Tom. "You’ve got to strive for that.

"What’s the point in being in a band if you don’t want to do that?”

And who would doubt them?

Blossoms play at the Reading and Leeds Festival over the August Bank Holiday Weekend. For the full line-up and tickets, log on to www.readingfestival.com or www.leedsfestival.com

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