Introducing: Foreign Shapes

London trio Foreign Shapes have honed an engaging indie-rock sound that offers a nod to 90s British rock and 2000s alternative rock, and they describe as “nostalgic, atmospheric, and introspective.”

The band started out just over two years ago when Dan (vocals and guitar), Joe (bass) and Taylor (drums) cut their teeth by reworking some of Dan’s old Soundcloud demos. The trio had known each other for years, with Dan and Joe working together and discovering they were both musical.

“I’d always been too nervous to seek out others to make music with, and kind of thought my songwriting days had passed,” Dan explained. “But when Joe suggested jamming together, it reignited my love for performing. We started out with some seriously shaky covers – of Tom Waits, Yoko Ono and The Weakerthans, of all things – before working on some original material I’d shelved from my ‘bedroom musician’ days, and Joe was incredibly supportive in bringing it to life.”

Over time, the trio became a full collaborative unit, writing new songs and honing their craft together. As Dan adds: “I’m so grateful for Joe and Taylor – it’s no exaggeration to say that without them, I wouldn’t be making music today, and my life would be so much poorer for it.”

And on the sound the trio have honed, Dan said it’s still something they’re figuring out for themselves, but explained: “With these new tracks, there’s definitely a sound starting to form. It’s that emotive, catchy alt-rock package, nodding to the best of 90s British rock and the 2000s alternative scene, but with more daring elements you’d associate with modern progressive rock.

“However, the thing we’re trying to bring that we’ve felt is missing from a lot of the music we love, is that true sense of earnestness. The vocals are pushed to the limit, the solos are chaotic, the rhythm section urges the music forward, and it’s all done unironically and unabashedly. It’s overboard sometimes, and it’s ambitious to a fault, but it’s us through-and-through.”

Our latest taste of this is Sleazy Jet, which plays on the metaphor of being stranded on a desert island and watching a jet disappear over the horizon and was released today. It opens up with light, dreamy instrumentals that continue under Dan’s light vocals “Sleazy jet, You’re flying overhead, While I’m marooned and lost again, It’s just harmless fun, Another tabloid pun, You’re taking up my oxygen.” The atmosphere gradually builds with heavier guitars and vocals, before exploding into a big singalong chorus. A second chorus drops into a delicious noodling guitar solo that continues to set up a final blast of the chorus.

On the track’s release, Dan said: “I can’t really put it into words – the fact that we get to release honest-to-goodness, studio-quality music, that we poured so much of ourselves into, still feels so unreal to me. We released our debut EP in early 2024, and every time I think about the fact it’s out there, in the world, for anyone to stumble across and connect with, it’s all I’ve ever really wanted.

“It already feels like we’ve evolved so much since then, with Sleazy Jet representing a bold step towards really honing our sound, so I can’t wait to get it out into the world. This is the most sonically diverse track we’ve released so far. Rooted in alt-rock, it experiments with a wide range of genres, instrumentation, and production techniques, creating something impactful and unique – a synthesis of the sounds we love. Each element is tied to a specific musical influence, but that blend is what sets it apart.

“Lyrically, it’s an off-kilter exploration of transience and nostalgia. It tells the story of being stranded on a tropical island, watching a distant aircraft, and feeling the desperation to escape. The lyrics convey a sense of being left behind, balanced by the idea that stagnation can stem from the comfort of the familiar. The vocal delivery mirrors this arc, with intimate, self-conscious verses evolving into confident pre-choruses and cathartic, soaring pleas to break free.”

Sleazy Jet follows on from Foreign Shapes’ debut three-track EP Glister. It’s packed with more indie goodness in the catchy opening title track, more upbeat and feisty Known Animals, and the gorgeous, dreamy final track House of Ideals, which starts with real post-punk vibes and builds up to a wonderful guitar solo.

The Foreign Shapes sound draws on a diverse range of musical styles and bands, sharing a love for modern alternative bands like Radiohead, Muse and Mew. Dan leans towards inspirational singer-guitarists like Jack White, Courtney Barnett, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Buckley and Prince, as well as the production and musical styles of The Mars Volta and Radiohead, and the post-punk sensibility of The Smiths, The Cure and The Chameleons. But his biggest influence is Steven Wilson, because “his ability to innovate while honouring music’s history, proudly wearing his influences on his sleeve, is endlessly inspiring.”

Joe brings a heavier edge with punk, hardcore and post-hardcore bands like Thrice, Reuben, and Against Me!, as well as a lure to synthpop and chillwave. While Taylor is more into 2000s/2010s indie like The Maccabees, Bloc Party, and Bonobo, as well as contemporary jazz, funk and soul.

And on what inspires them to write music, Dan explains: “The best part is how much we appreciate and integrate each other’s influences. It’s always exciting to bring those references into the writing process and see how they shape what we create. For me, music is all about connection. It takes intangible ideas and feelings and turns them into something real, something that conveys what you’ve always felt but couldn’t quite put into words. Everything we do as a band stems from a desire to capture that – creating music that resonates deeply with someone, even if it’s just one person. That connection means more to us than reaching thousands.

My lyrics often explore internal, contemplative themes – mindsets and emotions I’m trying to make sense of, in the hope that others can relate. It’s not just my perspective shaping our music, though. Joe brings a distinct energy to his songwriting and lyricism. While I lean toward internal, personal reflections, Joe is incredible at addressing external dynamics – how people interact, what divides or unites us, and the broader political or social implications of human behavior. Yet, at its heart, his work shares the same focus on connection, or lack thereof.

“What ties it all together is Taylor’s unmistakable drumming. His intricate and tasteful parts drive the songs and give them cohesion. Without his playing, our sound wouldn’t feel as unified or dynamic as it does – it’s the glue that brings our different influences and ideas into harmony.

Sleazy Jet (Mangroves) is the first of three singles Foreign Shapes are releasing in 2025, being followed by Off-World and Second Person in March and May respectively. They may also have a whole live set to release, which was recorded at a recent event organised by BandUp and Djamminn. They’re also playing their first headline gig at Fiddler’s Elbow in Camden tomorrow (Saturday, 18 January), to celebrate not only the new single but also Dan and Taylor’s birthdays. Tickets are here.

And Dan added: “This is just the beginning – we have so much more music that we’ve been working on the past couple of years, and we can’t wait to share more of it. If you see this and think our music might be interesting, please give it a go, and if you like it, we hope you’ll stick around for what’s to come.”

You can follow Foreign Shapes on Instagram and Twitter, and check out their music on Spotify and Apple Music.