Bristol-based alt-rock-quartet alternative milks release their highly anticipated Debut Single 'Shops'.
(Single: 8th Oct 2021 / Music Video: 15th Oct 2021)
Alternative milks are comprised of Mike Jordan (vocals/guitar), Elliot Carey (guitar/vocals), Samuel Roberts (bass) and Joe Boothroyd (drums). With many of the members being multi-instrumentalists, Elliot being a drummer, Samuel a guitarist, and Joe DJing on the most part, this rearrangement harnesses each members’ quirks in a unique way.
They have already been featured on BBC Introducing with their track 'Too Much To' along with having played two headline shows at The Louisiana and gracing the stage at Exchange (both Bristol venues).
'Shops' shows post-punk influences - fast-tempo hard-hitting drums, driven guitars and a tight bass line. You can hear the influences from bands like Parquet Courts, Shame and Squid. The track showcases frontman Mike’s vocal style with it’s playful tendencies, focusing on certain words and phrases. He explains:
“This track asks many questions that come from confusion and frustration of what has become the norm in our society. This song is born out of feeling like an outsider, questioning why we do anything in life. Touching on consumerism, as well as our education system and living in a materialistic world.”
Prior to this release, alternative milks had existed as a “bedroom-demo” project. When talking about the band's origin, Mike says:
"It came from ‘being done with trying to be something’. I’d spent too much time caring about the wrong things. Music was ‘too this’ or ‘not enough that’. Alternative milks was a space for me to act upon any idea, ride it out and let it flourish without over-thinking or having any specific end goal in mind. No restrictions on genre, no taking it too seriously, and for the first time in what felt like forever; I was happy making music again."