Former Housemartin and founder member of The Beautiful South, Dave Hemingway’ new band Sunbirds will release their debut album Cool To Be Kind on Friday 27th November via Nectar Records.
Having retired from the live scene at the back end of 2016, Dave has been keeping busy with guitarist, songwriter and collaborator Phil Barton, with Cool To Be Kind signalling the arrival of Sunbirds with new songs and a new sound.
Sunbirds Make Debut With Album – Cool To Be Kind
The music Sunbirds make takes on board all of the bands and artists Dave and Phil have loved over the years. It chiefly blends the musical instruments of rural America with an occasional twist of grungy guitars and sets them against lyrics that remain very much at home in the towns and cities of England.
“Although a lot of the songs have a Country feel.” says Dave. “They’re still about life in England. You’re going to feel a bit daft singing about pick-up trucks and low down honky-tonks when you live in Yorkshire.”
Produced by cult producer Teo Miller, who was responsible for Daisy Chainsaw’s breakthrough single ‘Love Your Money’ and subsequently worked with The Pretenders, Placebo and Robert Plant, the album captures truthful, open-hearted, funny and sometimes painfully honest songs, turning the page to a new chapter for Dave.
Rich Creative Talent in Sunbirds Line-up
The completion of Sunbirds line-up sees a further rich creative talent to that of Dave Hemmingway and Phil Barton.
New discovery Laura Wilcockson joins the band on vocals and violin. Laura comes from a classical/orchestral, as well as folk background. (If you’re lucky, you may have spotted her busking around Mansfield!)
Completing the line-up is legendary UK session drummer, Marc Parnell, who has toured with Joan Armatrading, The Blockheads and Jethro Tull to name but three. Marc can be heard on recordings by Girls Aloud, Pet Shop Boys and Gabriella Cilmi’s hit single ‘Sweet About Me’.
From Contemporary Themes To Heart and Soul – Sunbirds’ Cool To Be Kind
Cool To Be Kind is the result of a few transitional years in Dave and Phil’s individual personal worlds. It tells tales that cover contemporary themes as well as age-old matters of the heart and soul – all viewed through the bottom of a recently drained pint glass.
“There’s no exact science here,” says Phil. “We’re just enjoying ourselves and expressing whatever we want, whether it’s about love, greed, social isolation or Gary Lineker’s crisp adverts”.
Check out Entertainment South Wales in the coming weeks for individual interviews with Dave, Phil, Laura and Marc, who will all be revealing the music that has inspired them in our regular Music DNA feature.
For more information on Sunbirds, please visit the links below: