When Brighton quartet FUR first began pricking up ears back in 2017, their early moves seemed imbued with more than a dash of good fortune. Without any big money campaign, that autumn’s jangling, sepia-tinged third single ‘If You Know That I’m Lonely’ went borderline viral on Youtube, amassing millions of streams over the following months; currently, it stands on more than 30 million plays across all platforms.
But since then, the band – comprised of singer Murray, bassist Tav, guitarist Josh and drummer Flynn – have set about confirming that their early algorithmic victories were no fluke. Breaking into the Asian market, building an increasingly strong community in their native UK and now heading into their debut album, FUR’s is a tale not of flukey success, but of playing the long game. Of utilising those moments when the universe throws you a bone – sure, but of knowing that a real career needs to be built on stronger foundations than just a lucky break.
Formed in 2015 in the seaside town that the band still call home, FUR’s mantra has been solid from the off: influenced equally by the classic songwriting of the ’60s and more current bands like The Strokes and The Maccabees, “it’s always been about the blend of that retro feel and modern indie,” Murray explains, “and I always feel like it needs to be either the production or the song that has one or the other. We’re trying to find the perfect blend of not going too far either way.”