Biografia

Maybeshewill is an instrumental rock band from Leicester, United Kingdom whose music is characterised by the use of electronic elements alongside more traditional ‘rock’ instrumentation. The band’s music is also littered with references from film and popular culture.

History

Maybeshewill was formed by guitarists Robin Southby and John Helps whilst the pair were studying together at university in 2005. They released their first record Japanese Spy Transcript on the band’s own label, Robot Needs Home Records in 2006 with Tanya Byrne on bass guitar and Lawrie Malen on drums. The 4 track EP was well received by press and attracted the attention of Nottingham’s Field Records (also home to Public Relations Exercise) who released “The Paris Hilton Sex Tape” (taken from the record) as part of a split 7” single with Ann Arbor later that year.

In August 2006 a re-mastered version Japanese Spy Transcript was released in Japan on the XTAL label (also home to Yndi halda) which was set up specifically for the release by The Media Factory Group. In October the band were joined by Kris Tearse on drums and guitarist Scott West (formerly of TEAM), but the pair left in January to begin work on deATH of LONdon. At this point the band also parted company with Tanya Byrne.

In May 2007, John and Robin began working with James Collins (also a member of Fight Fire With Water) and Andy Jackson (previously of minusplusdivide), along with a number of guest vocalists and musicians on the forthcoming Not for Want of Trying album. A three track double A-Side CDR single, ‘Seraphim & Cherubim / Heartflusters’ was released by the band on 21 September 2007 on Robot Needs Home Records, which featured two songs from the forthcoming album as the title tracks, as well as a remix of Japanese Spy Transcript-era track ‘The Paris Hilton Sex Tape’ by Robin Southby under his Turboshinboy alias. This release was intended as a ‘teaser’ for the album.

Not for Want of Trying was released on Monday 12 May 2008, and was chosen by Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens as his album of the week in its release week. ‘The Paris Hilton Sex Tape’ also featured on the cover CD of June’s edition of Rock Sound magazine.

The later half of 2008 saw the band tour the UK with worriedaboutsatan and And So I Watch You From Afar, and Japan with Ovum. They also appeared at the Summer Sundae Weekender, Brainwash Festival and Dot To Dot Festival around the UK.

Maybeshewill are currently working on a third record, which is expected to be released 8 June 2009.

The band have described their sound as “instrumental rock with electronics”,[1] while Drowned in Sound described them as sounding “like Mogwai would if the latter had ever found love in an arthouse cinema. And then were beaten around the head with a keyboard”.