Bristol Alt-Rock Band Oswald Slain Release New Single “UGLY”, from Upcoming Debut EP

21 Feb

Formerly known as Little Thief, Oswald Swain’s sound is a rich tapestry woven from the threads of classic Americana, with a mischievous British twist.

FFO: Velvet Underground, Father John Misty, The National , The Strokes, The Black Keys

Echoing the timeless vibes of Neil Young and The Band whilst infusing it with the gritty, energetic rock essence familiar from their previous works, Oswald Slain’s sound is anchored by driving rhythms and fuzzy guitars, promising a sound that resonates with both heart and soul.

Under their previous moniker, the band toured the UK multiple times, playing slots at esteemed festivals such as Glastonbury, Shambala, Liverpool Sound City, Isle of Wight, Kendal Calling and Greenman Festival. Co-founding members Charlie Fitzgerald and Rhii Williams, who have been writing music together for over ten years, made the difficult decision to change the band name and move forward in a new direction.

Born from the creative cocoon of their home studio, Oswald Slain is a testament to both personal growth and musical evolution. Recorded over the miserable January of 2024, their music reflects a period of introspection and growth, where, lyricist Fitz reconciled with the chaos of youth and the trials of aging. Channeling these experiences into sincere, humorous and evocative songwriting, the band have a timeless swagger of old retro rock records.

New single ‘UGLY’ follows the release of November debut single ‘Happiness Is Overrated’, championed by RTÉ, Fame Magazine, KUTX, Rough Trade’s ‘Counter Culture’ and Apple editorial’s ‘New In Rock’. Produced in-house in their DIY home studio and mastered by Jason Mitchell at Loud Mastering (PJ Harvey, XTC, Big Special), the single lifts the red curtain on the darker side of the 70’s adult entertainment industry. Fitzgerald explains

“ ‘UGLY’ was one of the first tunes we made at home messing about in our little studio. We really enjoyed the slapping drum beat and fuzzy guitars and wanted to make something gross and tacky with some pretty moments. Lyrically it’s inspired by the film Boogie Nights and all the deranged antics that went on behind the glitz and the glamour of the 70’s adult entertainment industry. I like things that aren’t perfect and people who are not afraid to just be themselves; everyone has an ugly side or a bad angle but that only adds to an overall greater beauty in my opinion.”

Alongside the single, Oswald Slain are excited to announce that they’ll be embarking on their first tour of the UK, commencing April 17th 2025 at Newcastle’s Trillians Bar, in celebration of the release of their debut EP.