Friends in America

Friends in America

Friends in America are a Glasgow-based indie rock act from the UK. They release material independently and their debut record, What It Is To Be, appears in 2013. The release is made up of seven songs and runs for 27 minutes, sitting between an EP and an LP in length.

Line-up

The group comprises Matthew Rawlings on vocals and guitar, Hamish Black on guitar, Liam Chapman on bass, and Scott Duffy on drums. Rawlings and Black are described as the band’s main melodic and emotional core, while Chapman and Duffy provide the rhythm section.

Music and style

Their music is described as indie rock with elements of emo-charged dream pop, indie pop, and arena rock. The debut album draws comparisons to Jimmy Eat World, U2, and Frightened Rabbit, particularly in the use of harmonies, guitar dynamics, and expansive climaxes.

What It Is To Be

The record is assembled over two years in the lead guitarist’s bedroom, reflecting a careful do-it-yourself approach. Tracks mentioned on the release include “Gaffe,” “You’re,” “Quietly Quietly,” “Brother,” “I’m No Captain,” and “Are You Alright?”

“Gaffe” is noted for its burst of harmonies, “Quietly Quietly” for its propulsive energy, and “I’m No Captain” for its understated arrangement and lyrical focus on frustration with work. “You’re” combines a love song and break-up song structure, with mirrored lyrics that shift from early romance to heartbreak.

Lyrical themes

The songs on the record focus on emotion, resignation, longing, and the pressures of everyday life. “I’m No Captain” is written about a period when Rawlings works a distasteful job, while “You’re” uses parallel images to explore attachment and loss.

The album is self-released and presented as a labour-of-love project made with limited resources but careful attention to detail.