Exploring the bleak beauty of WILDERNESSES’ debut single, a heavy and dreamlike track
Wildernesses, a new band based in London, has made its debut with the release of their first single, Four Hour Drive, through Floodlit Recordings. Although recently formed, the members of the band have extensive experience in the UK underground music scene, drawing inspiration from bands like We Never Learned To Live, Earth Moves, and Late Night Fiction.
The band was initiated in 2022 by Jonathan (“JB”), lead guitar, and Ryan, drums and backing vocals, with the intention of playing emotional songs loudly in a rehearsal space. Both JB and Ryan had taken a break from live music and were eager to reconnect with their musical roots post COVID. JB, previously part of the noise duo Alison Angus, reconnected with Phillip, vocals, guitars, and arrangements, who he had met through Late Night Fiction. With drummer Josh also joining Late Night Fiction, both JB and Phillip, originally from Hull, reunited in London.
Phillip, who had been writing in his home studio since the dissolution of Late Night Fiction, joined the project in August 2023, bringing a defined direction to the sound. The band aims to create an emotive heavy sound by blending ambient post-rock textures with traditional pop structures. Their lineup was completed in April 2024 with the addition of bassist Mark Portnoi from We Never Learned To Live and Earth Moves. The name Wildernesses, chosen after several WhatsApp polls, captures the band’s theme of bleak beauty.
Produced by Joe Clayton at Nø Studio in Manchester, Four Hour Drive was released in April 2025 to celebrate their signing with Floodlit Recordings. The track serves as a broad introduction to the band’s sound, combining shoegaze shimmer and melodic post-hardcore elements that transition into a dreamlike, post-rock finale.
According to the band, Four Hour Drive conveys their sincere commitment to their craft. The track delves into themes of heritage, family, responsibilities, procrastination, and the allure of alternate realities. The cover art for the single, crafted by Phillip, features a photo from 1957 depicting his father and grandfather, symbolizing generational legacy and the yearning for a more profound existence amidst modern distractions.
Blending personal narratives with atmospheric soundscapes, Wildernesses draws on post-rock, shoegaze, and dream-pop influences to explore surreal moments in everyday life through their lyrics. The band, jokingly referred to as “Team Wildernesses,” maintains a cohesive aesthetic vision, with Phillip overseeing design and merchandise that reflects the music’s introspective nature.
The band’s debut showcases a deliberate and conceptually unified approach, hinting at a promising future. Wildernesses’ intentional blend of personal storytelling and ambient musical landscapes sets the stage for what is to come, leaving audiences eager for more.