It’s still early days for The Radio Addicts, yet their journey in the music industry appears confident and committed. The British group knows exactly where they are headed, so much so that their recent vinyl-only EP release, ‘MMXXV’, sold out earlier this year. If you haven’t managed to grab a copy, you can still be part of The Radio Addicts’ aural universe thanks to the publicly available singles, out now. ‘Scroll My Life Away’, unveiled earlier this year, and ‘Before My Eyes’, the recent follow-up.
Overall, this is an exciting young band. The Radio Addicts engage in exuberant indie-rock, a slice of charisma and euphoria delivered with simplicity and playful flair. Part anthemic and part sleazy, the record blends a carefree arrangement with decidedly deeper songwriting, drenched in existentialism and personal reflection. That said, it’s never too heavy.
Intrigued by the Bolton-based group, we caught up with The Radio Addicts to learn more about their artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hey guys, thanks for chatting with us! It’s been quite a crucial year for The Radio Addicts, from debuting back in June with ‘Scroll My Life Away’ to your latest effort, ‘Before My Eyes’. Are you satisfied and proud of your journey so far? Have people been responding positively?
Hiya, it’s great to chat with you too. Thank you for having us. At the start of the year, our ambitions were as small as going into a recording studio; nobody would have thought that by the end of the year we would have released two singles, played massive festival stages, sold out our last three shows and our debut vinyl EP, ‘MMXXV’. We honestly can’t believe how fabulously we have been supported! We really want to thank everybody who’s come to see us, streamed one of our singles, bought merch, and basically put up with us on social media the last year or so – also thanks to Barta Records.
The project only started in 2024, which makes you rather productive in terms of recording and writing new material. How did all of you get together in the first place?
Daniel, the lead guitarist and I (Luke) met at school; we were lucky to find each other so early on. We share the same passion for music and playing guitar, although I have to admit that Daniel is a better player than I am! Jonathan is Daniel’s younger brother, and regarding Vincent, we really wanted him in the band because he’s a fantastic musician. He and Jonathan play on the same football team. We’ve become a Gang.
Are there any common influences? Any other bands or artists that have helped you understand where you want to go, from a sonic perspective? Likewise, are there any other upcoming groups that you are fond of?
Florentines, Revivalry, The Wombats, The Cases, The Lottery Winners, Catfish and the Bottlemen, The Space Monkeys… these are just a few of the bands that we absolutely love. Oasis, The Beatles, Green Day… they are all amazing, of course!
Am I correct in considering Manchester your home base? I’d be keen to know more about the time Luke was invited to meet Bruce Springsteen…
We are from Bolton, on the outskirts of Manchester. In many ways, Bolton has its own music scene that we are totally and utterly proud to be a small part of, but also you’re absolutely right… Manchester is the closest big city and has such a wonderful heritage of music. It is ingrained in everybody’s minds. So if you make it in Manchester, it can feel like you’ve made it in music.
I was properly lucky to be invited to meet Bruce Springsteen backstage at Manchester‘s Coop Arena before he went on stage to play a fantastic three-hour set. He was an absolute gentleman and incredibly kind with his time. It was a moment that will last with me for a lifetime. Now we are absolutely best mates, and I give him loads of music career advice…. (joke 😂😂😂)
Let’s focus on your latest single, ‘Before My Eyes’. It’s quite consistent with its predecessor, showcasing a slick, fierce indie and rock sound that’s potent and hard-hitting. Is there a particular message behind the song?
There are a few messages behind the song. The first verse talks about the feeling of missing out and other people having more fun and a better time than us. There is a reference to the fear of adult responsibility, parental separation and worries about what the future holds. But primarily, it is about time passing way too fast; it can feel like one minute you are nine years old, and by the next minute you are 41; all your childhood ambitions gone and stuck in a white collar job.
Now, don’t get me wrong: that is no bad thing, but the song is just a reflection on how quickly everything happens and how quickly everything changes, to misquote Ferris Bueller: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”.
That’s quite a philosophical take… did anything in particular prompt such a deep reflection on time and life?
Ferris Bueller is a pretty philosophical guy, let’s not forget he was also the Sausage King of Chicago! (laugh 🙂 )
In many ways, it’s a reflection of The Radio Addicts’ band life. We played Zanzibar in Liverpool when we were basically still in short trousers; we’ve had some massive moments and some unbelievable situations, and they have all come so quickly, they are flashing before our eyes.
The reader might not know this, but The Radio Addicts have already published a debut EP, ‘MMXXV’, yet only in vinyl format. What sparked such a quirky choice?
‘MMXXV’ is a document for our year. To be honest, we recorded the songs in January and February of 2025, and the vinyl didn’t come out until November 2025. Those songs are the bookends of an incredible year. We put them out on vinyl because we had the opportunity to do so, and it gives everybody something tangible rather than something digital and much more disposable. If something goes wrong and we never play a note of music again, or one of us gets run over by a bus tomorrow, those vinyls will always exist, and we’ll be our little mark on the music industry.
Going forward, is your sound going to shift in another direction? I suppose there are more singles to come in 2026?
We have recently been in the studio again to record three new tracks. In all honesty, we’re not sure whether these will be released, but if nothing else, they will definitely be demos to work with to create more music in due course. We do have a bit of a master plan of putting out at least a couple of singles a year, but we will see. If a massive record label comes in for us next week and insists that we release three albums over the next three years, who are we to argue? 😂
If anyone is reading this from a massive record label, give us a shout! Before we go, thanks again to everyone who supports us!
