Hailing from all corners of Europe and the Middle East, The Gulps’ notorious live shows have been electrifying audiences with their freewheeling support slots with indie heroes Ash, Cast, Skinner Brothers, Carl Barat and Keir in 2022, followed by a sold out national tour of Spain. Managed by Creation Records legend Alan McGee (Oasis / Primal Scream), the Camden based renegades have just released a mind-warping official video for latest single ‘Mirror Mirror,’ marking the next stage of their disco-punk revolution.
Glittering and guttural in its multiple guises, ‘Mirror Mirror’ is a shapeshifting indie-rock cut that reflects the slick indie stylistics of The Strokes one moment, the zaniness of The Lemon Twigs another, while doggedly throwing-off the straight-jacket of convention at every given opportunity.
Laced with laissez-faire lyrics that take their cues from the carefree class of the beatnik generation, the track finds The Gulps inspired by one of literature’s most liberating minds, Jack Kerouac, and fantasising about living a life less-ordinary. As lead singer Javier Sola explains,
“It’s a fantasy poetry of a normal day. Influenced by Kerouac’s book, On the Road, and its carefree attitude and sense of adventure. Trying to make the listeners feel reflected with the lyrics, looking at the mirror and feeling they’re part of the hedonism of just another day.”
The video for ‘Mirror Mirror’ is just like stepping through a hall of infinity mirrors and “explores the diverse ‘shards’ of human character,” according to director Eilera Ellie.
Opening with a long take of frontman Javier in his own world, watching himself and his band perform on TV while the space around him remains still, silent and empty, he is soon discovered and dragged from this internal space back onto the stage of the outside world.
Recorded against the backdrop of London’s iconic Soho streets, Ellie adds:
“Many of us have a selection of alter-egos within us, putting various facets of our character on show when and where required. Similarly, within the video, scenes flicker between each band member ‘lost’ within their internal worlds, and being out on show for all to see. Each time they are in search of their one true self, until the two universes merge together.”
The new video arrives as The Gulps prepare to go ‘On The Road’ just like their inspiration Jack Kerouac for a stretch of UK Tour Dates, taking in headline dates in London, Leeds, Glasgow and Manchester. The band also warmed up for the tour with a support slot with Trampolene in Cardiff for Independent Venue Week. Catch them live at the dates below. You won’t regret it!
THE GULPS – FEBRUARY 2023 TOUR DATES
15 – LONDON, Lower Third
17 – LEEDS, Oporto
18 – GLASGOW, Garage
19 – MANCHESTER, Castle Hotel
The Gulps are: frontman Javier Sola (Vox) and guitarist Juan Carlos Ruiz (both from La Rioja, Spain), bassist Simon Mouchard (from Nantes, France), rhythm guitarist Francesco Antonio Buffone (from Calabria in southern Italy) and drummer Raoul Khayat (from Beirut, Lebanon).
The Gulps | TikTok | Linktree The Gulps | Facebook The Gulps (@TGulps) / Twitter G U L P S (@thegulps) • Instagram photos and videos
