Brit alt-pop trio Flawes’ dedication to their craft has made them one of the UK’s most exciting new bands. Their debut album ‘Highlights’ and the lockdown-era EP ‘Reverie’ put them on the cusp of a major breakthrough, their anthemic style leading to praise from Billie Eilish, sessions with Finneas, and extensive airplay at Radio 1. Meanwhile, their tight, dynamic live performances have resulted in unforgettable sets at the Reading and Leeds Festivals, as well as a sold-out London headline show at Omeara.

Now Flawes are set to capitalise on that growing reputation as they emerge stronger and streamlined with the brand-new single ‘Is It Any Wonder’, which is out now. The song lays the groundwork as Flawes prepare to launch a wealth of new material in 2023.

The rock-tinged alt-pop of ‘Is It Any Wonder’ bursts into life from the off, its propulsive rhythm generated by Juno synths and skittering percussion redolent of The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’ with a euphoric twist. Frontman Josh ‘JC’ Carruthers’s lyrics present a thrilling blast of catharsis as he bids farewell to a relationship at the very moment he’s decided to cut ties: “I’m tired of running round in circles / Going over damage done / There’s no use treading water / Better off going your own way.”

Flawes commented, “‘Is It Any Wonder’ is a song that means a lot to the three of us and sums up the exact moment you’ve decided to cut ties within a relationship. The chorus predicts that at some point in the future the penny will drop and they’ll realise what they’ve done and think, ‘Is it any wonder that I was left?’ It was an easy and natural song to write on, one of those where the lyrics just flowed out! It sets the tone for a lot of the other new music that we’re making.”

The freedom that comes with a fresh start also shines throughout the song’s video. The trio’s infectious enthusiasm is matched by their shared camaraderie, bringing personality and charisma in abundance. The video’s feelgood warmth is also heightened with rapid cuts and a bold palette. It was directed by Roisino and produced by Superglow (Alfie Templeman, The Vamps).

‘Is It Any Wonder’ was written by Flawes, completed by Freddie Edwards (guitar) and Josh ‘Huss’ Hussey (drums), produced by Simon Oscroft (Olivia Rodrigo, Portugal. The Man), and mixed by the renowned Mike Crossey (The 1975, Foals, Wolf Alice).

Flawes already have 10 million streams under their belt, as well as a Radio 1 Record of the Week, further airplay at Radio X, and praise from Clash, Wonderland, tmrw and Fault. But ‘Is It Any Wonder’ shows that bigger things are waiting just over the horizon.

Flawes’ modern take on timeless pop put them on the map from the very beginning, resulting in a famous fan in the shape of Billie Eilish, sessions with Finneas, repeated support from Radio 1 and performances at Reading and Leeds. Having just finished as guests on Tom Grennan’s European tour, Flawes’ return this year has been better than ever with the singles ‘Don’t Blame Me’, ‘Is It Any Wonder?’, ‘Tears Won’t Show’ and ‘Satellite’ – today they release their eagerly anticipated sophomore album ‘One Step Back, Two Steps Forward’. Listen HERE. The album release will be celebrated with an in-store at Banquet Records tomorrow and a headline show at COLORS in London on 22nd June. 

‘One Step Back, Two Steps Forward’ is a driving-with-the-top-down record, their slick, uplifting sound powered by propulsive rhythms, yearning guitars and choruses that soar. Informed by an attitude that every moment matters, it’s a record which wastes no time in unveiling its direct yet nuanced pop charms. Not a single song lingers until the four-minute mark, creating a breathless momentum that feels like an instant greatest hits collection. Entirely written or co-written by Flawes, the album also features contributions from  Mike Crossey (The 1975, Wolf Alice, Foals), Simon Oscroft (Olivia Rodrigo, Portugal. The Man), Jonathan Gilmore (Rina Sawayama, Twenty One Pilots) and Thom Powers (The Naked and Famous).  

 Vocalist Josh ‘JC’ Carruthers says, “‘One Step Back, Two Steps Forward’ reflects our attitude towards most things in life: be positive through the tough times, and trust that things will be get better. You often have to take a step backwards before things can improve. Whether that’s by ending a toxic relationship or removing yourself from a situation that doesn’t serve you. The songs we wrote for this body of work naturally seemed to fit into one of two categories – they either focused on past situations or on a more positive future, so the track-listing pretty much wrote itself! We also like the positive spin it puts on the traditional ‘one step forward, two steps back’. Flawes is a reminder to embrace your imperfections as they really do make you who you are!”  

The new single ‘Give Me Your Worst’ depicts a sour end to a relationship where the other party isn’t willing to “go down without a fight”, instead doing everything in their power to make things difficult. Written with Thom Powers of The Naked and Famous, ‘Give Me Your Worst’ ironically shows the band at their best and boldest.  

Josh adds, “‘Give Me Your Worst’ was a collaboration with Thom Powers of ‘The Naked And Famous’. We’re all fans of his music and were super excited to get the opportunity to work together while over in LA. We really pushed ourselves in the studio and came out with a song that feels fresh and exciting to the three of us. We experimented with a bunch of new production techniques and love how it came out. We also got to play this one live while supporting Tom Grennan recently and it really came alive!  

JC and bandmates Freddie Edwards (guitars) and drummer Josh ‘Huss’ Hussey (drums) keep the mood upbeat throughout, travelling through dramatic electro-pop (‘Give Me Your Worst’), Coldplay-esque synth-centred anthems (‘Satellite’) and the explosive euphoric redemption of the closing track (‘Waste It All On You’). Yet they provide a darker tone to the album too, with the moody, bluesy kiss-off and fighting spirit of ‘Tears Won’t Show’. A little over 32 minutes after pressing play, ‘One Step Back, Two Step Forward’ proves that Flawes’ have raised their game to previously unprecedented levels. The album is released on all digital platforms, CD and vinyl. 

Flawes’ podcast ‘Meet At The Hotel Bar’ has been attracting plenty of attention. Each fortnight, the boys invite fans to listen in on a conversation with a friend from the world of music to unveil the larger-than-life, outrageous or simply unbelievable experiences that come with a life spent on tour. Guests include Chris from Muse, Woody from Bastille, Thom Powers from The Naked and The Famous, Natti Shiner of Fickle Friends, Rhino of Status Quo, Hugh From The Kooks, Dan from The Wombats and Ella Eyre. 

‘One Step Back, Two Steps Forward’ tracklist: 

1. ‘Is It Any Wonder’ 

1. ‘Don’t Blame Me’ 

1. ‘Give Me Your Worst’ 

1. ‘Tears Won’t Show’ 

1. ‘Landmine’ 

1. ‘Satellite’ 

1. ‘99’ 

1. ‘Feels Like Home’ 

1. ‘Race To France’ 

1. ‘Waste It All On You’ 

Flawes’ modern take on timeless pop put them on the map from the very beginning, resulting in a famous fan in the shape of Billie Eilish, sessions with Finneas, repeated support from Radio 1 and performances at Reading and Leeds. Just as they were set to go stellar the world was thrown into turmoil, but the trio continued to engage fans keeping their debut album ‘Highlights’ in the spotlight during lockdown, and then made the most of the downtime by releasing their ‘Reverie’ EP early in 2021.

Flawes are now back – better than before. Their dogged determination is rewarded as they announce the June 9th release of their fittingly-titled new album ‘One Step Back, Two Steps Forward’ alongside brand new single ‘Don’t Blame Me’. After experiencing a disruptive few years, Flawes are now perfectly primed to fulfil their near limitless potential. Listen to ‘Don’t Blame Me’ HERE. Watch the lyric video below.