English band The Agency . . . have released their new single, Past Promise, from their upcoming album, Love & Obey. We asked their singer Steven K Driver the BIG questions . . .
This is the second release from the band this year, following previous single, We Fell to the Floor.
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Speaking about the new track, Steven says, "Past Promise isn't the relationship song a casual listener might expect - it's not soap opera material. The themes lean toward the transcendental; the characters, like Mary and the narrator, could be real or symbolic.
"The song is really about protecting a sense of self in a world driven by noise, influence, and expectation. Beneath that, there’s something more genuine - the idea that you can still love with openness and innocence, whatever influencers, politicos or your social media might suggest."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I was only ever supposed to be a singer - our former drummer Garry made me write songs and then I couldn’t put the guitar down.
In my songwriting I’m drawn to darker themes…but honestly, we want to expose the light in the darkness for people rather than leaving them with something heavy. I care and think about words a lot, I’m busy writing a PhD.
How would you describe your music?
Fundamentally it’s indie rock but we cross into folk, Americana, even post-rock. We’re 'genre fluid’ but we know where our base is. The most important thing is the song and the emotion. It’s a bit overused these days but we’re creating cinematic soundscapes and there’s a good story behind every song. We have a big sound - but one which emphasises highs and lows, romance and terror. Because I sing in a baritone we get lots of comparisons to Nick Cave, the National, Tindersticks but we’re definitely something different and have a sound of our own.
Who are your musical inspirations?
They change a bit as we record and look for reference points and they might not chime directly with our sound. I grew up on Alice Cooper, but also really got into grunge rock. Mark Lanegan, the former frontman of the Screaming Trees, became a real inspiration for me. His cover album I’ll Take Care of You opened another world of texture for me, opening the door to folk and even soul as influences. Then there’s Dylan, even if you don’t always like the delivery, his songwriting is on a level of its own. And, of course, Leonard Cohen.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I made my Mum take me to see Alice Cooper when I was barely 13. Just the rock 'n’ roll pageantry and theatrics of his shows make them must see - I think the music is great but also secondary. I still recall it all fairly vividly. In our stage show we embrace some of that intensity, but less fake blood, snakes, executions etc.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I’m quite proud of this - it was George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass. I’d been given or inherited a load of Beatles albums on vinyl and just connected with something in George’s writing. I’ve always had slightly throwback tastes.
What’s your favourite song right now?
So much great music at the moment, but it’s got to be something by Chelsea Wolfe. I caught her at Koko in London just before starting our last tour and was entranced. The album She Reaches Out To… is spellbinding. If I had to pick a track, I’ll go with Place in the Sun - it really hits on an emotional level.
Favourite lyric of all time?
There are so many amazing lyrics and it changes all the time. I think Dylan’s writing on Blood on the Tracks, especially Tangled Up In Blue and the first lines of Idiot Wind are beyond reproach. Simple lyric I love is from Christian Kjellvander’s track Strangers in Northeim, where he repeatedly chants the lines ‘baby, try not to be too strange, because they’re afraid’. There’s just something visceral in that, it catches the feeling of being an intruder or outsider.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Bloodbuzz Ohio by the National is up there. But it’s hard, I used to wake up to Duchess by Scott Walker every morning and now I have an aversion to it. Still love Scott Walker though.
Where can people find your music/more information?
We’re everywhere really. Best bet is Bandcamp for music, that way people can pay the artists and anything raised from our last single We Fell to the Floor is going to help our friend Rosa Thomas who is recovering from a haemorrhagic stroke. But of course we’re on all the streaming platforms too. We’re active on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Here is out website.
Alan Corr
