STONE'D Records’ first signing, Yes Sir Boss, will be touring the UK this June to celebrate the release of their ‘Desperation State’ EP - a seamless blend of instant hooks, offbeat rhythms and epic riffs, encompassing elements of everything from ska, roots and reggae, to jazz, funk and indie.
They will be appear at Hay on Wye's 'How The Lights Get In' festival on Bank Holiady Monday, June 4, and at Beach Break Live on June 15.
Yes Sir Boss are an eclectic collection of six college friends including Matt Sellors, bassist Josh Stopford, guitarist Luke Potter, drummer Reuben Nimmo, trumpeter Tom Lad, and saxophonist Jehan Abdel-Malak. Together they have cultivated a truly original, distinct and indefinable sound that has elements of everything from a brooding Balkan blues band to a horn injected indie rock outfit. In the end, though, it's the melding of all their disparate sounds that makes YSB's shambolic, funky, rootsy, tunes so unique.
Yes Sir Boss have been heralded for their energetic shows, earning them a reputation as one of Britain’s most dynamic new live bands.
“At our gigs, you can expect a mixture of musical influences and tight musicianship,” promises Matt.
Last summer they had headline slots at the likes of Glastonbury, Latitude, Bestival, Electric Picnic and Green Man, even finding time to record a Radio 1 Maida Vale session with Rob Da Bank.
So how did Joss Stone discover the boys?
"We were on our way to a gig," Josh recalls. "We were lost in the fog and I accidentally called the first 'J' in my contacts, which happened to be Joss [Stone]."
It turns out Stone and Stopford had remained in touch since they were kids.
Josh continues: "I said sorry, wrong number, but she said no I've been meaning to talk to you – do you want to come and support me in Amsterdam? Then, when she set up her own label it was like, I want to sign you guys because I think you're wicked."
‘Not Guilty’, the lead track from their EP will be available as a single on June 17. Whilst the band put the finishing touches to their debut album for a summer release, ‘Desperation State’ is currently available for download.