Making spiky, dramatic pop music, Banfi’s first official shot across the bows ‘Where We Part’ was posted on Soundcloud in April 2015, which led to the band signing with Communion Records. 2016 was spent in the studio recording their debut album with producer Richard Wilkinson (Bombay Bicycle Club, Honne, Kaiser Chiefs) and the first release from these sessions, ‘Happy When You Go’.
‘Happy When You Go’ is a delicious earworm of a debut single, with its layers of guitar-inflected pop blending with bittersweet straight-talking lyrics. Banfi’s irresistible hooks and choruses take influence from left-field pop acts including Alt-J and The Knife as well as the minimal mathletics of Foals and the huge stagecraft of The Police. “The energy of The Police that is found in their live performance it’s something we want to try and put across.” said Joe.
Joe first came to the attention of Communion in 2012 off the back of an unsolicited solo demo. He released two EPs in 2013 – championed by Zane Lowe, John Kennedy and Mary Anne Hobbs, these acclaimed EPs were a distinctive hybrid of Joe’s influences from Nick Drake to the Deftones. Emboldened by critical acclaim, Joe went away to write and develop as an artist, and along with bandmates Aaron and Chris, Banfi was born.
Banfi have performed support slots with Bear’s Den, Nathaniel Rateliff and Amber Run, as well as numerous festival appearances including Citadel, Great Escape and Bushstock.
Banfi Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Banfi play The Sunflower Lounge Birmingham on Sat 16th September 2017, with support from Bryde. Tickets available here.
Listen to ‘Rosedale House’ below: