Description
Defined by their high-stakes rock ensemble of woodwind, strings and brass - and drawing inspirations from sources as varied as Nick Cave, Classic FM , and John Williams cult 60s novel "Stoner", Ideal Living are evidently not one to shy away from ambitious concepts.
"I view Ideal Living as a big orchestra",says frontman and band founder Billy Marsh,"Like when there's a play on stage and the band is right there in the pit, bringing the story to life through sound. We've always tried to approach the music as something quite theatrical and big, always willing to jump between genres and styles. So it made sense to write something that's a complete story, an indie-opera, if you will....
True to his word, Ideal Living's upcoming debut EPThis Big House - released on boutique label Crafting Room Recordings on 7th March - will be accompanied by the release of a short film, and the publication of frontman Billy Marsh's debut novel of the same name, from where the EP pools its narrative.
Sung from the viewpoint of a nameless narrator, 'Come to Me' tells of how their struggles to deal with modern life are tempered when they find that special other who helps them make sense of the human experience, as frontman and band founder Billy Marsh explains:
"Come to Me' opens our story, and introduces the plot's two nameless characters. Quoting the novel's narrator, the track serves as a dramatic monologue, marking the moment where our protagonist has found that special someone who helps them understand the world, who they can come too whether happy or sad, after going too long through life suffering from its chaos"
Since forming in Brighton in 2022, and operating with an ever-shifting line-up of musicians from across the city's current wave of emergent alternative acts - among themFlip Top Head,SoftTop,Jamie Broughton andFreddie J Watts