Dropping like a disintegrating disco ball hanging by its final thread, the latest from the London-based renegades is ready to divide and ignite dance floors in one fell swoop. Glittering and guttural in its multiple guises, “Mirror Mirror” is a shapeshifting indie-rock cut that reflects the slick indie stylistics of The Strokes one moment, the zaniness of The Lemon Twigs another, while doggedly throwing-off the straight-jacket of convention at every given opportunity.
Laced with laissez-faire lyrics that take their cues from the carefree class of the beatnik generation, the track finds The Gulps inspired by one of literature’s most liberating minds, Jack Kerouac, and fantasising about living a life less-ordinary.
As lead singer Javier Sola explains of the track:
“It’s a fantasy poetry of a normal day. Influenced by Kerouac’s book, On the Road, and its carefree attitude and sense of adventure. Trying to make the listeners feel reflected with the lyrics, looking at the mirror and feeling they’re part of the hedonism of just another day. A free-spirited maverick eager to explore all kicks and an inspiration and catalyst for being in a band. We’re mad to live… desirous of everything at the same time. Even though sometimes it’s also mixed with some beats of deepness, loneliness and melancholy. The track also reflects the different social classes, the cats in the alleyways, our pals, and the loaded rats in the avenues. The tale of passionate adventures and the search for revelation are timeless.”
The track arrives as The Gulps prepare to get ‘On The Road’ themselves, for a stretch of UK Tour Dates in February 2023. Taking in headline dates in London, Leeds, Glasgow and Manchester, the band will also support Trampolene in Cardiff. The latest run of dates follows rave-received support slots with live-circuit staples such as Ash, Cast, Skinner Brothers, Carl Barat and Keir last year and directly follows a SOLD OUT national tour of Spain, which garnered much attention from national press. The full list of new dates are listed below.
“Mirror Mirror” quickly follows the 2022 hit “Candy”, with The Gulps already earning key support from the likes of BBC Radio 6and Radio X at radio, and high praise from tastemakers such as NME, Clash and Louder Than War. Released via the band’s own Guindilla records, the quintet also recently signed a publishing deal with Mike Smith and Downtown Music.
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Hailing from all corners of Europe and the Middle East, The Gulps are: frontman Javier Sola (Vox) and guitarist Juan Carlos Ruiz(both from a small town in La Rioja, Spain), bassist Simon Mouchard (from Nantes, France), rhythm guitarist Francesco Antonio Buffone (from Calabria in southern Italy) and drummer Raoul Khayat (from Beirut, Lebanon).
Currently based in Camden, The Gulps’ notorious live shows led to them becoming the last signing of the legendary Steve Strange to X Ray Touring, before his death. They are also currently managed by Creation Records legend Alan McGee (Oasis / Primal Scream).
In 2022 Gulps collaborated with Ibis Hotel Group in a marketing campaign run by Unilad and have recently had their last single “Candy” featured in Made In Chelsea. Last year they went to Los Angeles to record with Danny Saber of Black Grape. Their first single of 2023, “Mirror Mirror”, will be premiered by Chris Hawkins on BBC 6 Music. Standby for further new music later this year…
THE GULPS – FEBRUARY 2023 TOUR DATES
3 – CARDIFF, Clwb Ifor Bach
15 – LONDON, Lower Third
17 – LEEDS, Oporto
18 – GLASGOW, Garage
19 – MANCHESTER, Castle Hotel
