{"id":44641,"date":"2026-03-06T17:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T22:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=44641"},"modified":"2026-03-01T18:47:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T23:47:53","slug":"london-indie-upstarts-chest-drop-soul-baring-ep-never-really-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=44641","title":{"rendered":"London indie upstarts CHEST drop soul-baring EP \u2018never really here\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>London-based indie band&nbsp;<strong>CHEST<\/strong>&nbsp;are back with their brand-new EP,&nbsp;\u2018never really here\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: never really here\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/43fu8ZMBhPvpUhFPALpc76?si=WVnUoP8dQ1qMoKqAFmygiw&amp;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Produced by\u00a0<strong>Thomas Coath<\/strong>\u00a0(known for his work with Sam Fender and Pale Waves), the EP is a tense, immersive journey through internal collapse and external chaos. CHEST\u2019s sound is a dynamic mix of tight guitars, driving drums, shimmering electronics, and soaring melodies, fused with raw distortion. Their influences span from\u00a0<strong>Sunny Day Real Estate<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Placebo<\/strong>\u00a0to the experimental edge of\u00a0<strong>Yoshimi-era Flaming Lips<\/strong>, creating a sound that\u2019s both familiar and entirely their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The EP\u2019s focus single,&nbsp;<strong><em>JULIA<\/em><\/strong>, digs deep into childhood memories, illness, and the lingering impact of fractured parental bonds, wrapped in hazy, distorted indie-rock textures. Vocalist&nbsp;<strong>Joel Reader<\/strong>&nbsp;says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>&#8220;This track is the most personal one I\u2019ve written. It\u2019s a raw look at my relationship with my unwell mother at a young age, and how that fractured dynamic has shaped our relationship since. It\u2019s vulnerable, helpless, and tangled with grief, resentment, and anger.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dYNvUiyO1tQ?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-CA&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Other tracks expand the emotional canvas:\u00a0<strong><em>SO BETTER NOW<\/em><\/strong> dissects the theatre of the outside world,\u00a0<strong><em>MACHINE<\/em><\/strong> and\u00a0<strong><em>GOSPEL<\/em><\/strong> explore obsessive thoughts and escalating panic, while\u00a0<strong><em>NUMB<\/em><\/strong> chronicles the fallout of internal collapse. Together, the EP traces a deep, immersive emotional arc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Formed in Norwich, CHEST credit the city\u2019s quirky, genre-bending scene for shaping their identity. \u201c<em>Norwich is full of oddballs who are unapologetically themselves\u2014that attitude is something we carry with us,\u201d<\/em> the band explains. Since relocating to London, they\u2019ve hit the festival circuit with\u00a0<strong>Latitude<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Wild Paths<\/strong>, supported acts like\u00a0<strong>The Lounge Society<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>Bilk<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>PleasureInc<\/strong>, and earned early BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music airplay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With their electrifying, immersive energy and a sound that already feels fully realized, CHEST are a band to watch in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CHEST Line-Up:<\/strong>&nbsp;Joel Reader (vocals), Stanley Horseman (guitar), Russell Eldon (guitar), Teo Koschak (drums), William Booth (bass)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Live Dates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>10 Apr<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Bury St Edmunds, The Apex<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stream \/ Listen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/agency.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=22decc7ae58bc37f5aabe1a6c&amp;id=1779fb76e3&amp;e=dc6f4d9379\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spotify<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/agency.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=22decc7ae58bc37f5aabe1a6c&amp;id=3c5bc5f78c&amp;e=dc6f4d9379\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple Music<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/agency.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=22decc7ae58bc37f5aabe1a6c&amp;id=fa5f9b8553&amp;e=dc6f4d9379\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Follow CHEST<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Instagram:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/agency.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=22decc7ae58bc37f5aabe1a6c&amp;id=3933170d43&amp;e=dc6f4d9379\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@chest_band<\/a><br>TikTok:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/agency.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=22decc7ae58bc37f5aabe1a6c&amp;id=d015e433a2&amp;e=dc6f4d9379\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@chest_the_band<\/a><br>YouTube:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/agency.us19.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=22decc7ae58bc37f5aabe1a6c&amp;id=c55da4f80c&amp;e=dc6f4d9379\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@chest_band<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>London-based indie band&nbsp;CHEST&nbsp;are back with their brand-new EP,&nbsp;\u2018never really here\u2019. Produced by\u00a0Thomas Coath\u00a0(known for his work with Sam Fender and Pale Waves), the EP is <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=44641\" title=\"London indie upstarts CHEST drop soul-baring EP \u2018never really here\u2019\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44642,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[22,23,25,28,30,1907],"tags":[12930,438,13218],"class_list":["post-44641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guitar-rock","category-indie","category-live","category-music","category-new-release","category-news","tag-chest-2","tag-ep","tag-never-really-here"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_7335.jpeg?fit=2363%2C1949","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2B2TV-bC1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41327,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=41327","url_meta":{"origin":44641,"position":0},"title":"chest. drops explosive new single \u2018Blood On Your Doorstep\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"February 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"French post-punk powerhouse chest. is back with a searing final single, Blood On Your Doorstep, before dropping their debut EP, \u2018All Good Things End,\u2019 on February 28, 2025, via Howlin\u2019 Banana Records. A Band Like No Other chest. isn\u2019t just a band; they\u2019re a sonic wrecking ball. With three sound\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"chest. 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Holy Esque recorded this debut EP in early April 2012 with producer Kevin Burleigh (Glasvegas, Simple Minds, Supernaturals)\u00a0at the DIY Pink Megic Studios\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;indie&quot;","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Holy Esque promo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/2012holyesquepr240112.jpg?fit=552%2C368&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/2012holyesquepr240112.jpg?fit=552%2C368&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/2012holyesquepr240112.jpg?fit=552%2C368&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44320,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=44320","url_meta":{"origin":44641,"position":2},"title":"PUNCHBAG go full tilt on new EP \u2018I Am Obsessed\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"February 14, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"South London sibling duo\u00a0PUNCHBAG\u00a0are back and turning the emotional volume way past the red. 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To mark the announcement, the band have shared the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"PUNCHBAG press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7038.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7038.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7038.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7038.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_7038.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42505,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=42505","url_meta":{"origin":44641,"position":3},"title":"Sandhouse unveil daring debut EP &#8216;Circus&#8217; &#8211; A must-listen for indie fans","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"June 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"London-based duo Sandhouse have officially dropped their debut EP,\u00a0\u2018Circus,\u2019 a bold and atmospheric collection that showcases their dynamic range and raw emotional intensity. After gaining critical acclaim with their early singles, Anna and Caspar have crafted a five-track EP that not only cements their place in the indie scene but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sandhouse press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4556.jpeg?fit=789%2C526&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4556.jpeg?fit=789%2C526&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4556.jpeg?fit=789%2C526&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4556.jpeg?fit=789%2C526&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38598,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=38598","url_meta":{"origin":44641,"position":4},"title":"beachtown announce new EP + share single \u2018Unsure\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"March 6, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"London-based duo\u00a0beachtown\u00a0have announced their upcoming new EP \u2018UNSAYABLE\u2019, out\u00a0May\u00a012th via\u00a0Young Poet. They also shared its latest single Unsure. Watch the visualizer via YouTube below. https:\/\/youtu.be\/TiH0NibHCeg Consisting of Menorca born\u00a0Zaine Masoliver\u00a0and British\/Danish\u00a0Fred Cowan, together the pair blend oddball pop sensibilities with elements of shoegaze, indie and dream pop whilst intermittently paying\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"beachtown press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/0EA2E73A-D7D2-4F0E-8369-6740222D96EB.jpeg?fit=1200%2C795&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/0EA2E73A-D7D2-4F0E-8369-6740222D96EB.jpeg?fit=1200%2C795&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/0EA2E73A-D7D2-4F0E-8369-6740222D96EB.jpeg?fit=1200%2C795&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/0EA2E73A-D7D2-4F0E-8369-6740222D96EB.jpeg?fit=1200%2C795&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/0EA2E73A-D7D2-4F0E-8369-6740222D96EB.jpeg?fit=1200%2C795&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42600,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=42600","url_meta":{"origin":44641,"position":5},"title":"Starling\u2019s new EP\u00a0\u2018Forgive Me,\u2019 is a gritty, gorgeous dive into the messiness of being human","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"June 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Mark your calendars: June 27, 2025, is about to sound\u00a0really good. That\u2019s when LA-based four-piece Starling drops their latest EP,\u00a0\u2018Forgive Me,\u2019 on Sunday Drive Records\u2014a seven-track journey full of emotional tangles, melodic swells, and raw DIY grit. Starling isn\u2019t easy to box in\u2014and thank god for that. Their sound floats\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4594.jpeg?fit=961%2C612&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4594.jpeg?fit=961%2C612&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4594.jpeg?fit=961%2C612&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4594.jpeg?fit=961%2C612&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=44641"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44645,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44641\/revisions\/44645"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/44642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}