bby share video for ‘Kinky’ – debut album ‘1’ out tomorrow

Today, bby – the UK’s fast rising alternative stars doing everything on their own terms – share new track ‘Kinky’ as premiered by Sian Eleri on BBC R1’s Future Artists, alongside a raucous video HERE. ‘Kinky’ is taken from bby’s debut album 1, which is out tomorrow, less than 1 year since they released their debut single ‘Hotline’. They have also announced their debut headline show for October 10th.

“This is where it starts. We made it out the group chat.” bby

A celebration of all the amazing work bby have done across the past 12 months, 1 firmly plants their flag in the sand for what the future holds. Releasing a debut album less than a year since releasing their first single is indicative of how they approach their music and the industry. Not swayed by hesitation, bby are buoyed by self belief and confidence in their ability to simply not feel the pressure to play by the rules. Their true DIY ethos has been there from the moment they met online, started the band and cultivated their rehearsal / party HQ space in East London – which they packed out regularly with day 1’s; fans who lapped up their spirit and grew with bby as every fervent track was released and every party was thrown.

The London-based band have been running in their own lane since the beginning and have made significant waves across press, radio, live in that time. Support from the likes of Rolling Stone, NME, Zane Lowe, and a spot on the Top 20 alternative radio charts in the US, has all helped propel them forward and turn a fun-time meeting of minds into a fully fledged band proposition, flying the flag for the British DIY scene.

Speaking about the album, Benjy says: “1’ is about the beginning and end of a relationship. Letting a stranger become the most important person in your room and then learning how to make them feel like a stranger again and not someone who could destroy you. But that’s like the quiet and written side of it. The heart of it is the hangs. Playing these songs for the day 1s at the HQ. Sweating, moshing, drinking, dancing and figuring them all out live. Playing a hundred different versions until they hit just right. Playing a hundred different jams until we got 13 songs that tell the story we wanna tell and move the room how we wanna move it. We all met online about 1 year ago, started the hangs about 6 months ago, and now dropping our first album.”

The high energy, prolific five piece have been showering us with their off-kilter killer music since their debut ‘hotline’. ‘money body’, ‘gold teeth & fenty’, ‘u come near’, ‘kill me’, and ‘breathe’ followed. This incredible run of singles has taken the band to new heights, including  breaking the USA Alt Top 20 with their debut single ‘hotline’, and winning a big fan in Zane Lowe who included bby in his 24 artists for 2024 list in addition to track by track support. On this side of the pond, the band have had great looks from BBC Radio with a huge BBC Maida Vale session, and have been featured in the likes of NME, Rolling Stone UK and Pigeons + Planes.

Benjy (vocals), Jessy (guitar), Tommy (guitar), Deon (bass), Tom (drums) all met on the internet and it clicked. Fom hip hop to RnB to alt and an array of alternative sounds therein – bby pull their influences together with confidence to make music that sounds like the moment; a union of mixed musical tastes from which bby was born.

The HQ is the nucleus of bby (see further footage from the space in their DIY videos HERE). Writing, developing and producing their own music, alongside abundant good times, has become their focus for the future. They continue to host regular hangs at their collaborative space, which fans are now flocking to. The chaos they create at these shows is tangible which informs their sound and the music they make. The fans, the space, the sweat, the vibe – it all comes together as one. Performance guests at hangs have included Willow Kayne & SIPHO and followed debut festival shows at Leeds Festival (see high energy crowd footage here) and All Points East (performing alongside The Strokes + HAIM). bby have also performed alongside Hemlocke Springs at a sold out Dingwalls show.

Coming up, they are already slated to play summer festivals including TRNSMT last weekend, Kendal Calling, Boardmasters, Y Not, We Love Green, Pitchfork and All Points East. Outside of their infamous HQ hangs, bby are yet to play a headline show but that will all change on October 10th when they play Colour Factory, London.

bby live:

18th July – Album Launch Party @ State 51- London
2nd Aug – Y Not festival – Pikehall
4th Aug – Kendal Calling – Lowther
11th Aug – Boardmasters – Newquay
18th Aug – All Points East – London
23rd Aug – Victorious Festival – Portsmouth
10th Oct – Colour Factory – London
8th Nov – Pitchfork Festival – Paris