Desperate Journalist Explained

Desperate Journalist
Origin:London, England
Genre:Post-punk revival, indie rock
Years Active:2012–present
Label:Fierce Panda
Current Members:
  • Jo Bevan
  • Simon Drowner
  • Rob Hardy
  • Caroline "Caz" Helbert
Associated Acts:If...[1]
The Drowners[2]

Desperate Journalist are an English, London-based post-punk band, formed in 2012. They released their debut album, the self-titled Desperate Journalist, in 2015, on Fierce Panda Records. A second album, Grow Up, was released in March 2017.[3] The band's third album, In Search of the Miraculous, was released in February 2019.[4] A fourth album, Maximum Sorrow!, was released on 2 July 2021. On June 10, Desperate Journalist announced their fifth album, No Hero, set for release on September 27, 2024.

Biography

The band was formed in North London in 2012, by Jo Bevan (vocals), Rob Hardy (guitar), Simon Drowner (bass) and Caroline Helbert (drums). Hardy and Drowner had previously played together in Birmingham-based band The Drowners;[2] Drowner had then later played bass in Bevan's previous band If.... Helbert joined the band as drummer, having "never really played before".[5] They wrote their first song, "Kitten", at their first rehearsal.[6] [7] The band's name derives from The Cure rarity, "Desperate Journalist in Ongoing Meaningful Review Situation".[8]

The band played their first gig in February 2013 at the Silver Bullet in Finsbury Park. After self-releasing debut EP Cristina they were quickly signed by Fierce Panda, who released "Organ" and "Happening" as singles, leading to their debut album, Desperate Journalist, in November 2014, which was recorded at Dean Street Studios with Keith TOTP.[9] [10] [11] [12]

The Quietus, reviewing their debut album, described them as "beautiful and spellbinding";[13] Drowned in Sound said that they had "effortless grace" and praised Bevan's vocals.[14] The band toured the United Kingdom to support the release of the album, including an appearance at Whitby.

In 2015 the band played indietracks, headlined the 100 Club, and released a new EP, Good Luck.[15] In 2016, they toured Europe in the spring, and supported Chameleons Vox on a UK tour in August, as well as recording a second album.[16]

The second album, Grow Up, was released in March 2017, backed by a headline tour of the UK and Germany, including a date at the Scala. The first single, "Hollow", was released in October 2016, with an official music video following in November.[17] It was reviewed well by Stereogum, and was picked out as Song of the Day by KEXP.[18] [19] The second single, "Resolution", about New Year's Eve parties, was released on 1 January 2017 and has been playlisted by BBC Radio 6 Music. A music video was released on 27 January.[20] [21] [22] [23] A third single, "Be Kind", was released in March 2017, two weeks before the album. It was playlisted by Virgin Radio UK.[24] The fourth and final single, "Why Are You So Boring?", a 'protest song about tossers' was released in June 2017.[25] The band toured throughout 2017 making summer festival appearances at Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Tramlines, and Benicàssim, and supporting the Slow Readers Club on tour in November.

The band released a new single, "It Gets Better" in January 2018, from forthcoming EP You Get Used To It, whose release coincided with a German tour in April 2018.[26] In November 2018 the band released "Cedars", the first single of a third album, In Search of the Miraculous, for release in February 2019. From November 2018 they are joined by Charley Stone as a live guitarist. On 2 April 2021 Desperate Journalist released "Fear" and announced their 4th studio album, Maximum Sorrow!, which was released on 2 July 2021.[27] [28] On June 10th, Desperate Journalist released the single "Unsympathetic Parts 1&2" and announced their fifth album, No Hero, due for release on September 27, 2024.

Members

Live members

Discography

Albums

Singles and EPs

Notes and References

  1. Web site: We are If.... Soundcloud. 2016-10-28.
  2. Web site: The Drowners UK. Soundcloud. 2016-10-28.
  3. Web site: Exclusive: Desperate Journalist unveil sinister 'Hollow' clip, announce new album 'Grow Up'. 2016-11-15. 2016-11-17. Nothing But Hope and Passion.
  4. Web site: New Desperate Journalist Album. The Quietus. Eede. Christian. 22 February 2019. 8 June 2019.
  5. News: Adults Only. The Skinny North. March/April 2017. Gary. Kail. 2017-03-02.
  6. Web site: Desperate Journalist. 2017-02-24. Fabrizio. Luzzo. Last Day Deaf.
  7. Web site: Desperate Journalist – interview. 2017-02-23. 2017-02-26. James. Auton. Louder than War.
  8. Web site: The Cure's "Desperate Journalist" Is The Perfect Diss That Nobody Heard. 2014-10-31. 2016-12-12. Garland. Emma. Vice.
  9. Web site: About Desperate Journalist. Facebook. 2016-04-26.
  10. Web site: Indietracks interview #17: Desperate Journalist. indietracks. 2015-07-16. 2016-12-19.
  11. Web site: A chat with Desperate Journalist. 2013-10-17. 2016-12-19. And So She Things.
  12. Web site: Desperate Journalist Panic On!. 2015-01-03. 2016-12-19. Fierce Panda.
  13. Web site: Desperate Journalist: Desperate Journalist. Allen. Jeremy. 2015-01-21. 2016-04-26. The Quietus.
  14. Web site: Desperate Journalist: Desperate Journalist. 2015-01-22. 2016-04-26. Drowned in Sound. Fenwick. Tom. 8 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160808171420/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18598/reviews/4148635. dead.
  15. Web site: The playlist: indie – Ariel Pink, Panda Bear and the Gallaghers. 2014-11-03. Gibsone. Harriet. The Guardian. 2016-04-26.
  16. Web site: Desperate Journalist 'leave Home' Again.... Fierce Panda. 2016-03-16.
  17. Web site: Desperate Journalist - Hollow (Official Video). 2016-11-17. Desperate Journalist. 2017-01-27.
  18. Web site: Desperate Journalist – "Hollow". Stereogum. Chris. DeVille. 2016-10-25. 2016-10-28.
  19. Web site: Song of the Day: Desperate Journalist – Hollow. Matthew. Howland. 2017-01-10. 2017-01-11.
  20. Web site: NING 112. Fierce Panda. 2016-12-14. 2016-12-18. The Ning Standard.
  21. Web site: Premiere: Desperate Journalist reveal new track Resolution. Louder Than War. 2017-01-02. 2017-01-01.
  22. BBC6Music. BBC Radio 6 Music. 821410566182961152. 2017-01-17. New to the playlist - tracks from @boniver @TheRyanAdams @theflaminglips @petedoherty @DespJournalist and more http://bbc.in/2ixU0Rk.
  23. Web site: WATCH: New Desperate Journalist Vid. 2017-01-27. 2017-01-27. The Quietus. Patrick. Clarke.
  24. Web site: Desperate Journalist Stream New Single Be Kind. 2017-03-10. Laura. Johnson. 2017-03-11.
  25. Web site: DESPERATE JOURNALIST RELEASE NEW SINGLE ON JUNE 2ND. 2017-05-21. 2017-05-24. Fierce Panda.
  26. Web site: used. -It Gets Better For Desperate Journalist!. 2018-01-04. 2018-02-14.
  27. Web site: LISTEN: New Desperate Journalist. Christian. Eade. 2018-10-01. 2018-11-06.
  28. DespJournalist. 1067031515119390721. 2018-11-26. If you came to see us supporting @marionthegroup on Saturday, you'll already know we were joined by our friend and **new live guitarist** @charleston51 . She'll be playing on all forthcoming dates, helping us sound bigger and better. Welcome Charley!.
  29. Web site: Bandcamp: Cristina EP. Desperatejournalist.bandcamp.com. 2016-04-26.
  30. Web site: Bandcamp: Organ. Desperatejournalist.bandcamp.com. 2016-04-26.
  31. Web site: Bandcamp: Happening. Desperatejournalist.bandcamp.com. 2016-04-26.
  32. Web site: Bandcamp: Hesitate. Desperatejournalist.bandcamp.com. 2016-04-26.
  33. Web site: Desperate Journalist - Good Luck. Discogs.com. 4 March 2020.

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