Start Listening To: Flip Top Head

Orchestral cult rockers Flip Top Head speak with us about their latest single 'Seventh Bell Number'

Introducing the captivating melancholy of Flip Top Head - the seven piece are laying a strong foundation in the alternative music scene, seamlessly blending mesmerizing jazz tones and haunting vocal stylings into an evocative post-rock setting.

The band's debut single, 'Seventh Bell Number', is scheduled to be released on 14th February through Blitzcat Records. It begins with an anthemic two-tone swagger, featuring blasts of brass that echo with a dreamy shoegaze atmosphere. Lead vocalist Bowie Bartlett's lyrics touch upon inner turmoil, guilt, and regret over unfulfilled romantic confessions.

Flip Top Head has seen great success within the vibrant Brighton live music scene, performing with acts such as Honeyglaze, Malady, and China Bears. To celebrate 'Seventh Bell Number', the group will embark on an eight-date UK tour, kicking off with a show featuring Opus Kink and DEADLETTER. The song will be officially released at the tour's conclusion, with a headline show alongside Porchlight and Mary & The Junkyard at the Windmill, followed by a grand homecoming performance at the Pipeline in Brighton. Get ready to enter the dark world of Flip Top Head.

Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from, and something about the music you make?

Hello! We are Flip Top Head; a Brighton based seven-piece- with members hailing from Bath, Colchester, Hastings and Switzerland. An unknown force brought us together to create a harmonious cacophony, transitioning scintillating jazz tones and haunting vocals into an emphatic post-rock soundscape.

We love your debut single Seventh Bell Number. Can you tell us more about how it was produced?

Thank you! We had the bones of Seventh Bell Number written a few years back and brought it back to life with the new formation; re-structuring and adding in new parts with each new member. It was recorded, along with another song, over five days at South Lanes Studios (Brighton). During these days we also had our first headline show at one of our favourite venues, Green Door Store, and spent the next day in the studio haunted by hangovers as we laid the path for our debut single to evolve.

What themes and topics are most important to you as a band?

As obvious as it sounds coming from a band, at the centre of our seven hearts is collaboration and creativity- Flip Top Head is motivated by synergetic explorations of sonic ideas and a general attitude that compliments each member’s integral parts to all songs. (Also rock and rollllll)

How has Brighton influenced your music?

Brighton has inherently given us so much to be grateful for; being where most of us met and re-formed, supplying us with a solid scene for upcoming musicians and a glorious toilet circuit of independent venues. We take huge influence from local bands and the community we feel lucky to be a part of- Brighton is so supportive and inspiring.

How would you describe your music for someone who hasn’t heard it?

Absurdist discordances and harmony laden throughout, our live sets are complete with a dementing caress of dissonance and a lingering orchestral, shoegaze headiness.

What’s it like working with Blitzcat Records?

A match made in heaven! We feel very lucky to have found an independent label with similar values and a genuine interest in our progression, whilst allowing us to have a sensible amount of control in decision making, too.

What do you hope to accomplish with your music?

For us the most desirable outcome is to continue playing and producing music with our best friends, for an audience that can connect with and relate to us. We want to make people cry, laugh and obsess!

How do you stay creative and inspired?

We feed off of each other constantly; bringing our individual ideas to group practices and working on them together. There is a huge emphasis on collaboration between us and pure respect for each other and the scene around us.

Name an artist you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why?

Alfie- The Smiths- Nothing’s changed, I still LOVE them, but only slightly, only slightly less than i used to…

Bertie - My Chemical Romance - The theatrical themes in their music have stuck around in my head since I first listened to them. Still bangs today.

Bowie - Babyshambles; I would listen to them with my Mum on long car journeys from a young age and still feel somewhat hardwired to come back to them when travelling

Harrison - Linkin Park - What I’ve Done - mainly due to my obsessive addiction to Transformers

Harry - Bloc Party - their first album Silent Alarm has shaped the way I drum, really fast drum and bass infused grooves that work really well with all kinds of music, bloody splendid that

Marie - Françoise Hardy is the first artist I related to and her music still resonates with my childhood memories and inspires me in my journey as a musician

Ollie - don’t like music

What do you love right now?

Touring (we are currently writing this in a lovely Record Cafe in Bradford, half way through our first tour!)

What do you hate right now?

Joe McElderry: Classic Christmas (including Silent Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, Last Christmas & O Holy Night with Rolando Villazón) - 50p or 3 for £1

Are there any other releases you’re looking forward to in 2023?

Maximillian, Horesgirl, Shame, deathcrash

Thanks for speaking with us! Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Thanks for digitally having us! We’d love for you to stream Seventh Bell Number and share it with your unrequited loves xx Hope you enjoy!