Overpass is already redefining what it means to be a rising UK indie band. Their debut album‘Elsewhere, Always,’released in June 2026, struck a chord with audiences across Europe by exploring themes of burnout and self-doubt that resonate deeply with younger listeners navigating toxic hustle culture. But the real turning point came when the Birmingham trio covered Harry Styles’mashup of‘American Girls’and‘Born Slippy’for BBC Radio 1’s Future Artists series. That one creative exercise fundamentally changed how Max Newbold, India Armstrong, and Jake Bishop approach songwriting.
According to the band, the cover forced them to think differently about song structure and arrangement. Instead of sticking to traditional indie formulas, they started experimenting with pop and dance rhythms and melodic hooks that felt totally foreign to their usual sound. They even posed the question to themselves:“If Kings of Leon or U2 were covering this, what would they do?”This creative reimagining sparked something bigger. The trio is now actively incorporating these new influences into their follow-up material, determined to push their sound in bold, unexpected directions while maintaining the emotional authenticity that made their debut resonate.
What’s most exciting is their ambition to create something genuinely“outrageous”with their next project, something listeners won’t see coming. The band’s recent performance at Mad Cool 2026 in Madrid proved they’re breaking through internationally, and if their new material lives up to their creative vision, we might be looking at one of the most interesting evolutions in indie rock right now. Are you ready for Overpass to take this next leap with them?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.