Spotlight release - dulakes drop EP ‘Fireflies’
Leeds-based indie group ‘dulakes’ have dropped their debut album ‘Fireflies’ today.
Featuring five new tracks from the quartet, the songs illustrate the experiences of youth, relationships, and are reminiscent of their university days.
Lead guitarist and songwriter, Joseph Rainbow, spoke to tune on the EP creation process.
He said: “For me writing songs is one of the most enjoyable things in life, it helps me to understand myself, and Ramsay would say the same. Though even better than that is hearing your song come alive with the band.
“We all write our own parts, so all of our collective influences combine quite well. I’d say for ‘Fireflies’ our biggest influences were Wunderhorse, Keo and early Coldplay.”
Rainbow would be accurate in his Wunderhorse influences as first track ‘Thunderstorms’ has a definite Wunderhorse feel to the crescendo. It covers themes of feeling lost, and echoes the ever-consuming thoughts of the unknown.
The band's distinct melancholic drive throughout their releases aims to ‘defy categorisation’, and they have definitely proved this within the changing tones of these five tracks.
Titular track - ‘Fireflies’ was a deeply personal track for Joseph Rainbow. The music and lyricism coincides well, as the track becomes lighter toned when he sings of ‘showing the meaning of life’ - ultimately embodying the lightness of life after periods of great darkness.
He told Tune: “Fireflies was written at a difficult period in my life, so the lyrics are very personal. My girlfriend was going through a lot, so the words speak to her towards the end - it’s a love song really.”
Since the formation of dulakes back in 2024, the group have undertaken a blend of honest songwriting and thumping alternative rock.
Lead vocalist, Ramsay Irwin, said: “In my mind the five songs describe the space we were in as people when they were written, and as a band we think it will set the foundations of what is still to come.”
The band consists of Ramsay Irwin (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Joseph Rainbow (lead
guitar, backing vocals), James Gavin (bass), and Nat Dowding (drums).
Rainbow, added: “We met at Leeds uni! Me and Gav used to rehearse together and eventually we formed dulakes with Ramsay and Nat in 2024.
“We were all desperate to be in a band, we were writing our own stuff so it felt right, and we’re all great friends of course!”
The longest of the tracks - ‘Soulless’, features beautiful backing vocals, which cover a theme of a never-ending pain for someone you love. It juxtaposes three quarters in with running imagery alongside heavier guitar riffs - which would work expertly in a coming-of-age film.
This song was one of the band's earlier releases and is seen as the soundtrack of the lads' time at university. It has since become a fan-favourite at their energetic gigs.
Rainbow, said: “We’re all really into the current indie scene and it is great to see so many young bands making it, so we take a lot of influence from there too.”
The release is definitely well-worth a listen, and perfect for fans of Wunderhorse, Keo, and Smashing Pumpkins.
The EP ‘Fireflies’ is out now and can be accessed here.
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