Permanent (Joy) is the new project from former members of Liverpool-based indie band Blondes. Following successful tours of the UK and a massive viral hit with Coming Of Age the band came to a premature end due to personal circumstances, leaving songwriters Alex Davison and Dan Stroud to embark on a new journey with a moodier and more surreal slant on their band of indie rock. Choosing to begin anew, they were joined by Dave Annis, formerly of Queen Zee and a touring member of Blondes, and bassist Noah Roche under the new name of Permanent (Joy).
Since their initial appearance in September 2024 the band have released three singles – Josephine, Aeroplane and I Wanna Go Home – as they prepare for the release of EP1 on 7 March and have now released the video for I Wanna Go Home
Speaking about Permanent (Joy) songwriter Alex says: “I had grown bored writing songs about myself, and I knew we had to move on as songwriters from the indie pop we made as Blondes. I wanted to do something darker, with more of a story to it. There was an album that we used to sing together in the tour van late at night called ‘In The Aeroplane Over The Sea’ by Jeff Mangum. I loved how he wove this surreal abstract narrative into a beautiful concept album centred around life and death. I knew that, musically, that’s what I wanted to do next. The first single ‘Josephine’ started on an acoustic guitar, and we had this warbly, eccentric string synth from the 80s that had been lent to us. That synth took the song into this world that felt like you were listening to an old memory. That’s how the song was born.”
EP1
Sometimes
Josephine
Aeroplane
Save My Life
I Wanna Go Home
The band have already generated enough word-of-mouth buzz to be hand picked as opening act for indie-rock stars Franz Ferdinand in Liverpool earlier this year and have now been selected for five support shows with meteoric newcomers Inhaler and a further support show with Blossoms.
Alongside a busy period of touring as a support act, Permanent (Joy) will be promoting the release of their debut EP with a full show in Liverpool in March, returning to their familiar stomping ground of the iconic Jacaranda Club for the first time as headliners. This will be followed by a showcase session for BBC Introducing Merseyside and an appearance at Liverpool Sound City Festival in May.
JANUARY
Fri 31 LIVERPOOL Jacaranda
FEBRUARY
Fri 14 LONDON Brixton Academy (with Inhaler)
Sat 15 BRIGHTON Centre (with Inhaler)
Mon 17 GLASGOW O2 Academy (with Inhaler)
Tue 18 GLASGOW O2 Academy (with Inhaler)
Fri 21 MANCHESTER O2 Apollo (with Inhaler)
MARCH
Fri 07 AYLESBURY Waterside Theatre (with Blossoms)
Sat 08 LIVERPOOL Jacaranda (Headline)
Photo credit – press photo