No Label, No Limits! The DIY Dream: Inside Fickle Friends’ Reinvention
With total control over every sound, show and sleeve, the Brighton band are finding joy in the DIY grind.
Photo: Daniel Alexander Harris
After nearly a decade in the game, Fickle Friends are back! And for the first time ever, truly steering their own ship. Their upcoming self-titled album, Fickle Friends (out November 7th), marks not only their third full-length release but a full-circle return to independence. Sitting down with Nat and Sam ahead of their upcoming tour, it’s clear the Brighton-born band have found something that many artists spend entire careers chasing: authenticity, balance, and creative freedom.
“We’re a bit more sturdy and in control,” Nat reflects, when I ask how they’ve changed since those early days. “Before, we were being pulled in so many different directions by different people. We weren’t necessarily making decisions from a grounded place… now we’re completely self-sufficient. Sam’s advancing all the shows, we do all the artwork, all the production — everything from start to finish.”
It’s a statement that feels almost radical in today’s hyper-curated, algorithm-driven industry. But that’s precisely what makes Fickle Friends’ story so compelling. After navigating the chaos of label life, the band have chosen to reclaim their sound (and their sanity) by doing it all themselves.
Of course, total creative control comes with its own set of pressures. “Just general stress,” Nat laughs. “Deadlines! Getting things finished. Trying to maintain all our other work. It’s really hard being a band!” But for Sam, the payoff is worth every ounce of effort: “When we came back, people were still there. Our fans were still wanting to listen. Playing to a full room of people, that never gets old.”
That fan connection is what fuels them now more than ever. The band recently sold out London’s Village Underground and Brighton’s Green Door Store — the latter a venue that holds a special place in their hearts. “It’s such a lovely homecoming,” Nat says fondly. “We played some of our first gigs there. It’s rowdy, imperfect, but that’s what makes it so fun.” Sam agrees: “It’s got this great energy… brick walls, cobbled floors, it feels like you’re still outside. Just really hot and sweaty with everyone packed in.”
From “Someone Else” to Self-Titled
Since their glittering debut, You Are Someone Else (2018), through to 2022’s Are We Gonna Be Alright?, Fickle Friends have always worn their hearts on their sleeves. Exploring identity, uncertainty, and growing pains through shimmering pop hooks and synth-laced anthems. Their new self-titled record, however, feels like a declaration of peace with themselves.
“The first two albums were very introspective, coming-of-age records,” Nat explains. “This one is our here and now. It’s about being comfortable in our own skin. Accepting who we are, being a bit silly, letting go of self-judgment. Life’s messy, and that’s okay. This album says: choose to enjoy it, good or bad.”
It’s that kind of grounded perspective that comes with time. And, as Nat half-jokes, “a lot of therapy.” After years of emotional highs and industry whiplash, the band have learned to ride the waves instead of being swept away by them. “It was pretty toxic at times,” she admits. “So many artists we came up with aren’t around anymore. It’s hard to make a living and stay authentic. But now, it feels manageable. Not as much of an emotional rollercoaster.”
The DIY Spirit (and Soundtrack)
When they’re not self-producing or designing artwork, Fickle Friends still know how to have fun. Especially on tour. Before every show, the band blast a carefully curated pre-set playlist to get themselves (and the crowd) hyped. “Jack makes it,” Nat explains. “It’s basically evolved from these old CD mixes we used to burn for road trips in our Ford Galaxy: Paramore, Maxïmo Park, Daft Punk, COIN… all the classics.”
Sam laughs, “We even had a moment with Stockholm Syndrome by One Direction. Still gets me hyped!”
That DIY mentality extends beyond the music. Even their support acts are handpicked for passion, not politics. This November, rising Aussie artist Aleksiah will join them on tour, someone Nat says they discovered “just listening through a playlist one day.” She adds, “We’re meticulous about who opens our shows. We want it to be the best evening out for fans. Aleksiah’s unreal! It’s gonna be very fun.”
Looking Back, Moving Forward
When I ask what advice they’d give their younger selves, both Nat and Sam pause. Perhaps picturing that starry-eyed 2018 version of the band, just before their debut dropped. Sam answers first: “Try not to worry about whether you’re going to get dropped or not.” Nat nods. “I’d say, don’t let the big boss men bully you into thinking spending money is fine. Trust your gut. Paying thousands for a song to sound more ‘international’ won’t change your career. It’s rubbish.”
That honesty, unfiltered and a bit cheeky, sums up Fickle Friends perfectly. They’ve lived the major label dream, watched it crumble, and come out the other side stronger, smarter, and, crucially, happier. “With this album, we own both sides,” Sam grins. “That was a nice surprise.”
Nat laughs: “Independent!”
I raise my voice with hers, “Big up the independents!”
And that’s exactly what Fickle Friends are doing: proving that independence doesn’t mean isolation, it means ownership. Their self-titled album is a celebration of everything they’ve learned. The highs, the mess, and the joy of doing it all your own way.
Fickle Friends is out November 7th via Palmeira Music. Pre-order from Banquet Records here.
Tour dates:
05/11 - Southend, Chinnery’s
07/11 - Brighton, The Green Door Store SOLD OUT
08/11 - London, Village Underground SOLD OUT
09/11 - Birmingham, Mama Roux’s
11/11 - Oxford, The Bullingdon SOLD OUT
12/11 - Manchester, Gorilla
13/11 - Glasgow, King Tuts