Rising indie-rock quintet BRIDGES release their endearing new single Return To The Drake’s Nest out now via Big Indie Records.

Frontman Ethan Proctor’s warm, emotive vocals are at the forefront from the offset, reminiscent of the likes of Frightened Rabbit’s Scott Hutchison or The National’s Matt Berninger. Jangling guitar hooks pulsate over tightly woven harmonies throughout, creating a sound that is both gritty yet visceral. As a result, yet again, BRIDGES have managed to combine poetic lyricism with anthemic soundscapes, making something undeniably refined in the process.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with BRIDGES about their latest release, challenges and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?

Bands like Frightened Rabbit, The Gaslight Anthem, The National – everything is very open and honest. We are a band of friends, and it just made the most sense over time. 

What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?

We have all been playing since an early age. I started little later (around 13), and since then it’s all I have wanted to do. One day it would be nice to only write and release music full time. 

Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?

Pretty much all our songs are from things that have happened to us or someone we know. Some tunes dive deeper into that than others, but that is the main creative push. 

Over time it’s changed quite a lot. When we started this band we were more similar to The Wombats than Snow Patrol. As we got older I think we just wanted something a little deeper.

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?

Our goal has always tried to be to write interesting but widely accessible music. The main message of us is that everything is going to be okay, and if you need someone to talk to, you should. It’s okay to not be okay.

What was the last song you listened to?

Daughters version of Poke for the new Frightened Rabbit re release. Really fantastic stuff

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?

I think Vinyl because I like having a bigger lyric sheet and thing I can collect. I don’t have a CD player and I really hate the crappy cases that always break. MP3 and all digital versions are fine, makes it easier for sure 

How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?

No real preference if I’m honest. I have Spotify on my laptop whilst I’m at home, but that’s only because it’s the one that’s there. They’re all great, it’s amazing how much music is available now 

Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?

All people are busy, I think the hardest thing is getting someone to really listen for more than a short amount of time. Like you say, access is massive now and everyone wants the best of everything

Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?

All socials, from Facebook to twitter to insta. Our website always has most recent dates to, with links to all –www.bridgesofficial.com

Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?

We are back on tour in Autumn with some more new music – all dates up on our pages now! 🙂