Pale Waves are an English rock band from Manchester, formed in 2014. It was founded originally as Creek when lead singer and guitarist Heather Baron-Gracie met drummer Ciara Doran while attending university in Manchester. The other members are guitarist Hugo Silvani and bassist Charlie Wood, completing the lineup.[1] Pale Waves's early work is often described as 80s-inspired indie rock or synth-pop; their second and third albums, however, owe more to the pop-punk genre.
After signing a record deal with Dirty Hit in 2017, Pale Waves released their debut single, "There's a Honey", followed by "Television Romance". In 2018, the band were ranked fifth in the BBC Sound of 2018 poll and won the NME Under the Radar Award at the NME Awards. Pale Waves' debut EP, All the Things I Never Said, was released in February 2018, followed by their debut studio album, My Mind Makes Noises, on 14 September 2018. The band's second album, Who Am I?, was released on 12 February 2021, and peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart; the record also hit number one on the UK Independent Albums Chart. The band's third album, Unwanted, was released on 12 August 2022.
Pale Waves formed in 2014 when drummer Ciara Doran met Heather Baron-Gracie while attending BIMM Manchester.[2][3] The two originally named their group "Creek",[4] but they soon changed it to "Pale Waves", basing the name on a painting Baron-Gracie's grandmother had created.[5] Doran and Baron-Gracie initially enlisted second guitarist Ben Bateman and bassist Ryan Marsden to complete the lineup, but they departed from the band shortly thereafter, with current bassist Charlie Wood and second guitarist Hugo Silvani replacing them.[6] The band recorded early demos with production team Sugar House that were released in 2015. These tracks caught the attention of XFM radio broadcaster John Kennedy, who referred them to the independent record label Dirty Hit.[7] Pale Waves was subsequently signed to the label in 2017.[6]
The band's first single under Dirty Hit, "There's a Honey", was released on 21 April 2017 to widespread acclaim.[8] On 1 June 2017, the band played a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden supporting The 1975 on their North American tour.[9] The band's second single, "Television Romance", was released on 16 August 2017,[10] with its music video directed by The 1975 lead singer Matty Healy.[11] Healy later appeared on the cover of NME with Baron-Gracie for the 20 October 2017 issue of the magazine.[12] Pale Waves embarked on their first North American headlining tour in November and December 2017, playing 21 shows over four weeks.[13]
The band headlined DIY magazine's Class of 2018 shortlist for its December/January issue.[14] On 7 November 2017, the band released the single "New Year's Eve",[13][15] followed by "My Obsession" on 13 December 2017.
Baron-Gracie announced on 4 January 2018 via Twitter that the band had started recording their debut album.[17] On 8 January, it was announced that the band had been placed fifth in the BBC Sound of 2018 poll.[18] Speaking to the BBC, Baron-Gracie talked about how the band's debut album is shaping up and its darker tone: "The songs we have out now are very influenced by romance. The album is me talking about a lot of my darker issues. I talk about a lot of things that go on in my mind rather than in my heart".[18] "The Tide", the first song written by the band, was released on 1 February 2018 as the third single from the band's then-upcoming debut extended play (EP), All the Things I Never Said.[19][20]
Pale Waves won the NME Under the Radar Award at the NME Awards 2018, and performed "There's a Honey" at the ceremony at London's O2 Academy Brixton on 14 February 2018.[21] The band also received a nomination for Best Video for "Television Romance",[22] but lost out to The Big Moon.[23]
Pale Waves' debut EP, All the Things I Never Said, was released digitally on 20 February 2018,[24][25] followed by a 12-inch vinyl release on 16 March 2018.[26] On 6 April 2018, it was announced that the band had signed to Interscope Records in a joint venture with Dirty Hit to release music in the United States.[27] The third single from the band's debut album, "Kiss", following "There's a Honey" and "Television Romance", was released on 15 May 2018. "Noises" was released as the fourth single on 28 June 2018.
In an interview with NME magazine in early September 2018 the band revealed they are working on a new EP following the debut album. Baron-Gracie discussed how the new EP will lean towards "pop punk and rock'n'roll" and will touch on themes such as politics, acceptance and sexuality.[28] The band's debut album, My Mind Makes Noises, was released on 14 September 2018 and reached number eight on the UK Albums Chart.
