It’s a Britpop Summer and Happy Neighbours Are Leading It
- Daria Slikker
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
Born in the stillness of lockdown and sharpened in the buzz of London’s small venues, Happy Neighbours have carved out a sound that’s equal parts nostalgia and next wave. Made up of lead singer Harry, bassist Jack, drummer Henry, and guitarist Harry, the four-piece are taking cues from Blur, The La’s and Oasis, then kicking it forward with the urgency of a band that knows where it's going. Their EP Southbank to Battersea captures that momentum: melodic, confident, and unmistakably current. Fresh off a breakout set at the 100 Club and gearing up for a headline gig in Haggerston, the band sat down to talk about how it all started, where they’re headed next, and why this Britpop summer feels like just the beginning.
How did Happy Neighbours start, and what made it click?
We were bored during lockdown. The rule was, if you worked in a creative field, you could keep working so recording studios stayed open. We started messing around on guitars, just experimenting for about a year. Things only started to take shape when our guitarist, Harry, joined. As for the name, we were at a festival, still unnamed, camping next to others. Every time someone got back to the tent, they’d say ‘Happy Neighbours.’ Something about it stuck.
Was there a moment when it felt like more than just mates playing music?
By the time we properly got going, lockdown had eased. Our guitarist Harry was still a greengrocer then, not even in the band. We didn’t really lose time to COVID, we just formed during it and picked up speed after.
With your debut EP Southbank to Battersea out now, how do you feel it reflects where you are?
It’s the first release that actually sounds like us right now. With past singles, we’d already moved on sonically by the time they came out. This EP is different – it’s current. We’re proud of it. The earlier tracks were solid but not as refined. Now we’ve found our sound. You start to recognise, ‘That’s a Happy Neighbours song.’ It’s a mix of indie and Britpop, but it feels like ours.
Your sound nods to bands like Oasis and The Stone Roses. What are you taking from that era and what’s your own twist?
A lot of it’s in the guitars. When we mix, we always tell the producer: bring the guitars up, and the vocals down. We’re not after a polished, lab-made sound. We want it to feel real…like four people in a room playing music. There’s definitely influence, but we’re not copying. People call us optimistic and summery in our sound, which also reflects who we are as people.
You’re currently signing with a label. Does that change anything creatively?
It gives us more space to write. They got us the 100 Club gig, which was huge in how it kind of launched the EP. The idea is to tour that material while we start thinking about the album. It’s an indie label, and they’ve been great so far.
What can fans expect from the upcoming Haggerston gig?
A good night. Simple as that. The 100 Club gave us a proper confidence boost. Hearing a crowd sing back something you wrote in your bedroom is mad. We’re getting more comfortable on stage, and the shows are getting better because of it. You don’t start a band thinking about touring the world. You think, ‘Wouldn’t it be class if we wrote a song?’ Then you do, then you play a pub to three people, and it feels like Glastonbury. It’s all about those small steps that lead to the next big thing. Suddenly you’re looking down and you can no longer see your feet.
What’s next over the coming year?
More gigs, more writing. We’d love to hit the summer festivals, and we’re eyeing up shows in Manchester, and Liverpool. We’ve also had offers from Holland, Paris and Hamburg and would explore Australia as it’s our second biggest listenership. We’re also keen to record somewhere different. The countryside – Scotland or Ireland – would be amazing. We feel like this kind of music is coming back strong. You’re hearing guitar solos in pop again. We’re in the middle of a third wave of indie, and it’s only going to grow. We’d love to tour with bands like Pastel, Sterling Press, or Sea Lemon across the UK or Europe.
See Happy Neighbours live at Signature Brew in Haggerston on the 28th of August. Purchase tickets here.
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