The Stray Pursuit Are Back On Track With New Music
Welsh rockers The Stray Pursuit have embraced their evolving sound on a series of new singles.
The Stray Pursuit have been building a solid buzz for themselves in the local Swansea scene with powerful alt-rock originals and a domineering stage presence.
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the band, with the death of their founding drummer leaving a personal and creative void. Rather than give up though, The Stray Pursuit pushed through the pain, signing a new drummer and continuing to create great rock.
With new music now available and more on the way, we take some time with lead singer Aaron Morgan to get to know The Stray Pursuit a little better.
Please introduce yourself and The Stray Pursuit for the good people of Australia.
We’re a high-energy four-piece alt-rock band from Swansea, Wales. We love giving it our all on stage, and our tracks feature powerful, guitar-driven riffs and bold vocals. Our music is inspired by a variety of rock bands, including Royal Blood, Foo Fighters, and The Hunna. If you’re a fan of rock or alt-rock, we think you’ll enjoy our sound.
Is there a guiding philosophy or creative intent the band follows?
We wouldn’t describe ourselves as having a specific philosophy. We’re not a political band – our focus is on creating music that excites us. We aim to write songs that we can imagine playing on a big stage, with the crowd going wild. The music always comes first, and everything else follows from there.
Some highlights from your time in the band?
We’ve had the chance to support some great acts, like Andrew Cushin, The K’s, and Vida. We’ve also played alongside bands like The Lottery Winners, Pastel, and Trampolene, just to name a few. One of our favourite gigs was with The K’s, as they were a band we really admired when we were starting out.
Being featured on This Feeling’s ‘Big in 2025’ was a big highlight for us, and the Cardiff show was incredible. Another moment we’re proud of was being longlisted as ones to watch as part of the ‘Class of 2025’ by Drowned in Sound, in partnership with the Music Venue Alliance.
Our first headline tour for our debut EP Domino Effect was another major highlight. Some of the shows sold out, which made us feel like we’re heading in the right direction.
Tell us about your great sounding latest single ‘I Don’t Know’ and how the song came about.
‘I Don’t Know’ is a track we’ve had for a few years. It captures the uncertainty we all feel about life and the tension between doubt and hope. We think it resonates with anyone navigating life’s complexities and searching for connection and understanding. We decided to re-record it with Grammy- and Mercury-nominated producer Romesh Dodangoda, and we knew it was the right choice to make it our next single.
How have listeners responded to the new track?
The response to the track has been great so far. We got our first BBC Radio play with it, thanks to Adam Walton playing it on his BBC Introducing show, so we’re thrilled about that.
Of course, the real test is how it goes down live. It’s one we’ve tweaked a little over time, and it always goes down well. It’s a song that’s easy for people to sing along to, even if it’s their first time hearing it.
What do ‘Run’ and ‘I Don’t Know’ tell us about the new music coming from The Stray Pursuit?
Our recent singles show that we’re moving more towards rock and alt-rock, drifting away from our earlier, more indie sound. The tracks we have lined up for release will continue to explore this direction, so you’ll hear that evolution as we go along.
What is the band’s approach to writing and recording new music?
Dylan, our guitarist, is the main songwriter. He’ll bring an idea or sometimes a complete song to the practice room, where we jam and develop our individual parts. From there, we refine the song and get it ready for the studio. When we feel a song is ready, we head to Romesh’s studio in Cardiff to record, and that’s where everything comes together.
How did the passing of Nicholas Bevan affect the band? And what role did he play in forming the band’s sound?
Nicky’s passing has had a huge impact on us all individually. We all became brothers while on the journey of writing and performing our own music. Being in a band creates something really special and a unique type of relationship, so losing Nicky so young was a shock and is still something we struggle to come to terms with. When we started, we we’re only 16/17, so we were maturing and navigating the musical landscape together and having the best time in doing so.
He was an incredibly talented drummer. He could play anything you’d ask of him and somehow make it even better. He had a unique sound behind the kit. In our early tracks, his drumming is so distinctive, and was so integral in how those tracks were developed and to the end product. He hugely influenced how we developed our sound and deserves as much credit as any of us for our music. We miss him dearly.
How has new drummer Ben Lewis worked to fill the role?
Ben is an excellent drummer and was the perfect fit. It’s so tough to find a new member, they’ve got to be technically able, also to fit in with the rest of us, and have the same goals and aspirations as us. Luckily, Ben ticks all the boxes comfortably.
It’s very difficult to join a new band, let alone given our situation with losing Nicky. He’s risen to the challenge, and come on leaps and bounds since we first played together, so we’re really happy with how he’s settled in.
What has been your experience been like in the local Swansea scene?
The Swansea music scene has been incredible and continues to grow. The people advocating new live music in Swansea are the best you could ask for. We’re fortunate to have such passionate people supporting live music here. Venues like The Bunkhouse and Sin City have been pivotal in our journey.
They gave us our first support slots and opportunities to open for bigger touring artists, helping us build a fanbase that’s allowed us to sell out our own headline shows. Without these venues and the people behind them, there wouldn’t be a thriving scene in Swansea.
Will you be bringing The Stray Pursuit to Australia for live shows any time soon?
We’d absolutely love to, but at the moment, financially and logistically, Australia is a bit out of reach for us. Right now, we’re focusing on building our fanbase in the UK, but as soon as we get the chance, we’ll be there!
What are your plans for 2025?
We’ve got more new music coming very soon, and a music video next week. We’ve got headline shows to announce in new UK cities in the coming months, and we’re hoping to get our first festival slots this summer. Essentially, the plan for 2025 is gigs gigs gigs.
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