An era of self-discovery: interview with Eades
Comprising Harry Jordan (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Tom O’Reilly (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Sam Wilde (Bass), Dan Clifford-Smith (Drums), and Tom Barr (Synths, Percussion, Vocals), Eades recently wrapped up their UK tour in Leeds. HYLTT? caught up with drummer Dan Clifford-Smith to talk about their latest EP, influences, and what’s next.
Having already toured with Wunderhorse, the band is gearing up for their second European tour in support of their EP Fight or Flight.
"Wunderhorse inspired us to try a lot of new things. Their live set is incredibly tight—they’re just an amazing band. We played seven shows with them, so watching them every night really showed us how well-rehearsed and disciplined they are. They don’t drink before going on stage, which is something we’ve tried to adopt ourselves. Harry, one of our main songwriters, also took a lot of inspiration from their first album, and you can hear some of that influence in our latest EP."
With Fight or Flight, it feels like Eades has truly defined their sound. Self-described as Dad’s music, their style blends ‘70s rock with garage influences, drawing inspiration from artists like MJ Lenderman.
"We all have different musical backgrounds, but we connect through classic rock from the ‘70s and try to bring those elements into our music. Wunderhorse does something similar with the ‘90s grunge scene—bands like Nirvana. In some ways, they’re almost a modern-day Nirvana. We sit somewhere between those influences because we love ‘90s music just as much. Our next album, which drops this year, leans even more into that ‘70s-inspired sound.'“
When they’re not playing shows, the Leeds-based band is busy writing and producing their own music. Most of the lyrics on Fight or Flight were written by Harry and Tom, but the entire band takes pride in their collaborative approach to production. With unlimited access to a studio, they have the freedom to experiment and refine their sound without constraints.
"No two songs come together the same way. Sometimes, Harry or Tom will bring in a fully written track or just a rough idea, and we’ll flesh it out as a band. Having our own studio space is a huge advantage—we’re not restricted by session time like many bands. We can experiment with different structures, record multiple versions, and develop songs until they feel just right."
With this latest EP, the band feels they’ve truly found their identity. Time and experience have brought a new level of maturity to their music, both in sound and lyrical depth.
"The EP is more refined and polished, showing how we’ve grown as a band. We’ve been playing together for years now, and I think that experience comes through in the record. We’ve really honed in on our sound."
Lyrically, Fight or Flight explores themes of self-discovery, anxiety, and self-destruction—embracing flaws and finding peace with them. The band is honest about the pressures of the modern music industry, particularly the chase for viral success in the TikTok era. However, they’ve realized that constant social media engagement isn’t for them. Instead, they prefer to focus on making music, enjoying the creative process, and performing live.
"It works for some artists, but for us, it’s all about creating great music and taking it on the road. That’s what really matters."
With new music dropping this spring and a full album set for release in autumn, Eades is stepping into an exciting new chapter of their career. Stay tuned.
Listen to Eades here!