Interview: Brother Vice – “SOMEBODY TO LOVE”

Q: Hi! “Somebody to Love” marks your first of release of 2025—what inspired the song, and what message do you hope listeners take away from it?

A: Nostalgia. It’s a simple take on looking back at how things were years ago and thinking of the people you knew back then and how you lived alongside them. I’m sure most listeners have someone they think of from time to time and contemplate what they are doing with their lives and if things ever got better l.

Q: You’ve described the track as reflecting on toxic relationships—how did you approach capturing that emotional complexity in both the lyrics and sound?

A: Definitely with the lyrics we name dropped a few bad habits and substances that can go hand in hand in these type of relationships. It was very easy to think back to then and capture the scene and everything that was going on at the time.

Q: The song was recorded with Neal Calderwood at Manor Park Studios. How did his influence shape the final version of the track?

A: Neal Calderwood has been recording music probably close to 30 years and he definitely can pick up what sound we are after, from just listening to the initial demo. He also acts as a great safety net when it comes to adding elements, letting us know what will work and what won’t and guiding us in the process, he is a no nonsense kind of guy and wants the best for every track. We have a lot to thank him for over the last 4 years.

Q: Brother Vice has been praised for blending infectious melodies with introspective lyricism. How do you balance these elements in your songwriting process?

A: For me personally, I like to build every song based around a strong chorus melody and work from there. Once you have a good melody, you need to then add a strong relatable message. Musically, we like to keep things simple and not overdo it, we are infamous for using 3 or 4 chord structures and most times that works better than a 7 minute Stairway to Heaven esque track.

Q: Your previous single “MONEY” gained strong radio support. How has that momentum influenced your approach to “Somebody to Love” and what’s next?

A: We have definitely started to use MONEY as a guide track for future music without restricting ourselves to much. We are into our 4th year as a band so we are still learning what works and what doesent. But it has definitely give us a clear direction of where to take things.

Q: Can you take us inside the creative process for this track—were there any unexpected moments in the studio that changed the direction of the song?

A: It just started as a simple song on acoustic guitar but like everything else we have done, it truly comes to life the practice room once Neil and Aidan put their flair on it. There may have been a lyric of two changed on the day of recording but I think we keep things simple enough so we can avoid anything blowing up in the studio on the day.

Q: Your influences range from Sam Fender to Foo Fighters. How do you see “Somebody to Love” fitting into your evolving sound as a band?

A: I feel it’s brought us down a road were we can be a bit more edgy and creative with what we write about. Love songs are great but too many of them can bore you out. With Somebody to Love, we have taken a love song in a different direction where it has a bit more darkness and edge to it.

Q: With this being the first of many releases planned for 2025, can you give us any hints about what’s coming next—maybe an EP or album in the works?

A: Album? No, most likely not for another while. I think that would finish us for good in this day and age in the music industry. But singles, yes we will have plenty of singles this year to test out where we can take our sound and see what type of audiences it will connect with.

Q: Brother Vice has built a strong reputation as a live act—how does this new single translate to your live performances, and do you have any tour plans lined up?

A: We have taken a break from the gigging side of things to focus on the music and create a live show that people will want to talk about with others. We spent a lot of time in 2023 gigging in Belfast and really cut our teeth in that scene, so when we come back we will be a lot more experienced and have a whole new show to put on.

Q: As an indie band with a DIY spirit, what are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned in the industry so far, and what advice would you give to emerging artists?

A: Everyone is trying to scam you. Everyone. Don’t ever pay anyone for placements on playlists and if someone from “Times Magazine” contacts you and asks to write an article about your band, guess what, that’s a scam too. On a positive note, I would mention that you make a lot of friends in the local scene and it’s always good to help them out as much as possible and try to raise eachother up, helping never goes unnoticed. And keep practicing, even when you don’t want to, you will never regret practicing.