Forsylver, welcome to VENTS! We loved getting gripped by the hooks in your latest single, Promethazine Queen. 

Can you tell us about the emotional underpinnings of this release? 

 Promethazine Queen is a story of the narrative account of a close friend sharing their perspective while witnessing a loved one’s journey with substance dependence. The song describes the complex emotions of both the observer and the protagonist, anchoring in a mix of worry, care and a touch of helplessness. Ultimately the song reflects on the paradox of wanting to help someone who themselves may not grasp the extent of their issue.

What inspired the single? 

 The track originates from experience from Joe’s (lead singer and guitarist) real life experiences. Both him and Shunya (drummer) are doctors and work regular night shifts with disrupted sleeping patterns. Some of Joe’s colleagues shared with him that they were using promethazine, a strong antihistamine with drowsy side effects, for getting them to sleep in the daytime between shifts, but then would require this also when reversing their sleeping patterns. In tandem while working in A+E the reality of dependence on other recreational or medicinal substances was frequently presented, and one of the most challenging steps to recovery was the user accepting and having insight that they had an issue with the medication, and recognise they were dependent, and this needed to change. The similarities across both scenarios rang true, and the song was born to highlight the difficulty of challenging friends and colleagues on their vices. 

How do you believe the emotions conveyed in the song will resonate with your audience?

 Promethazine Queen paints two parallel viewpoints of a developing predicament, presenting the thought processes of each party in an intertwined story. For those with personal experience of, or exposure to others with substance dependence, the stark contrast in viewpoints may make them view their own or others scenarios in a completely different way, and hopefully, invoke change if shared. To those coming across this issue for the first time, we aim to give an honest and clear explanation of our experiences and understanding of this challenging situation. 

What were some of the main artistic influences that shaped the sound and style of this single?

 In term of sound, we are always focused on using interesting a varied chord shapes and progressions, as well as intertwined rhythms with more simple and repetitive lead lines to build consistency and an emotional connection to the song. We draw influences from bands like Foals, Paramore and Delta Sleep who are always progressing their music within a song but returning to a theme no matter how abstract the disruption. 

During the writing process, were there specific artists that you drew inspiration from to craft the song’s lyrics and melody?

Lyrically we aim to write about our own experiences and frame them into fictional stories or perspectives, but drive home a feeling or message within the lyrics. We draw influences from bands like Enter Shikari, The Wombats and Twenty One Pilots, who always drive home their messages with intellectual and engaging lyrics. 

How did you approach the production elements of the single to enhance its emotional impact?

We vowed to keep this track honest, clean, and direct. We used our guitars with their true tones, adding only reverb and vocal harmonics to accentuate key emotions of the song and build the tension between the two characters. Overdriven rising bass in the choruses mimics the growing sensation of need for their engagement with promethazine, regardless of the consequences. When the drug hits, the track explodes in to highly energised distorted and euphoric scene, depicting the satisfaction of consumption, followed by the deep but broken and synthetic sleeping, and dreaming that follow. The song ends with no conclusion, as sadly do many of these stories.

Reflecting on the single’s launch at 93 Feet East, what aspects do you think contributed most to its success?

We are so proud of this track, we think the atmospheric beginning draws listeners in before an excitable first verse focuses attention on the story and then, the unexpected tempo change drives the song in to its stride, before stripping back for a delicate and intricate second verse. The explosive breakdown is what we believe sets this song apart, finishing the delivery of a full scale emotional rollercoaster, and demonstration of the varied sounds and playing styles of our band, before consolidating in to a final chorus to finalise the melody and message.

How has the indie scene in London influenced your music and career path?

We like our work, but we love going to a gig with friends and watching a quality band, share their ideas, talent, and enjoyment with us. Our aim is to write interesting music, with purpose, and give performances that make people look over to their mates and say, ‘they’re actually pretty good’.

What trends or changes in the music industry are you most excited or concerned about?

A 5 second reel of Alex (Bassist) playing an e minor scale on piano really fast gets more views than a reel of a song we worked on for months, but that’s kind of great because it exposes us to loads of new people who are yet to discover our music, and we just want more people to come along and join the fun. 

Bio:

Arriving on the London scene in late 2023, Forsylver have emerged as one of London’s most exciting and fastest-growing new indie acts. With their high-energy live sets, the band’s unique blend of indie-rock with flares of pop & funk has amassed a growing fanbase as they look to expand.

Debuting at a sold-out Ram Jam Records, Kingston, in November 2023, the group have grown from strength to strength; following sold out nights at the Hope & Anchor, Islington and Mascara Bar, Stoke Newington, the band are preparing for their headline set at 93 Feet East in front of a 350-capacity crowd in early May 2024.


Forsylver blend catchy rhythms with conversational melodies – and their light-hearted attitude & creative songwriting edge has drawn attention from promoters and agents alike. Constantly writing new material, as they look to improve and refine their style, the group expand on their 50 minute gig set as they approach the next tier of venues (London 02 Academies, Camden Assembly).

Release-wise, Forsylver began with their bedroom-recorded EP, released January 2023 – “Cash Only” – recorded in it’s entirety over a hazy December weekend away at their friend’s house in Bexhill. The band have since moved to London-based producer Oli James, mixed and mastered by industry regulars Katie Earl and Cicely Balston. March 2024 saw the release of their debut professional track “Lights Out” – followed in May by fan favourite “Promethazine Queen” – a striking tale exploring the difficulty of dependence, with poignant melodies pre-empting a loud, dance-inducing breakdown. More releases are on the horizon shortly, whilst the band also explore new soundscapes in Sofar Sound-style settings.

Fronted by Joe Ewer, with Will Farrow on Guitar, Alex McKenzie on Bass and Shunya Matsumoto on Drums – the group assembled in the pandemic, each brought together by either school, work or university circles. Combining their hectic day jobs (two finance workers, two NHS doctors) with an ambitious and fun journey with Forsylver, the band are committed to striving as far as they can go.

Watch this space…

Follow Forsylver’s journey on Instagram