A Tayside group has refused to let the global pandemic get in the way of making their mark on the music scene.
Dundee music company Open Eyes Productions hailed indie-outfit The Harmonix as “insanely talented”.
The group has recently launched its first EP Mad For It, which was creating entirely during lockdown.
The group is made up of musicians from Dundee and Forfar.
The four-track EP — which is available on Spotify, iTines and other online platforms — follows their previous singles Rollercoaster and Trauma.
On its day of release, the EP amassed more than 1,000 streams.
Fronted by vocalist Peter Hughes, The Harmonix comprises Dundee guitarists Jamie Cruickshank and Jack Guyan, Forfar bassist Kian Sturrock and drummer Jock Fullerton, also from Forfar.
The band ages vary from 15 to 17.
The group had already built up a following since forming in August last year, playing at venues in Dundee, Angus, Perth and Edinburgh prior to lockdown.
They are lined up to play Party at the Park, in Perth, which is scheduled to take place next June.
Both ‘Trauma’ and the ‘Mad for It’ EP were produced by Open Eyes Productions in Dundee.
Owner Mark Tindal said: “Working with The Harmonix is always a pleasure. I originally recorded their single Trauma and instantly had high hopes for them.
“For such a young group of guys, the musicianship and talent is outrageous. Both guitarists, Jamie and Jack, are some of the tightest and most varied players I’ve tracked in four years of recording.
“Jock, the drummer, is so inventive with his drumming, a key element in the energy of their songs.
“As for Kian, the bass player, I began my career playing bass and I never wanted to just ‘follow the guitars’. Kian is the exact same, his bass lines are melodic, while still holding down the groove, perfect.
“Peter is just an amazing singer, has a strong work ethic and my personal favourite trait, a true lyricist. That boy can write a beautiful melody while also painting a picture for the listener which from time to time brought me close to shedding a tear.
“As a band they are a strong unit, insanely talented and very capable of making a name for themselves in the UK music scene.”
Jamie Cruickshank admitted the band were downtrodden when coronavirus caused the live music scene to shut down, but their determination led to them making the most of the situation.
He said: “When lockdown kicked in, it’s fair to say we were all pretty miserable and so disappointed that we wouldn’t be able to perform together for months.
“We’re a pretty determined group of guys though, so we just got on with the creative side – experimenting with new sounds, writing, sharing ideas and, when it became safe to meet up again, we spent five days tracking and recording the EP with Mark.
“We’re absolutely delighted with the result and can’t wait to hear what our fans think.
“We realise it’s not quite the same as hearing us live but hopefully the EP will keep our fans engaged in the meantime and introduce us to some new fans before we manage to perform live in the not-too-distant future.”
