There’s something refreshingly straightforward about The Now. They know what they sound like, they know what they want to achieve, and, most importantly, they seem to be having a bloody good time doing it.

The South Wales four-piece; vocalist Shane, guitarist Callum, bassist Leon and drummer Will, have been making music together for around eight years, carving out their own corner of the rock world with a sound they describe as electronic disco rock: guitar-driven music with a healthy dose of synths, melody and groove. Now, they’re preparing to release their new album, Moments in Motion, on 27th October, preceded by their most recent single Did You Miss Me?, a track that offers a strong introduction to the world they have created on the record.

“We believe that all the tracks on the album are really consistent and they’re all strong,” Shane explains. “There’s no fillers.” And Did You Miss Me? certainly makes a convincing case.

Interestingly, the sound of Moments in Motion wasn’t the result of some carefully calculated decision to reinvent the band. Instead, it grew organically from two tracks on their previous album: Get Out and Truth Always Comes Out in the End. Both songs contained a stronger disco influence than The Now had originally anticipated, something the band noticed audiences responding to. “We kind of stumbled across it,” Shane said “We didn’t actually go and try and write them songs. It was just a case that they came out of nowhere.” That unexpected discovery became the foundation for the new record. Sometimes, apparently, you just catch a vibe.

That vibe has developed into something that feels considerably more ambitious. Listening to Did You Miss Me?, there’s a slickness and groove running underneath the rock framework, with a sound that manages to feel both familiar and distinctly modern. There’s even something of a modern Fleetwood Mac feel lurking beneath the surface: imagine the melodic sophistication and polished musicianship given a little more disco swagger. The important thing is that The Now aren’t simply attempting to replicate what worked before. They’ve taken that discovery and run with it.

“We know now that we’ve found our sound; but there are so many songs on the album which also sound different too.”

That versatility could prove to be one of the record’s biggest strengths. The band’s name itself, The Now, reflects their willingness to remain present and responsive to whatever is happening around them. “We can kind of go down any route really, especially with the band name being The Now. We can always be present to what’s happening in the industry.”

One thing becomes immediately apparent when talking to The Now: they are confident in this album. There was no lengthy period of entering the studio without knowing where they were heading. The band had a clear vision before they started recording. They could hear it before they entered the studio. That confidence carries through when asked to describe ‘Moments in Motion’ in a single sentence.

There’s a pause.

Then, with absolutely no hesitation: “It’s just full of bangers.”

It’s difficult to argue with the simplicity of that. There’s also no grand conceptual storyline tying the album together. Did You Miss Me? isn’t one chapter in an elaborate narrative; it’s simply one of a collection of songs that The Now believe deserve to be heard. That lack of over-complication is part of the appeal.

If the recorded album is ambitious, it sounds like the live show is where The Now really come into their own. Several of the new tracks have already been road-tested in London, Manchester and Cardiff, but the band are eager to get the rest of Moments in Motion in front of an audience.The Now consider themselves a better live band than a recording band, and they’re not shy about saying so and for a rock band, that’s exactly what you want to hear.

The recorded versions might provide the soundtrack, but the stage is where these songs are intended to breathe, expand and hit with considerably more force.

That approach was put to the test when the band found themselves supporting legendary British ska-pop-rock institution Madness. For a young band with a distinctly different sound, it could have been an intimidating prospect. Instead, The Now saw it as an opportunity to win over a crowd that might not have necessarily arrived expecting them, and rather than trying to disguise that, they embraced it. Initially, the audience may have been wondering exactly who these young Welsh musicians were, but by the end, they had bought into it. And there’s clearly no shortage of confidence when it comes to taking a stage.

“I tend to own the stage anyway. I always make myself a headline.” Shane says. That attitude perhaps explains why The Now seem so comfortable talking about their ambitions. They aren’t waiting for someone else to tell them they belong on bigger stages. They already believe they do.

So where do The Now see themselves twelve months from now? The answer is refreshingly ambitious. They want Moments in Motion to take them to the next level: bigger audiences, bigger venues and, potentially, chart recognition in both the UK and US. The immediate goal is to start filling 500-capacity venues, while a place in the UK or US rock charts would be another major milestone. It’s an ambition that makes sense. The band already have an international following, with a significant number of listeners based across the Atlantic. When asked which band they would love to support, there’s no small answer here either.

Muse. “It’s a spectacle,” Shane said. Given The Now’s own enthusiasm for making the stage their territory, it feels like a fitting choice.

Before all of that, though, there’s one particularly important show on the horizon: the album launch. The Now will be celebrating Moments in Motion in their frontman’s hometown, deep in the valleys of South Wales. There’s something fitting about that. After eight years together, an evolving sound and ambitions that stretch far beyond their hometown, the band are bringing the new record back to the place where it all began. If the goal is to take The Now to the next level, they’re certainly starting from a strong position. Did You Miss Me? is the first glimpse of what’s coming; melodic, energetic, polished and driven by the disco-rock sound the band have discovered along the way. According to The Now, it’s only the beginning.

Moments in Motion isn’t about one standout single. It’s about an entire album of them. “It’s just full of bangers.” So, we’ll see you on the dance floor.

The Now’s Moments in Motion is released on 27th October.
Fans can pre-order physical copies via the band’s social channels/Linktree, with physical sales helping the band towards their UK chart ambitions.

Band Members

Shane Callaghan – Vocals / Rhythm Guitar
Callum Bromage – Guitar / Vocals
Leon O’Leary – Bass
Will Scott – Drums

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