The Velvet Hands

THE VELVET HANDS return with their new single ‘Holiday In My Head’ being released via JamX Recordings with digital distribution via AWAL on 8th June. ‘Holiday In My Head’ is the lead single from their as yet untitled sophomore album, due for release later this year. 

THE VELVET HANDS (Toby Mitchell, Dan Able, Louis Mitchell and Sam Hilder) blend slacker story-telling and post Britpop belting guitar riffs.  Described by The NME as “full of bolshy spirit”, the band’s self-recorded debut album - Party’s Over went on to be Huw Stephens’ BBCR1 Album of the Week.  Of the new single lyricist/guitarist Dan says, “Holiday In My Head’ is based on our own experience of the doldrums of being skint, working your arse off to be able to afford a postage stamp sized flat, only to have to shave in the kitchen sink because the landlord won’t fix the one in the bathroom. Take that and then put it in lockdown, it felt like the walls were closing in - very claustrophobic. You can’t escape to anywhere apart from your own daydreams. The song is an anthem of escapism in the modern era”.  He also adds, for good measure, that the chorus came to him in the toilet at The Eagle in Camden!  ‘Holiday In My Head’ was recorded by John Logan at Cube Studios Perranporth Cornwall, mixed by John Logan and Julian Able and mastered by John Cornfield. 

THE VELVET HANDS emerged from Cornwall’s blistering garage-rock scene, and are now a focal point of London’s underground guitar scene. In 2019 they supported both Paul Weller and Liam Gallagher.  The band kicked off 2020 by releasing ‘Fallout’ through their own label, which received multiple plays on Steve Lamacq’s 6 Music show,  a live on air interview with Steve and a support slot with Frank Turner as part of Independent Venue Week 2020. The arrival of Covid saw the band hard at work writing new material. They released a single 'When This Is Over’ to raise money for The Music Venue Trust and released a 4 track EP in 2021.   Of the band name guitarist Toby says, “It’s Inspired by The Beatles and their song ‘Happiness is a Warm Gun’. “She's well-acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand, like a lizard on a window pane”.