TRENDИG BANDWIDTH | Marseille: Derbyshire’s Neo-Psychedelic Dreamers Are Building Something Bigger

Derbyshire may not be the first place that springs to mind when discussing the next wave of British guitar music, but for Marseille, that is exactly what makes it such fertile ground.

Describing themselves as a neo-psychedelic band from Derbyshire, Marseille have spent the past few years quietly crafting a sound that refuses to sit comfortably within one genre. Drawing influence from hip-hop, psychedelia, pop, Northern Soul and classic guitar music, the five-piece have developed a style that feels both nostalgic and forward-thinking, combining hypnotic grooves with melodic songwriting and an unmistakable sense of ambition.

The band consists of Will Brown on vocals, Joe Labram on lead guitar, Lennon Hall on rhythm guitar, Ben Flanaghan on bass and Tom Spray on drums.

Speaking to TRENDNG BANDWIDTH, frontman Will Brown explained that being from Derbyshire has given the band a unique freedom that many artists from larger music cities may not have.

“We all live scattered across Derbyshire, and honestly we think it’s really cool we come from pretty much a blank canvas in terms of guitar music,” says Brown. “Obviously there’s The Struts but we aren’t anything like them musically. It’s great that nobody will look at us and think we’ve got to live up to anyone else who’s came before, we can just be ourselves and enjoy it.”

That sense of independence runs through everything Marseille do. Rather than trying to fit into a predefined scene or sound, they have allowed their influences and personalities to shape the project naturally.

The band’s story began in a way that many great friendships do, completely by chance. Brown and guitarist Joe Labram first met while at school after being placed together during an English class group project. A conversation about music quickly turned into a friendship, and eventually a shared desire to start a band.

After deciding to take things seriously, they recruited drummer Tom Spray before discovering Lennon Hall through the local open mic circuit. Bassist Ben Flanaghan later joined through Hall, completing the line-up that remains together today.

What followed was the gradual development of a sound that can be difficult to define but instantly recognisable once heard.

“I think describing our sound is always difficult because I always have a new idea of what type of band we are,” Brown admits. “I suppose it’s very rooted in the groove, but also accompanied by melodic guitars and vocals. Hip-hop informed rhythms, filthy hypnotic basslines and the rest I guess is influenced by pop and psychedelia.”

That broad musical palette is reflected across the band’s individual tastes. While Brown has recently found himself immersed in hip-hop, Motown and Northern Soul, Hall brings a love of 1960s music, Flanaghan is heavily influenced by Pink Floyd, Labram draws from a wide spectrum of guitar music and Spray’s tastes range from Radiohead to Daft Punk.

The result is a melting pot of influences that somehow manages to sound cohesive rather than chaotic.

Much of Marseille’s songwriting begins with Brown. Often arriving with a nearly complete song already mapped out, he allows the rest of the band to interpret and expand upon his ideas.

“I generally come up with a finished song, structure, lyrics, melody and chords,” he explains. “But generally I just come in with a song and let the band bring it to life with their own flair and flavour.”

While their rehearsal environment may be practical rather than inspiring, the band take their recording process seriously. Marseille regularly head to London to work with producer Michael Smith, whose input has become a key part of refining their material.

“We record in London normally with our producer Michael Smith. He’s incredible. I tend to trust his judgement on songs, he just gets it. He’ll hear something that I don’t that can just elevate songs to another level.”

For a band chasing progression, that collaborative relationship has become invaluable.

Like many independent bands, Marseille’s journey has been filled with highs and lows. One of the defining moments came with the release of their track History, which briefly felt like the breakthrough they had been waiting for.

“I remember that being a moment where I thought we were going to be megastars,” Brown laughs. “I felt untouchable as I believed we were on the march to fame and fortune with all the praise and attention it got.”

However, the reality of building a music career soon caught up with them.

“Unfortunately, we took too long to follow it up and we were back to square one again. But it sure was nice whilst it lasted.”

Yet despite the setbacks, the belief remains.

“We’ll get there in the end, we want it far too much. I eat, sleep and breathe Marseille.”

That passion perhaps explains why Brown is refreshingly honest about the emotional side of being in a band. Behind every gig, release and social media post lies a significant personal investment.

“Sometimes when things don’t go well, it has a huge knock-on effect on my mental wellbeing,” he says. “I mean the rest of the lads will tell you I’m hardly an optimist, but I do love music and just want as many people to hear ours as possible.”

Fortunately, the strength of the friendships within Marseille appears to provide a solid foundation.

“There’s never any friction between us. We do all get on really well. Even if there were to be a fallout I don’t think it would last long, we’d just be laughing at one another two minutes later.”

Away from the studio, Marseille continue to build momentum through live performances. Recent shows have taken them to Newcastle and London, while upcoming appearances are expanding their reach even further.

The band recently played venues including The Grace in London and Head of Steam in Newcastle, while an appearance at Band on the Wall in Manchester represented a genuine milestone.

“That’s a bit of a bucket list venue,” says Brown. “I just think it’s so cool there.”

Despite increasingly playing outside Derbyshire, Marseille have not forgotten the people helping keep their local scene alive.

“What Jay at Dubrek, and Karl at Mr Shaw’s House do for the local music scene deserves high praise. Their sheer belief in Derby’s music scene is undeniable and it’s people like that who make it happen. The Hairy Dog is class too.”

It’s a reminder that while bands often receive the spotlight, grassroots music communities rely just as heavily on promoters, venue owners and supporters working behind the scenes.

As for what drives Marseille creatively, Brown points to a surprising combination of inspirations. While Oasis have provided motivation through their story and trajectory, it is Gorillaz who have recently influenced the band’s approach to songwriting and structure.

“I think that was the point where it became evident that it didn’t matter what your background was, you can be world famous,” he says of Oasis. “But in terms of songwriting, Gorillaz have been a big influence on the structural part of songwriting for me recently, also the ways they push the boundaries.”

That willingness to evolve is evident when comparing Marseille’s current material with their earliest work.

“The lyrics are a lot more dark, the arrangements are loads more interesting and thought out,” Brown reflects. “I think subconsciously we’re always improving.”

With new material already recorded and an announcement expected soon, Marseille appear to be entering another exciting chapter. While details remain under wraps, Brown hints that fans will not have long to wait before hearing what the band have been working on.

For now, Marseille continue doing what they have always done: writing ambitious music, playing wherever they can and steadily building a loyal audience one show at a time.

In a music industry obsessed with overnight success stories, Marseille feel refreshingly different. They are a band willing to embrace the long road, refining their craft, learning from mistakes and chasing something bigger than quick wins.

And if Brown’s final piece of advice to new bands is anything to go by, patience might just be one of their greatest strengths.

“Don’t rush yourselves into anything. Don’t release music for the sake of releasing music either. Make sure you have loads more music than you need and release your best tracks from that bunch. It’s easy to get over excited, but quality beats quantity all the time.”

For a band whose best days may still be ahead of them, it is advice Marseille seem more than happy to follow themselves.

Follow Marseille on social media via @marseilleband and stream their music across all major platforms.

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