Dundee band Beta Waves say their 2018 has gone at 100mph as they prepare for summer of live shows

DUNDEE band Beta Waves are just beginning their journey as a musical duo.

But for Dale Easson and Harry Crossan, success has come at a blistering pace since their first gig last November.

From playing in front of crowds made up mostly of their pals, they are now looking forward to a summer packed with live dates across the country.

“100 mph would be a good way of describing it,” Dale tells The Sunday Post. “It’s snowballed a little bit more than when we’ve been in bands before.

“It all seems to have happened really quickly in a matter of weeks rather than months or years, it’s definitely exciting!”

Beta Waves’ music began with tracks that Dale had written as ‘a little bit of a hobby’, with lyrics and melodies written and recorded on a mobile phone for posterity.

But there was always the ambition for something more.

“I’d had a few of the songs for quite a while and I would kick myself if I hadn’t done anything with them, at least recorded them properly,” Dale admits.

And it may have been a solo project if it were not for a chance encounter on the streets of Dundee.

“I was having a pint with my dad at a pub and I bumped into Dale on the street,” bandmate Harry explains.

“I hadn’t seen him for about a month and he asked me to help him with these tracks.

“At that point there were a few more of us just having a laugh and then eventually it was whittled down to just the two of us. Completely by chance.”

With influences from David Bowie to Tame Impala, the two – who have both been in bands before – can call on a vast range of inspiration in finding their sound together.

The duo released their debut single I Think I’m Melting in January, and have been blown away by the reception to it and follow-up Let it Out.

“We didn’t expect too much from the release,” Dale admits. “It was a good enough song, it wasn’t quite pop but it had the elements in it.

“We had a collection of four or five songs when we went into the studio. We picked the one we released as not necessarily our strongest song, but it’s quite catchy. We thought we’d see how it goes and if people like it.

“It’s done us no end of favours, people seemed to really enjoy it and it got good reviews. We’ve got some really good gigs on the back of it as well.”

The response changed the duo’s latest foray into the world of music from a hobby into something that they could make a real go of.

Harry says: “I think initially when we brought the track out, and even recording and writing it, it was more of a passion project. I was at the stage where I was just writing music for enjoyment.”

Live too, the band have received plenty of encouragement to take things to another level.

While they admit it was mostly their friends in the audience at early shows –  a ‘courtesy crowd’ Harry says – they received positive feedback.

“‘You’re not actually crap, well done’ were the words one of my friends used,” Dale laughs. 

Harry adds: “We ended up in that live scenario and people resonated with it. It kind of took me off guard because it was a different approach to music to some of the older stuff.

“It was completely by luck that people liked it and wanted us to play more so we did, we recorded more and here we are now. It was all completely by accident!”

While they modestly apportion success to luck and chance, the talented duo are certainly going places.

They have a number of dates lined up over the summer and later in the year.

Indeed, they spoke to The Sunday Post while on their way to make their King Tut’s debut in Glasgow, supporting Neon Waltz.

In another first, Dale and Harry say they’re excited to play their debut festival together as a band at Inverness creative gathering XpoNorth.

“It’s great to play in front of folk who aren’t there just to see one or two particular bands –  they go because it’s a day out,” says Dale.

“It’s like the festival in Dundee, Almost Blue, where people go out at the weekend because they know there’d be live music on, the pubs will be rammed and everyone will be having a great time.

“You might manage to catch a couple of good bands that you might never have heard of or wouldn’t have intentionally gone to see and think, they’re great!”

The June event sees a host of acts performing across the city, with one of the main aims of XpoNorth being to showcase Scotland’s up and coming talent.

Harry says: “Those kind of festivals have got a really good way of helping bands play to an audience that they wouldn’t necessarily have. That’s good for everyone, everybody benefits from that.

“It’s good for bands who are early on to get that experience of playing in front of a big crowd or to people that wouldn’t necessarily listen to their music. You’re getting the opportunity to try to win them over.” 

Dale adds: “A lot of young bands would probably be lost without these kinds of festivals and these opportunities.”

As well as XpoNorth, the band have shows planned across Scotland as they build their fanbase.

“We’re not allowed to say much, but there’s quite a lot planned! It’ll be quite exciting when we get to announce them,” Dale says.

“It’s quite good to get out and play to new people. There’s plenty of opportunities to see us. We’ll always be there, somewhere!

“I just love playing music to an audience, and to play our own tunes and get really warm feedback has been a major highlight for us.

“Folk singing parts of our songs, it’s very strange, even ones that haven’t been released. Strange in a good way, very exciting!”

Visit the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BETA.WAVES.MUSIC/

Upcoming dates:

June 9 – Nice n Sleazies, Glasgow w/ Holy Esque
June 15 – Green room, Perth w/ St. Martiins
June 24 – Solas Fest, Perth
June 27-29 – XpoNorth