Guest review by Captain’s Bar events manager, Say Something Music label owner and promoter Scott Evans
Stoke four-piece Souza have crafted a sound that is soaked in the late 90s early 00s Britpop indie, and over the past five years, they’ve been gigging around Manchester and Liverpool where you can imagine their style and swagger would go down a treat. The indie-outfit have been prolific festival performers, too, having put on a show at Newcastle’s Lymelight and Your City Festival, in Hanley, this year.
But it was Y Not Festival that inspired their 12th single Endless Fountain after their 2022 appearance, having wanted to write a song with an outdoorsy summer festival feel – and they accomplished that perfectly.
Only a few seconds into the song you can almost feel the sunshine captured in the jangly guitar line. Relentlessly upbeat and catchy, there are obvious influences scattered among the song, from The Stone Roses, The Las, The Bluetones and Oasis deep rooted in the DNA of the track.
The song is layered with sweet sounding guitar riffs and melodies laid down well by Ben Rodgers and Jack Brassington, backed with a solid rhythm section provided by Harry Ball on Drums and Adam Rogers (Ben’s brother) on Bass. Adam also provides the ultimate Gallagher-esque vocals, which are prevalent in previous tracks Morning Calling and Backroads, both of which have great production and anthem like qualities, giving Souza their Britpop credentials.
According to the band the track is about taking a journey to a mythical-fantasy type place called the ‘Endless Fountain’ which only adds to the summer vibes of the song. The line “where we’re going we don’t know” reflects the journey of the band as they carry on doing what they love and enjoy, which again captures that feeling created at the height of 90s Britpop where everything seemed possible and endless opportunities.
Recorded back in Spring at Lower Lane Studios with producer Jonny Price, the first thing that stands out for me is just how good the production is, every aspect of it is well recorded and produced. Souza lives what they do and it shows in every note of the song.
As Jack said: “For me this is the best track we’ve written, since we recorded the track I’ve not stopped playing it in the car and seriously can’t wait for people to hear it. The chorus is seriously catchy and it’s also my favourite track to play live.”
Souza should be rightfully proud of this release, it’s a fine addition to their catalogue of singles and should prove to be a huge hit with live audiences – especially the festival crowds.
Give Endless Fountain by Souza a listen here:
