ECHO EXCLUSIVE: Here At Last Reveals Their Musical Journey and Hidden Talents

In the illustrious world of British boy bands, a fresh and vibrant group has emerged, proudly bearing the name “Here At Last.” They are currently making waves in the music scene with their debut EP, and their infectious energy is capturing hearts across the nation. Here At Last, an independent sensation, has taken TikTok by storm, thanks to their irresistible charisma and remarkable harmonies. What’s more, they’ve achieved the remarkable feat of clinching the number one spot on the UK iTunes album chart. Their extraordinary journey, from being strangers in the realm of social media to forming a tight-knit musical family, epitomizes their unwavering dedication to their craft. With an eagerly anticipated tour on the horizon and a genuine commitment to their devoted fanbase, Here At Last is primed to win over music enthusiasts with their ear-worm melodies and authentic camaraderie. In this exclusive interview with ECHO, we delve into their incredible journey, explore the inspiration behind their EP, and uncover the hidden talents that set them apart as more than just musicians. Join us as we introduce you to the remarkable individuals who are the faces and voices behind Here At Last.

Congratulations on your debut EP! How are you guys celebrating this exciting milestone, and what emotions are you experiencing as you share your music with the world?

Thank you so much, it’s been an incredible experience so far, the reaction from the HALOS has been insane! Being an unsigned artist, we had to do everything that a record label would normally do ourselves, so there were always fears that it wouldn’t perform how we were hoping it would. So, when we found out that EP1 was No 1 on the UK iTunes album chart we were over the moon. However, because we’re so busy on the build up to our tour… we celebrated with a raspberry trifle and an early night.

From your EP, is there a particular song that each of you holds close to your heart? What is your absolute favorite off the EP?

We all have different favourites off the EP, as each one means something slightly different to each of us.

James’ favourite is All In. The reason is because of the recording process, we were actually lucky enough to record this with The Script. Going to Danny’s personal studio and having him give advice on our vocal takes was a dream come true. He also bought us a Nando’s which is a big win.

Zach’s favourite is Tongue. Tongue was our first ever single and was (in our opinion) when we transitioned, from being a cover band on social media to a proper boy band. We still remember the feeling of playing our own song on Spotify for the first time.

Tommy’s favourite is Bloodshot. Bloodshot feels a bit like a cross between Billie Eilish and 5 seconds of summer. It gives a bit of a dark pop vibe which we love.

Pedro’s favourite is Let go. Let go is the first song we wrote ourselves from scratch and we love the way the song was pieced together to how it sounds now. It’s also been classed as ‘the end of our first chapter’, as we transition to a newer sound with our upcoming singles. 

The journey of every band has its beginnings. Could you take us back to how you all first crossed paths and what led to the formation of ‘Here At Last’?

We all originally met on social media. Tommy and Pedro had the idea to create a Boyband simply because there were no other majorly successful UK boy bands around at the time. They used TikTok and Instagram to find the rest of us and one day we committed to meeting up and the rest is history. We are now all living together and get on like a little family.

Naming a band is often a creative process. How did you come up with the name ‘Here At Last,’ and what significance does it hold for your group?

Naming our band took a while, we had so many names and ideas before we even met each other for the first time. Some were pretty good, others however, are unrepeatable as they were that bad. For a few weeks we were back and forth on a few names until one day Tommy suggested Here At Last which we thought was very fitting as covid restrictions were ending and live music was finally starting to come back. We’ve never looked back since.

Being a British Boy Band, you’re stepping into a legacy of iconic groups. How do you envision ‘Here At Last’ breaking barriers and carving out your unique path to becoming the next big sensation in the boyband scene? What qualities do you admire in them?

We are fully aware that being a UK boy band, we have some VERY big boots to fill. We are all big fans of other boy bands like The Wanted, One Direction and Take That (who we were lucky enough to support at BST Hyde Park). We take inspiration from all these bands, while at the same time staying true to ourselves and making the music that we want to make and think our fans want to hear. We think the fan base is the most important part of being a boy band, and we can honestly say we wouldn’t be anywhere without the support and love they have given us over the last few years.

You’re about to head on a small tour in October, what can fans expect from your shows?

We do have a UK tour coming up in October, we will be playing 5 dates in Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol and finishing things off at the Indigo at the O2 arena in London. We are going to be playing loads of our old songs, a few covers and even some unreleased originals that we can’t wait to show everyone. Our last tour in February was crazy but we are going even bigger and better for October!

We all know you for your music, but what’s one hidden talent each of you possesses that your fans might not be aware of?

Music is of course our main thing, but we do have a few hidden talents that not many people know about. James is a good cook, he cooks for the band every night. Tommy can do quite a few kick ups. Zach can listen to any song and instantly be able to play it on the guitar. Pedro is a weirdly good whistler and Ryan can speak fluent Welsh.

Friendship is a cornerstone of a band. Can you share a particularly goofy or memorable bonding moment that stands out in your minds?

One goofy thing that does happen in the band is that Ryan, Tommy and James eat cheesecakes in the bathroom together once a week. It all started out a couple of years ago when we first moved in. We were doing a food shop when we spotted a pack of three mini cheesecakes so we decided to get them. But because there weren’t enough for the whole band, Tommy, Ryan and James decided to eat them together in secret in the bathroom with the door locked. They then did this every week for 6 months before getting caught (which was hard to explain as you can imagine).

Imagine creating the perfect atmosphere for a fan to listen to your EP. What kind of setting or scenario would you envision to enhance their experience of your music?

We think the best atmosphere to listen to our songs would actually be at one of our concerts. We work hard to make our shows the best they can possibly be. We want people to dance, jump and scream along with us to every song. Where else is better to listen to our music than surrounded by our incredible fan base in a safe and loving environment, singing along to every word.

Throughout life, we come across impactful quotes. Is there a quote that has resonated with each of you that you’d love to echo out to your listeners as a message of inspiration?

One quote we live by is “take the first step” you never know how far something might go unless you take that initial step. We have been lucky enough to sell out UK tours, release songs that we love and meet some amazing people, but none of that would have happened if we didn’t decide to jump on a train and meet each other in London for the first time. We had no expectations but we gave it a go and it was the best decision we have ever made. Our lives changed the day we took that first step, so if there is ever an opportunity you’re not sure about, go for it. You never know where it might lead you.

Stream their debut EP and latest single, Ordinary Life, below. If you’re in the UK, make sure to catch them on their upcoming October tour by getting tickets here.