The roots of Astrid’s formation go back to the early 90’s when Willie Campbell and Charlie Clark met at 11 years old. They bonded over a shared love of comics and music, they played in a band together that didn’t make it much further than the barn door that they practiced in. Charlie formed a real band with school friend Gareth Russell after Willie left their native Lewis for Glas- gow. Charlie and Gareth both made their way to the City a year later, eventu- ally forming Astrid with drummer Gary Thom, they asked Willie to join and Astrid was complete.
What followed was a year or two of A and R gigs, many hours of rehearsals and writing songs.. lots of them. Astrid eventually signed to Fantastic Plastic Records in 1998. Darrin Robson, the labels founder saw Astrid supporting Belle and Sebastian in London at The Union Chapel.
Astrid released 9 singles, 3 albums and 3 EP’s before disintegrating in 2004. Fast forward to 2018, you find a reformed Astrid and an incredible catalogue of music that has been released by individual members of the band. Each agree that the abiding friendships, life experiences and an inability to stop making music through a love of the thing have brought them back together and enabled them to write and record their strongest, most confident collec- tion of songs as a band. Astrid’s new album is full of the energy that made them such a special act live, still featuring the pop sensibility and irresistible melodies/harmonies of Campbell and Clark but coupled with a mature and more realised songwriting style.