Black Honey

Black Honey, an indie rock band, solidified its lineup in Brighton, England, in 2014. The group comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Izzy Baxter Phillips, guitarist Chris Ostler, bassist Tommy Taylor, and drummer Alex Woodward. Prior to forming Black Honey, Izzy Phillips and Chris Ostler had a decade-long acquaintance, even studying music together at university. The band initially operated under names such as ‘Whats Your Vice?’ from 2009 to 2011, and ‘Kill Moon’ by 2012, releasing singles and an EP titled *Jupiter* during these earlier phases.

Black Honey officially began releasing music under their current name in June 2014 with the song “Sleep Forever.” This was followed by a self-titled debut EP in November 2014, featuring tracks like “Teenager” and “Bloodlust.” Their first self-titled studio album, *Black Honey*, was released in 2018, reaching number 33 on the UK Albums Chart. The band’s career progression includes extensive touring, participation in various festivals, and supporting established acts such as Catfish and the Bottlemen and Royal Blood on UK and European tours. Their second album, *Written & Directed*, released in March 2021, achieved greater chart success, peaking at number 7 on the UK Albums Chart and number 1 on the UK independent chart. This album also reached number 2 on both the UK vinyl and cassette charts, and number 4 on the UK physical chart. A third album, *A Fistful of Peaches*, was released in March 2023, and a fourth album, *Soak*, is scheduled for release in August 2025. This consistent release schedule and chart performance demonstrate the band’s ongoing presence and development in the music industry.

Throughout their career, Black Honey has maintained creative control over various aspects of their work, including merchandise design and music videos, many of which have been produced in-house or with close collaborators. For instance, the music video for “Beaches” (2020) was created by band members during COVID-19 restrictions, and videos for “Disinfect” (2021) and “Charlie Bronson” (2022) were directed by Craig Hemming. The video for the single “Midnight” was nominated for Best Art Director at the Berlin Music Video Awards in 2019. The band’s ethos, as articulated by Izzy B. Phillips, emphasizes honesty and exploring complex narratives within their music. Phillips has noted, “I want to touch the hearts of everyone,” and describes their album creating process as a “Frankenstein’s monster” that incorporates diverse influences.