Fans of regularly featured on this site Londoners, Suggested Friends, we have news and lots of it! Firstly, there’s the sad news that bass player Kirsty Fife has left the band, deciding to focus on projects closer to her native Leeds. Described by her bandmates as, “irreplacable”, Kirsty will leave a sonic hole in the band’s sound. Stepping up into her four-stringed shoes will be new band member, Emma Kupa (Mammoth Penguins/Standard Fare/Hayman Kupa Band), described by her new bandmates as “saturated in talent”.

By the looks of the other news, Emma and her new bandmates are set for a busy year. The band have confirmed details of the release of their self-titled debut album, which will see the light of day via Odd Box Records in October. If that’s not enough excitement for one day, we’ve also got the first taste of that record in the shape of the video to new single, I Don’t Want To Be A Horcrux For Your Soul.

I Don’t Want To Be A Horcrux For Your Soul is a long term live favourite, which Suggested Friends have re-recorded and re-vamped in preparation for their upcoming album release. Propelled on a rattling, lo-fi drum beat, driving bass lines and frighteningly good twin-guiar interplay, it’s the band most ambitious and energetic single to date. Particularly thrilling is the outro: Kirsty’s soaring backing scream providing the perfect foil to singer Faith Taylor’s more melodic lead vocal.

The accompanying video, edited and directed by Bianca Remer, fluctuates between the practice room and the park, and features a dog, a Trust Fund jumper and a really rather excellent alphabetical animals t-shirt. Hard to not enjoy any of that!

Suggested Friends continue to come good on the huge promise their live shows have shown, the album could just end up being one of the year’s most intriguing debuts.

Suggested Friends will be out in October via Odd Box Records. Click HERE for more for more information on Suggested Friends.