Her's
| Company type | Duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Liverpool , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Her's—also recognized as thatbandofhers—was an indie rock pair originating from Liverpool, England, comprising English guitarist and vocalist Stephen Fitzpatrick alongside Norwegian bassist and backing singer Audun Laading. Their discography includes a compilation album titled Songs of Her's (2017) and their debut studio album, Invitation to Her's (2018).
Tragically, the duo and their tour manager lost their lives in a vehicular accident in Arizona during their 2019 United States tour. The label Heist or Hit Records characterized their contribution as marked by "energy, vibrancy, and talent," which significantly influenced the label’s identity.
Members
The group featured Stephen Fitzpatrick from Barrow-in-Furness, England, handling lead vocals and guitar duties, with Audun Laading from Flekkerøy, Norway, on bass guitar and backing vocals. Despite Fitzpatrick’s skills as a drummer, the band opted to utilize a drum machine programmed jointly by both members.
History
Fitzpatrick and Laading crossed paths at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, completing three-year music degrees in 2016 and receiving their diplomas from Paul McCartney.[1] They established Her's in 2015 while still enrolled students, having previously collaborated in the Liverpool ensemble 'The Sundogs'.[2][3] Initially conceived as a humorous project, they produced comedic music videos filmed around Liverpool which they shared on YouTube.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Their first single, "Dorothy", was launched on 7 April 2016.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name That year, they appeared on the Rising Stage at the Green Man Festival.[4] On 12 May 2017, they issued a nine-track compilation album entitled Songs of Her's. [5] This release earned a four-star rating from The Skinny. [6] In April 2017, NME highlighted Her's as a duo that fluidly transitions between various styles without confining themselves to a single genre while consistently delivering melodious songs.[7]
Their first full-length album, Invitation to Her's, was released through Heist or Hit Records on 24 August 2018.[8][9][10] The band was included in Paste's list of "The 15 New Liverpool Bands You Need to Know in 2018".[11] An acoustic set performed at the 2019 South by Southwest festival received attention from BBC Music Introducing. [1] The album features the track "Harvey," which alludes to the 1950 film Harvey. Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Equipment
Throughout their career, the duo consistently employed their preferred instruments: Laading played a Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar while Fitzpatrick used a Fender Blacktop Series Jaguar HH electric guitar. Occasionally, they incorporated other instruments during live performances. Both musicians depended on a drum machine—a Novation Launchpad USB MIDI Controller operating with Ableton Live—connected to a MacBook Pro for rhythm parts on stage.
Deaths
On 27 March 2019, Stephen Fitzpatrick (aged 24), Audun Laading (25), and their tour manager Trevor Engelbrektson (37) perished in a head-on collision followed by a vehicle fire near Milepost 68 on Interstate 10, west of Tonopah, Arizona. They were traveling back from a concert at Phoenix’s Rebel Lounge en route to another scheduled performance in Santa Ana, California, part of their second North American tour consisting of nineteen dates. The Arizona Department of Public Safety confirmed that Engelbrektson was operating the band's Ford tour van at the time. The crash involved a Nissan pickup truck driven by Francisco Rebollar (64) from Murrieta, California, who also died; authorities discovered alcohol present at the scene. Reports indicated that the Nissan was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes at excessive speed prior to impact.
A requiem mass honoring Fitzpatrick took place on 23 April 2019 at St. Mary's (Roman Catholic) Church in Barrow-in-Furness.
Legacy
The stage name of musician and acquaintance Strawberry Guy was inspired by Her's, originating from a drunken inquiry by Laading. He described the name as embodying the gentle and smooth nature of his sound, directly reflecting the duo's artistic impact.
Their preferred actor, Pierce Brosnan, paid tribute to the band on Instagram following their tour featuring a cardboard likeness of him. Fitzpatrick referred to Brosnan as "Our band's spirit animal. Our unofficial third member."
To mark five years since their passing, relatives and close associates established the Friends of Her's memorial initiative aimed at addressing homelessness in Liverpool, the city where the duo first connected.
On June 30, 2024, The Rebel Lounge held a commemorative concert spotlighting local artists, with all earnings directed to Friends of Her's.
Later, on November 8, 2024, Heist or Hit Records issued a "Songs of Her's" box collection, committing all profits to support the memorial fund.
Studio albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Invitation to Her's |
|
Compilation albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Songs of Her's |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Dorothy/What Once Was" | 2016 | Songs of Her's |
| "Marcel" | ||
| "Speed Racer" | 2017 | |
| "I'll Try" | ||
| "Loving You" (cover of Minnie Riperton) |
Non-album single | |
| "Love on the Line (Call Now)" | 2018 | Invitation to Her's |
| "Low Beam" | ||
| "Harvey" | ||
| "Under Wraps" |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Speed Racer" | Samuel O'Brien |
| 2018 | "Under Wraps" | Jorge A. Ramos |
| 2019 | "Harvey" | James Embrey |
| "She Needs Him" | Sébastien Séjourné | |
| 2020 | "Marcel" | Camille Laading |
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