The Sunshine Underground
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Leeds , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
The Sunshine Underground (commonly abbreviated as TSU) was an alternative dance ensemble originating from Leeds, England. Their musical direction transitioned from indie and alternative rock towards electronic sounds over time. They released four studio albums: Raise the Alarm (2006), Nobody's Coming to Save You (2010), The Sunshine Underground (2014), and their concluding record, Luminescent (2016). The band's name was inspired by a track on The Chemical Brothers' 1999 album Surrender. Associated with the British nu-rave movement around 2006, they cultivated a dedicated live audience through extensive touring.
Formation and debut album – Raise The Alarm
Hailing from Telford and Shrewsbury, the group came together while attending New College Telford. After moving to Woodhouse, Leeds, they refined their musical style and emerged as one of the pioneering bands categorized as "nu-rave" by NME, alongside acts like Klaxons.
In 2005, they secured a contract with the London-based label City-Rockers and commenced production on their first album, Raise the Alarm. The recording was completed by May 2006 and released on 28 August 2006 through City-Rockers/Sony. The majority of the album was recorded within a two-week period at The Dairy studio with producers Steve Dubb and Seggs; additional sessions were held in London involving Rob Harder, Dan Kahuna, and J.C.
Their initial single, "Put You in Your Place", first appeared as a limited-edition 7" pressing of 1,000 copies on 18 July 2005 before being re-released on CDS and 7" formats. This track remains their highest-charting single, reaching number 39 on the UK Singles Chart in August 2006.
Following this release, the band engaged in extensive touring across both the UK and Europe. In 2007, they featured at prominent UK music festivals such as Glastonbury Festival, T in the Park, and Reading and Leeds festival performing on the Radio One/NME stage. The album also found success in Japan through Sony's distribution, leading to two tours there and appearances at festivals including Summersonic and British Anthems. That same year, NME included them in the New Rave tour alongside Klaxons, CSS, and New Young Pony Club.
Second album – Nobody's Coming To Save You
From 2008 through 2010, the band concentrated on composing their sophomore album while continuing to maintain a robust live schedule. This period featured their debut at V Festival and a well-received 15-date UK tour presenting fresh material.
In February 2009, they collaborated with FC Kahuna on "From The City to the Sea," which incorporated a sample from Aphex Twin's "Windowlicker". This track was made available as a complimentary download.
On 3 November 2009, they released a five-track EP titled Everything, Right Now, which included "Coming to Save You," later incorporated into their second full-length album.
Their follow-up to Raise The Alarm, named Nobody's Coming to Save You, was launched on 1 February 2010 via City Rockers/EMI. To promote this release, they undertook a three-week tour across the UK that culminated in their largest hometown performance at Leeds Academy.
Later that year, appearances at festivals such as Reading and Leeds festival, Radio 1/NME stage at T in the Park, and supporting LCD Soundsystem during Ibiza Rocks were highlights. In 2011, they expanded their international presence with shows in Mexico, China, and participation in Austria's Annual Snowbombing festival.
On 21 February 2011, bassist Daley Smith officially left the band.
Third album – The Sunshine Underground
At the beginning of 2012, the band revealed plans for a two-week tour across the UK in April, designed to showcase new songs from their forthcoming third album. The tour commenced on 14 April at Club Academy in Manchester and included a total of 12 performances. Among these were sold-out shows at King Tut's in Glasgow, XOYO in London, and The Sugarmill in Stoke, culminating in a final homecoming gig at Leeds Metropolitan University. The fresh tracks featured during this period included "The Same Old Ghosts," "It's Only You (IIOY)," "Neutralise," "Add Up To Nothing," and "Finally We Arrive."
In April 2013, the band resumed both recording and live appearances, marked by an intimate performance at The Old Blue Last in Shoreditch, London. This event coincided with the release of a limited edition single for "It Is Only You" available on 12" vinyl and digital platforms.
Their self-titled third studio album, produced by Ross Orton, was officially released on 19 May 2014. This launch was preceded by the single "Don't Stop."
Fourth and final album – Luminescent
Luminescent, the band's fourth and concluding album, was released on 30 September 2016. Alongside this release, they publicly announced via Facebook their decision to end The Sunshine Underground after a decade of activity:
"We’ve had the best time ever in this band but the time has come to announce the end of The Sunshine Underground. Ten years on from our debut album feels like the right time to draw a line under what has been an absolute blast and look to new musical adventures…"
Signed: Craig, Stu, Matt
Demos
- My Army EP (2004)
Albums
- Raise the Alarm (28 August 2006) – City Rockers
- Nobody's Coming to Save You (1 February 2010) – City Rockers/EMI
- The Sunshine Underground (19 May 2014)
- Luminescent (30 September 2016)
Compilations
- Raise The Alarm B-Sides & Remixes (6 June 2011) – EMI
Extended plays
- Everything, Right Now EP (16 November 2009)
- Put You in Your Place (Remixes) (6 June 2011) – EMI
Singles
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Put You in Your Place" | Non-album single |
| 2006 | "Commercial Breakdown" | Non-album single |
| 2006 | "What You Like" | Non-album single |
| 2006 | "I Ain't Losing Any Sleep" | Raise the Alarm |
| 2006 | "Put You in Your Place" (reissue) | Raise the Alarm |
| 2006 | "Commercial Breakdown" (reissue) | Raise the Alarm |
| 2007 | "Borders" | Raise the Alarm |
| 2010 | "In Your Arms" | Nobody's Coming to Save You |
| 2010 | "Coming to Save You" | Nobody's Coming to Save You |
| 2010 | "We've Always Been Your Friends" | Nobody's Coming to Save You |
| 2010 | "Spell It Out" | Nobody's Coming to Save You |
| 2013 | "It Is Only You (IIOY)" | 12" vinyl (limited to 500 copies) |
| 2014 | "Don't Stop" | The Sunshine Underground |
| 2014 | "Finally We Arrive" | The Sunshine Underground |
| 2014 | "Start" | The Sunshine Underground |
| 2016 | "Something's Gonna Happen" | Luminescent |
| 2016 | "Today" | Luminescent |