The Britanys

Not many band names result from a quick Google search and the purchase of a misspelled URL; this is, however, the origin of The Britanys, a Brooklyn-based rock band with a decidedly punk underbelly. Shortly after founding members Steele Kratt, Lucas Long, and Gabe Schulman met at The New School in 2013, Long found the band's title by looking up the most popular female baby name in 1994 (the year they were all born). The result was Brittany, but "I'm a horrible speller," Long admits, "I bought the domain name with one T and just went with it."

In 2014, the band released their debut EP It's Alright. "Each song was different—one was upbeat and sort of hard, another very indie, and another glam-ish. It was unfocused," Kratt explains of the record. "Now we have a tailored sound. We know exactly what we want." During the past year, The Britanys added guitarist Jake Williams to the lineup and here we're pleased to premiere "Basketholder," their first release as a four-piece and a track that features production by Gordon Raphael (known for The Strokes' This is It and Regina Spektor's Soviet Kitsch, among others).

Currently, The Britanys can be found rehearsing four times a week in the basement of their shared Bushwick apartment, while Schulman and Long simultaneously complete their studies at The New School (at Eugene Lang College and Parsons, respectively), and Williams, a Bard graduate, maintains a day job and moonlights as a model for Saint Laurent. Tomorrow night, the group will open Hinds' sold-out show at Bowery Ballroom and later this week they will perform at Savannah Stopover Music Festival. Looking forward, The Britanys hope to release another EP before the leaves change shades this fall. "We're gunning for the U.K.'s The Great Escape festival in May," Long says enthusiastically when we meet the band in Brooklyn. "This is the first year where we're going to start doing it."



THE BASICS: Steele Kratt, drums, from New York City, age 21; Lucas Long, lead vocals and guitar, from San Francisco, age 22; Gabe Schulman, bass, from Boston, age 22; Jake Williams, guitar, from New York City, age 24.

CURRENTLY BASED: Brooklyn, New York

BECOMING A FOUR-PIECE: Jake Williams: I joined the band in August [2015]. I passed my audition mid-summer and our first gig was August 30. I knew them because we all used to be part of the same pseudo-label recording studio called Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen, while I was in a band called Dr. Skinnybones. I've known these guys for a long time, so they said, "Hey, do you want to shred?" and I was like, "Let's do it."

Lucas Long: Jake had direct messaged our Instagram account as well, with a funny picture from one of our shows where he zoomed-in on this person's face who was really out of it. I thought, "This guy is funny," and that planted a seed for when we said, "Let's look for another guitar player." He was the only one we really called and it ended up working out.

SHIFT IN SOUND: Long: The internet has changed a lot of things [in music]. This is the first era where up-and-coming bands are documented as soon as they put something up. When we did the songs [for It's Alright, The Britany's debut EP], we started off playing and hosting parties. We had no idea about the background work that goes into being in a band; we were just in it to play parties and have a good time with our friends. We'd record and put whatever on the internet without any thought process behind it. Taking that stuff down is a marker, at least for me, that we've actually found our sound now. This is really the start of the band and what we're going to do. We called [It's Alright] an EP but it's really just three songs we recorded and put online. Knowing what an EP is now, I wouldn't necessarily consider that one.

Kratt: I think [our sound] is more focused now. We make better use of melodies and found a way to keep it upbeat and energetic but also keep it melodic, catchy, and less fuzzed-out. Before we put [It's Alright] out, we did something that was super fuzz and Lucas doesn't want anybody to hear it—ever. He won't even listen to it.

Long: It's like looking back at pictures from middle school and thinking, "Shit, did I really wear that?"

THE WRITING PROCESS: Kratt: [Lucas] will come up with the bulk of it and we'll flesh it out together. Recently, we've been working on a song that Lucas rewrites every time we play it.

Williams: During the last show, he whispered in my ear, "Oh, we're going to change the chords like this," the moment before we started playing. On the fly, he still changes stuff.

Long: But usually it's a very open outline I bring to the room and then we'll hash it out.

WORKING WITH GORDON RAPHAEL: Kratt: Nicholas Ellis interviewed us for this Argentinean/British blog, Artistas Sean Unidos, and after he interviewed us he said, "By the way, are you guys familiar with Gordon Raphael? I think you would work very well together." We said, "Oh yeah, that would be cool," and Nicholas said, "I have his email so I'll put you in contact." We thought he was fucking with us but he hooked it up. The whole time we were wondering, "Is this really Gordon Raphael?!"

Long: Gordon lives in Berlin now so it was all over email. He emailed us back and said, "I've heard you guys before and would be open to working together." We sent him the stems and he sent us back the first mix. Downloading it, we were very nervous because we still thought it was Nicholas the entire time and we were just going to get garbage back.

Gabe Schulman: We were going to get catfished. [all laugh]

Long: But it sounded really good and it was actually him!

MUSICAL ROOTS: Schulman: I play ukulele a little bit...

Long: Gabe doesn't want to talk about himself but I'll talk for him. He's very much a musical talent. He went to The New School for jazz bass and pretty much got to take all the higher-level classes freshman year. After that he dropped out for about a year and now he's back at school, studying philosophy. He had an ear-training teacher who would throw inanimate objects at the ground and he'd have to tell him the intervals.

Kratt: [hits the table and a bowl with a spoon] Gabe?

Schulman: That's a perfect fourth.

Kratt: My dad used to play drums in a band in the '70s and he gave me sticks when I was two, so I'd just bang on furniture. I went to study jazz at The New School, too, and I was so bad at all the technical aspects. I was at the most rudimentary level and then I dropped out. So, I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum [from Gabe].

Schulman: But we both still dropped out, so...

FIRST CDs: Kratt: Aerosmith's Nine Lives. I bought it in Idaho at an F.Y.E. music store when I was visiting my grandparents. I put it on and realized, "This sucks."

Williams: The first Spice Girls record.

Long: I'm pretty sure it was a [cassette] tape that I asked for—NSYNC's No Strings Attached. I was like, "Mom, I really want this, please." She took me to the concert too.

Schulman: The Backstreet Boys.

Kratt: The Spice Girls were my favorite band when I was four. For my sister's birthday, [my parents] took her to the Spice Girls show with all her friends. I loved Baby Spice but they said, "Sorry, you're too young to go," and I sobbed for a day.

INFLUENCES: Kratt: Recently, collectively, it's been The Velvet Underground and Lou Reed. I think we all love him. With a new song we've been working on, we've definitely been looking to him for inspiration.

Long: We've been studying a lot of his songs recently, just going through his catalog. Not to be too cliché, but it's also always The Beatles.

Kratt: The [Rolling] Stones, too.

Williams: We've said The Velvet Underground, The Beatles, and The Stones... Wow, we suck. Fuck our band. What a shitty answer. [all laugh]

Kratt: But those are the big three!

Williams: We also like David Bowie, Elvis...

Long: Recently, I think Hinds is doing a really good job. More on our level, there's a band called Hunters in Brooklyn, which is really cool. For me personally, this is really dumb, but I always look to Alex Turner, Pete Doherty, and Keith Richards.

TAKING MUSIC (AND BEER) SERIOUSLY: Kratt: We're at the age where we need to be making a profession so it's time to step up and be pros. No excuses.

Long: Last year was the first—I don't want to say "real year," but at the beginning of last year we learned, "This is what we need to do," and we're obviously still learning along the way. We didn't know anything about the business side of things and were also defining ourselves, adding Jake and everything. That settled in by fall, so this year we'll start making it happen.

Williams: Playing music is quite possibly the one profession in the arts in which you consistently have to dream for the very tippy top. Otherwise, there's no point. We're not actors waiting for a good part to come along. The inception of everything starts right in this room. Ultimately, there is no restraint on what we could do as musicians. We all have the talent and the ambition, so our long-term goal is to fucking shoot for the stars. It would be silly to think, "I don't want to be the best band in New York." We have so many things in so many different places right now, so hopefully at some point it'll come to fruition and all of a sudden we'll be superstars! [laughs] Otherwise, I really like drinking beer, going to bed early... I smoke cigarettes, and sports are great... Gabe?

Schulman: Um...I also like drinking beer? [all laugh]


FOR MORE ON THE BRITANYS, VISIT THE BAND'S WEBSITE. -

The Britanys sound like they’ve absorbed the work of their yesteryear heroes and flipped all inspiration upside down. Every aspect of ‘Want To Be’’s delivery sits outside the norm, even though the thrashing chords and New York vibe recall early The Strokes. - Jamie Milton

On The Radar - Matt Wilkinson

How often do you get to hang out with three intelligent, funny, and creative musicians on a weekend afternoon? Honestly, The Britany’s make my job easy. I took a trip from West Harlem to Bushwick (not the easy part) to catch up with the boys in their loft/rehearsal space and talk upcoming gigs, the status of Brooklyn, and romancing Paul McCartney along the East River.
The Britany’s are a trio made up of Lucas Long, Steele Kratt, and Gabe Schulman. They formed in their freshman year of college, and three years later the band is hosting a release party at Silent Barn. Their quick trajectory comes as no surprise; the boys are steadfast in their influences and where they see their careers in music moving forward. Their EP It’s Alright is fun and unapologetic head-banging punk, but the Britany’s gift lies in their outstanding maturity. The sound has greatly evolved from suburban garage rock; dare I say, their concept bleeds into the influences of Velvet Underground and even Iggy Pop circa 1977. So, it was no surprise to walk into their loft and find Gabe strumming on his guitar while Lucas and Steele lounged on the couch with fur-cloaked, stunningly beautiful lady friends. If these guys want the rock & roll lifestyle and all the touring, travel, and experiences that come with it, they’re well on their way. Seminal rock journalist Lester Bangs would be proud — the Britany’s are rich with pure intentions, tenaciously dedicated to unadulterated rock, and successfully deviating from the cult of “cool.” -

n a borough overflowing with scuzzy guitars and fuzzed-out rock melodies, you could say that the last thing Brooklyn needs is another lo-fi band. But here’s the thing: The Britanys deserve a spot on your springtime playlist, mostly because their breezy tunes are just so damn good. For the past several years the trio (comprised of college pals Lucas Long, Steele Kratt, and Gabe Schulman) have been bopping around Bushwick, crafting their warm, easygoing sound. With their first official single “Want To Be” under their belt, they’re finally ready to drop the video. Shot on Super 8 film by the New York cinematography duo Wiissa — who have worked with everyone from Julian Casablancas to Karen O — the retro-inflected clip is everything we love about summer, wrapped up in a three-minute package. Just take it from Long, who told us about the video:

“We all grew up watching music videos on MTV. Even though there isn’t really an outlet like that anymore for videos, I know I still really appreciate a good video. It’s usually the first thing that I search for when looking up a band. [‘Want To Be’] being our first video, we wanted to make it very simple and personal, kind of like a day in the life: at home, in our neighborhood, packing up for a show. We used the music video for ‘Someday’ by The Strokes as well as the music video for ‘Time For Heroes’ by The Libertines as inspiration. Wiisa came over to our house for a weekend and we shot 4 rolls of super 8 film and that was that.”
Watch the premiere of “Want To Be” above, and check out more from The Britanys here. -

The Britanys - City Boys
Killer indie rock from The Britanys out of New York, New York! - Music Monday

Having been saturated with the trash-pop aesthetic for while now, it’s getting harder and harder to find a band who can hit that sweet spot of purposefully rickety musicianship and sharp hooks without sounding like just another Wiener cassette. Well from the sounds so far, the Britanys would seem to spend their weekends hitting sweet spots. Check out this premiere of their brand new song “It’s What It Is” as we check in with singer/guitarist Lucas Long about his upstart trio. -

If the Britanys were to pick a dive bar to drink at after one of their performances, they’d probably head to a place that offers one of those “shot and a beer” specials. Then, with some cheap brew and well whiskey in them, they might stumble over to a friend’s gallery opening, where a few more drinks might be consumed and a bevy of embarrassing Polaroids might be taken — all culminating with a drag of a cigarette under the glow of some neon signage as they meander home. It’s a hypothetical scene a lot of young New Yorkers know well, and the Britanys are on a mission to embody that sense of cocky, swaggering, juvenile wistfulness in their music.

Having met as roommates in college, Lucas Long, Steele Kratt, and Gabe Schulman formed the Britanys after a few impromptu jam sessions quickly resulted in an initial show at Lit Lounge in the East Village. “We threw together as much material as we could in a couple days and haven’t stopped playing since,” says Kratt, who describes their sound as an extension of that of the early-Aughts rock bands they grew up listening to. In fact, their infatuation with bands like the Libertines, the Strokes, the Kinks, and the Zombies, among others, led them to choose a “the” name of their own. “ ‘Brittany’ was the most popular girl's name in 1994, the year we were all born, so we went with that,” Kratt says. “When Lucas purchased the domain, though, he spelled it with one T, so we’ve used that spelling ever since.”

Last year the Britanys dropped It’s Alright, a three-song EP/maxi-single that introduced much of the blogosphere to their poppy lo-fi sound. They went on to release a few more tracks in 2015, including a video for the infectious “Want to Be,” but pulled everything from their SoundCloud and Bandcamp pages without warning over the summer, leaving many to wonder: Was this the end of the Britanys?

“When we started the band we didn’t have a direct idea of what our music would sound like, which is kind of a blessing and a curse,” says Long. “All of the previous content we had online was material we had put up without much thought. Over time we felt like we didn’t relate to those songs or those sounds anymore.” So, a few months ago, the band added another guitarist, Jake Williams, and released two new singles, “It’s What It Is” and “City Boys,” both of which were representative of their fuller, more refined sound. “We tried out a lot of things before getting to where we are now,” Long says. “We felt our new material called for more guitar parts, and since adding [Williams] we’ve found our sound.”

While still not a huge departure from their lo-fi roots, the new songs marry the band’s pop sensibilities with a sense of calculated urgency that pushes the sonics from the ubiquitous nostalgia rock to something unique and iconic in its own sense. “Our inspirations definitely play a big role in our music, but we draw more from the feeling or the atmosphere a song creates than its chord progressions,” says Schulman. “The more we write, the more we feel we are establishing our own voice. We tend to write about things going on in our lives that are unique to us, but that people can relate to or feel nostalgic about.” “City Boys” certainly confirms that observation, as it paints an authentic picture of a band awash in the New York scene: attending art exhibitions, playing gallery openings, and supporting the same community that has fostered them from the beginning.

“All of our friends are in some way affiliated with the arts, and a lot of our social lives revolve around that scene,” Schulman says. “Being a musician, you’re always looking for a community to be involved with. That definitely influences our music and our attitude, because we are inspired by our friends and contemporaries.”

But despite their knack for socializing and bouncing around bars in Bushwick, the Britanys are finding themselves with less time for play and even less time for hangovers. They’re already knee-deep in new recordings and planning dates for festivals like SXSW and the Great Escape next year, so expect to see more of these Brooklyn babes moving forward. Long sums it up: “We’re mostly just hoping to build momentum going into 2016." With a strong finish set for 2015, it sounds like the Britanys won't have a problem reaching that particular goal. -

All-male band (see how weird that is?) The Britanys released their second EP, It’s Alright, last fall and it’s the perfect soundtrack to loitering and thinking surly thoughts while maybe smoking and drinking—if you’re into that, which I personally am. They have a couple shows coming up this spring, which I bet would be prime opportunity to kick up your heels and/or break a hip while also doing some of the above-mentioned loitering. -

New York's rock'n'roll lineage, like London's, is a proud tradition that doesn't seem like it will ever die. The Britanys, formed barely two years ago, are one of the latest bands to uphold it, picking things up from the early noughties as if the last 10 years never happened.

That's no bad thing - 'Basketholder' is one of their best songs yet, all infectious garage-rock that straddles transatlantic influences like The Strokes and The Libertines, and frontman Lucas Long's yearning vocals. It's no surprise when you find out it was produced by Gordon Raphael, he of producing 'Is This It' and 'Room On Fire' fame. In fact, it makes perfect sense.

The premise of its video is as classic as their sound. It was shot in the band's basement by Ed Herrera, edited by The Britanys themselves, and features a mix of performance, lights and model Amanda Musacchia. It glitters hard, from the illuminations of the city to the foil curtains making the band look like they're playing in a chintzy social club instead of a New York basement.

Expect bigger things from The Britanys in the near future - they're about to go into the studio with Jonny Shenke (Parquet Courts/The Drums) to record their debut EP - but, for now, watch the video for 'Basketholder' below.
Read more at http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/the-britanys-basketholder#tezGLUy3KG8P1Kbe.99 - NME

New York natives The Britanys revisited rock’s roots on the 2015 two-track tape, A Night With The Britanys, and it yielded them much success. Not only did they join concert bills featuring Hinds and Shamir, but their first-ever appearance at the city’s annual CMJ Music Marathon was widely lauded by fans and critics alike. Now, the four-piece band (none of whom have the first or last name Britany) is back to capture audiences once again with a rollicking new rock song titled “Get My”.

To help refine their DIY sound, the band teamed up with producer Gordon Raphael, the man behind The Strokes’ defining debut, Is This It. “It was an interesting experience working with Gordon via technology,” The Britanys tell Consequence of Sound. “He lives in Berlin currently, and the whole time we thought we were getting catfished until we heard the first mixes. Although we couldn’t get in a room together we had a lot of fun discussing ideas. It was very 21st century.”

The praise goes both ways. Raphael has said of the band, “The Britanys restore my faith that rock can still happen in New York.” Talk about a compliment.

The result of their collaborations is an exciting preview into what is to come from this young band, laced with fuzztone chord progressions and defying drumbeats that build with each chorus. “Think they gunna get my/Think they gunna get my…” vocalist Lucas Long repeats. The thought is never finished, though it’s clear that The Britanys don’t plan to give up their charisma, chemistry, and whatever else they have working for them — with good reason.

Listen to “Get My” below. - Consequence of Sound