The Rills - 'Mistake'
The Rills offer one final teaser ahead of their upcoming debut album.
The Rills are gearing up to make a huge splash with their debut album ‘Don’t Be A Stranger’, set for release on 1st November via AWAL and Nice Swan Recordings. Ahead of the big day, the Lincoln trio has shared one last teaser, ‘Mistake,’ which showcases the band’s knack for blending their indie-rock roots with experimental electronic elements. It’s a fitting final preview before they head out on a UK tour to celebrate the album’s launch, kicking off with a performance at Rough Trade East in London on release day.
‘Mistake’ delves into themes of self-discovery, growth, and the inevitable stumbles we all face along the way. The band describes the song as a reflection on the pressure to conform to others' expectations, warning that allowing yourself to be led down the wrong path is the ultimate mistake. Frontman Mitch Spencer takes this concept a step further, sharing a personal perspective: “For me, that meant learning to love my femininity as a man conditioned into machoism.” Musically, the track captures this internal conflict, with their signature indie sound battling against pulsating electronic arpeggios.
Produced by indie heavyweight Dave McCracken, whose impressive track record includes working with Ian Brown, Depeche Mode, and The Snuts, ‘Don’t Be A Stranger’ is set to be a standout debut. The Rills have harnessed the raw energy that made them viral sensations and polished it into something more mature and cohesive, with bassist Callum Warner-Webb comparing it to a Baz Luhrmann-style love story with a strange, almost romantic, rivalry playing out in the background, even drawing parallels to Formula One.
It’s been a wild ride for The Rills. Emerging from the chaos of lockdowns and TikTok virality, they’ve transitioned from being a “little idiot band,” as Spencer puts it, to one with a growing fanbase and major ambitions. What started as writing catchy, instant-gratification songs for social media has evolved into crafting tracks that aim for a deeper connection. With a debut album on the horizon, a string of live shows, and a massive year of festivals lined up for 2025, The Rills are setting themselves up for a major breakout.
If ‘Mistake’ is anything to go by, ‘Don’t Be A Stranger’ is going to be an electrifying start to an even bigger future for the band.
Words by Gemma Cockrell
