Hailing from the shores of Brighton in the UK, Common Tongues were formed in 2010 by childhood friends growing up together in Cambridge, Tom Anderson and Oli Hinkins. The band combine their love of tender and emotive song writing with a passion for experimentation and atmospherics. They mix an attention to memorable yet complex melodies with the percussive explosions of Efterklang and Local Natives. They also cite Yann Tiersen, Villagers, Radiohead and Brian Wilson as inspiration.
Having released their first single “Jumping Ships” midway through 2011 on Something Nothing Records, they have been gigging intensively around the UK and hitting the festival circuit hard with slots at Bestival, Secret Garden Party, The Alternative Escape, Playgroup and Meadowlands alongside support slots with Beth Jeans Houghton, Michelle Stodart , Juan Zelada and Alice Gold. 2012 has seen the band play festivals such as Focus Wales, Alternative Escape, Liverpool Sound City, London Folkfest, Hop Farm, Cornbury, Lubstock and Tonefest amongst many others, with a live session on BBC Introducing South and finishing in the top 5 of the Isambard Folk Awards.
Having showcased in September at the fabulous Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg to a packed audience they secured a European agent as a result, and a tour of Europe is currently being put together for spring. They also played in St. Lawrences Church at Norwich Sound & Vision conference, Sligo Live in Ireland with a live session on the John Murray show on RTE1. They have also featured on the soundtrack to the upcoming film “Pictures of Lily” which is set to tour film festivals in the coming months. They’re gearing up for the release of their single “Solitary Thinker” on February 25 with a special in store performance at the Apple store on Regents Street, London as well as the release of their E.P. in April with art by Oliver Wallington & Jen O’Brien and animation by Chloe Rodham.
