Still Life: From School Friends to Pop Rock Contenders

Some bands are born out of ambition, others from pure friendship. For Bournemouth four-piece Still Life, it started with mates teaching themselves instruments, blagging early gigs, and slowly growing into one of Dorset’s most exciting young bands. What began in 2017 under another name has since rebranded into something sharper, stronger, and with a clear identity. And now, they’re on a mission to make infectious pop rock with just enough grit to get the moshers moving.

Still Life Bournemouth pop rock band: A Band Built on Friendship

Frontman Alex, guitarist Nat, drummer Josh, and bassist Charlie are more like family than bandmates. Alex, Nat, and Josh went to school together, while Charlie is Josh’s cousin. The project kicked off simply because they wanted to spend time together doing something fun. “We fell in love with the idea of playing live after going to early gigs to see Catfish and The Bottlemen and Nothing But Thieves,” says Alex. “That’s what made us want to take it seriously.”

Finding Their Sound

In the early days they were all-out rock, but with Still Life, the band has landed in the sweet spot between pop rock and alt-rock. “We want our music to be catchy and infectious so people have a good time with us,” Alex explains. “But we still keep enough grit in there for our rock-minded fans.” The result is a sound that’s energetic, melodic, and built for live crowds.

Part of Dorset’s Big Musical Family

Being based in Bournemouth has been key to their journey. They’re quick to praise Dorset’s grassroots scene, packed with local talent and independent festivals. “It feels like a big family,” they say. “Everyone knows everyone, and we’ve yet to come across someone who isn’t lovely.” Highlights so far include a slot at Teddy Rocks, one of Dorset’s biggest festivals, which Alex calls “a massive show of how much this county has to give in terms of music.”

Venues That Made Them

For Still Life, some of their most important milestones happened at Chaplins in Boscombe. The quirky bar gave them their very first gig, and they’ve returned multiple times since. “It’s one of the prettiest bars in Bournemouth and always full of music enthusiasts,” Alex says. Supporting The Lottery Winners was another standout moment, as was selling out their first ever headline show earlier this year — a night where the crowd sang their songs back to them word for word.

Chaos, Blunders, and Banter

Not everything has gone smoothly — and they wouldn’t want it to. At their sold-out headline show, Alex forgot to plug in his amp, guitar, and pedal board. “We looked like we staged it,” he laughs, “but no, that was real.” At Teddy Rocks, Nat managed to tangle himself up in Alex’s guitar strap mid-song, dragging him across the stage. “Somehow we kept going,” Alex jokes.

Crowd Favourites and Singalong Moments

When it comes to live favourites, Something in The Music and At Home always bring the house down. Both tracks have become crowd anthems, with audiences shouting every word back at them. “There’s no better feeling than hearing people sing your own lyrics right back at you,” says Alex.

What’s Next for Still Life

The band have just finished recording their second EP, the follow-up to their debut earlier this year, and new singles are set to drop in the coming months. They are also on the bill for the first ever Ripper Fest in Bournemouth on 13 September, raising funds for Dorset’s Forest Holme Hospice. “It’s going to be a really special one,” Alex says.

Follow the Journey

You can find Still Life on Instagram (@stilllife.band), TikTok (@stilllifeband), Facebook, YouTube, and on all major streaming platforms. Give them a listen, add them to your playlists, and catch them live when you can — because this is a band that’s only getting bigger.

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