When three-piece British band New Hope Club put out their single “Stars” earlier this winter, their many Korean fans felt the waves of emotion all the way across the ocean. The song captures what it feels like when the person you love always seems to be out of reach, with lyrics about searching the stars for a path across the vast open sea. Read on to learn how the boys who once sang/known for singing about hope feel about their own songs, and to get some music recommendations from this group that’s grown into a true troubadour trio.

George on New Hope Club’s music

New Hope Club  - “Stars”
George: This is our most recent release. It kind of carries on from what I was talking about with “CMAQ.” We are not really afraid to show a more personal side and talk/write about the things that we have going on in our lives. At the end of the day you write what you know... I think this song puts more of a positive spin on the distance that we might feel in a relationship. It always feels like there’s hope if you truly do want something. Even though it might be hard at the time, it’s often true that for the best things you have to work the hardest!

New Hope Club  - “Fixed”
George: The song that started it all for us, this was our first-ever release. It will always be a special song for us, and I would say that even to this day it is one of my favorites to perform live. The fans still seem to love it, and over the years of playing it live they have picked up on the little changes we have made to it. It creates a real fun atmosphere whenever we play it during our shows. 

New Hope Club – “Call Me a Quitter”
George: “Quitter” is a real special song for us collectively. We were going through a tough time and we opened up to each other in the back of a black cab going through London. This sparked the initial idea for the song, and then the next day while in the studio we circled back to what we had been talking about, and all of these lyrics flowed out of us! I think this song has always shown a more vulnerable side of us but also one that we are not afraid of sharing with our fans. I think it’s just a song that really encapsulates what we were truly feeling at that moment in time.

New Hope Club, Danna Paola – “Know Me Too Well”
George: Well, what do we say about this song? “Know Me Too Well” is our biggest song and we always finish our live sets with it. I think that this song is a very unique one for NHC and very enjoyable to play live, even though it’s been out for five years! We are incredibly grateful for all the support that we have been shown for this song since its release. We never thought that it would get as much love as it has, so we continue to be blown away! It’s the song the fans sing the loudest in the set, but it’s always sort of bittersweet because it’s the last song and it makes me wish that we could go back to the start.

George, Reece, and Blake’s recommendations for fans

Mk.gee – “ROCKMAN”
George: I’ve been listening to this song so much recently. It feels nostalgic, yet very current. I love the ’80s references you hear in the song. It gives me real Police and Phil Collins vibes and I’m here for it. It’s also a great driving song, so whenever I get the chance I have the windows down and music blasting!

Flyte – “Speech Bubble”
George: I have been in love with this song since it came out! I’m obsessed with the whole album, to be honest. I put it on whenever I find myself in a stressful situation. I think it helps me sort of slow myself down and take a breath. I also just love the whole sound palette throughout the record. It feels a little dreamy and melancholic, which I enjoy.

Arctic Monkeys – “Only Ones Who Know”
Reece: I love this song because it’s tied to so many memories and feelings of being a kid. Every time it plays I’m taken back to the bus that took me to high school each morning. Everything about the chords and lyrics are perfect to me.

Fontaines D.C. – “In the Modern World”
Reece: I’m really enjoying this new Fontaines D.C. album. I saw them live in Los Angeles, and I’ve been obsessed ever since. This year they’ve gone to the next level for me. Grian’s vocals are so unique and raw, and I never get tired of listening to this song especially.

Stevie Wonder – “I Wish”
Blake: This song has been starting my day each morning for a couple of weeks now! There’s something that happens when the drums come in that gives me a serotonin boost. The whole album Songs in the Key of Life is one that I have on repeat a lot at the moment, but “I Wish” blows my mind every time. No one can do it quite like Stevie.

Queen – “Cool Cat”
Blake: I discovered this song for the first time about three months ago... I’m aware it’s not a new song, but it’s one I had never come across before. I’d never heard Queen in this pocket with such a dirty swag running through the whole record. Freddie’s vocals are always unbelievable, but they’re particularly so in this song. He really is just riffing and playing with his voice. It’s a super cool record that I’m sure will stay a favorite for a while.

George’s recommendations: “Miss You” - The Rolling Stones  / “Something About Us” - Daft Punk
Reece’s recommendations: “Days” - The Drums  / “What Once Was” - Her's
Blake’s recommendations: “Give Me the Night” - George Benson / “It Ain't Over 'til It's Over” - Lenny Kravitz