Desperate Journalist
{{Short description|English post-punk band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{infobox musical artist
| name = Desperate Journalist
| image = Desperate_Journalist_Indietracks_2015_July_25.jpg
| caption = Desperate Journalist performing at Indietracks 2015. Rob Hardy (left), Jo Bevan (right)
| origin = London, England
| genre = Post-punk revival, indie rock
| years_active = 2012–present
| label = Fierce Panda
| website = {{URL|desperatejournalist.co.uk}}
| current_members =
- Jo Bevan
- Simon Drowner
- Rob Hardy
- Caroline "Caz" Helbert
| associated_acts = If...{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/we-are-if|title=We are If...|publisher=Soundcloud|accessdate=2016-10-28}}
The Drowners{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/the-drowners-uk|title=The Drowners UK|publisher=Soundcloud|accessdate=2016-10-28}}
}}
Desperate Journalist are an English, London-based post-punk band, formed in 2012. They released their self-titled debut album in 2015 on Fierce Panda Records. A second album, Grow Up, was released in March 2017.{{cite web|url=http://nbhap.com/blog/desperate-journalist-hollow-video-grow-up-album/|title=Exclusive: Desperate Journalist unveil sinister 'Hollow' clip, announce new album 'Grow Up'|date=2016-11-15|accessdate=2016-11-17|publisher=Nothing But Hope and Passion}} The band's third album, In Search of the Miraculous, was released in February 2019.{{cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/26092-desperate-journalist-new-album-stream-in-search-miraculous|title=New Desperate Journalist Album|website=The Quietus|last=Eede|first=Christian|date=22 February 2019|accessdate=8 June 2019}} A fourth album, Maximum Sorrow!, was released on 2 July 2021. Their fifth album, No Hero, was released on September 27, 2024.
Biography
The band was formed in North London in 2012, by Jo Bevan (vocals), Rob Hardy (guitar), Simon Drowner (bass) and Caroline Helbert (drums). Hardy and Drowner had previously played together in Birmingham-based band The Drowners; Drowner had then later played bass in Bevan's previous band If.... Helbert joined the band as drummer, having "never really played before".{{cite news|title=Adults Only|periodical=The Skinny North|issue=March/April 2017|first=Gary|last=Kail|url=https://issuu.com/theskinny/docs/the_skinny_north_issue_43_march_apr|accessdate=2017-03-02}} They wrote their first song, "Kitten", at their first rehearsal.{{cite web|url=http://lastdaydeaf.com/desperate-journalist/|title=Desperate Journalist|date=2017-02-24|first=Fabrizio|last=Luzzo|publisher=Last Day Deaf}}{{cite web|url=http://louderthanwar.com/desperate-journalist-the-hairy-dog-derby-interview-and-live-review/|title=Desperate Journalist – interview|date=2017-02-23|accessdate=2017-02-26|first=James|last=Auton|publisher=Louder than War}} The band's name derives from The Cure rarity, "Desperate Journalist in Ongoing Meaningful Review Situation".{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/z-sides-the-cure-desperate-journalist/|title=The Cure's "Desperate Journalist" Is The Perfect Diss That Nobody Heard|date=2014-10-31|access-date=2016-12-12|last=Garland|first=Emma|publisher=Vice}}
The band played their first gig in February 2013 at the Silver Bullet in Finsbury Park. After self-releasing debut EP Cristina they were quickly signed by Fierce Panda, who released "Organ" and "Happening" as singles, leading to their debut album, Desperate Journalist, in November 2014, which was recorded at Dean Street Studios with Keith TOTP.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/DesperateJournalist/info/?tab=page_info|title=About Desperate Journalist|website=Facebook|access-date=2016-04-26}}{{cite web|url=http://www.indietracks.co.uk/indietracks-interview-17-desperate-journalist/|title=Indietracks interview #17: Desperate Journalist|publisher=indietracks|date=2015-07-16|accessdate=2016-12-19}}{{cite web|url=https://andsoshethinks.wordpress.com/2013/10/17/a-chat-with-desperate-journalist/|title=A chat with Desperate Journalist|date=2013-10-17|accessdate=2016-12-19|publisher=And So She Things}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fiercepanda.co.uk/news.php?story=411|title=Desperate Journalist Panic On!|date=2015-01-03|accessdate=2016-12-19|publisher=Fierce Panda}}
The Quietus, reviewing their debut album, described them as "beautiful and spellbinding";{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/17072-desperate-journalist-desperate-journalist-review|title=Desperate Journalist: Desperate Journalist|last=Allen|first=Jeremy|date=2015-01-21|access-date=2016-04-26|newspaper=The Quietus}} Drowned in Sound said that they had "effortless grace" and praised Bevan's vocals.{{cite web|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18598/reviews/4148635|date=2015-01-22|title=Desperate Journalist: Desperate Journalist|access-date=2016-04-26|newspaper=Drowned in Sound|last=Fenwick|first=Tom|archive-date=8 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808171420/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/18598/reviews/4148635|url-status=dead}} The band toured the United Kingdom to support the release of the album, including an appearance at Whitby.
In 2015 the band played indietracks, headlined the 100 Club, and released a new EP, Good Luck.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/nov/03/the-playlist-indie-ariel-pink-panda-bear-liam-noel-gallagher-polar-bear|date=2014-11-03|last=Gibsone|first=Harriet|title=The playlist: indie – Ariel Pink, Panda Bear and the Gallaghers|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=2016-04-26}} In 2016, they toured Europe in the spring, and supported Chameleons Vox on a UK tour in August, as well as recording a second album.{{cite web|url=http://www.fiercepanda.co.uk/news.php?story=492|publisher=Fierce Panda|title=Desperate Journalist 'leave Home' Again...|date=2016-03-16}}
The second album, Grow Up, was released in March 2017, backed by a headline tour of the UK and Germany, including a date at the Scala. The first single, "Hollow", was released in October 2016, with an official music video following in November.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-bJd3_FoqI|title=Desperate Journalist - Hollow (Official Video)|date=2016-11-17|publisher=Desperate Journalist|accessdate=2017-01-27}} It was reviewed well by Stereogum, and was picked out as Song of the Day by KEXP.{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1907378/desperate-journalist-hollow/music/|publisher=Stereogum|title=Desperate Journalist – "Hollow"|first=Chris|last=DeVille|date=2016-10-25|accessdate=2016-10-28}}{{cite web|url=http://blog.kexp.org/2017/01/10/song-of-the-day-desperate-journalist-hollow/|title=Song of the Day: Desperate Journalist – Hollow|first=Matthew|last=Howland|date=2017-01-10|accessdate=2017-01-11}} The second single, "Resolution", about New Year's Eve parties, was released on 1 January 2017 and has been playlisted by BBC Radio 6 Music. A music video was released on 27 January.{{cite web|url=http://www.icontact-archive.com/scGyiT8NUzrZ6h3Y7LgUhtLzdYhTWOhj?w=3|title=NING 112|publisher=Fierce Panda|date=2016-12-14|accessdate=2016-12-18|periodical=The Ning Standard}}{{cite web|url=http://louderthanwar.com/premiere-desperate-journalist-reveal-new-track-resolution/|title=Premiere: Desperate Journalist reveal new track Resolution|publisher=Louder Than War|accessdate=2017-01-02|date=2017-01-01}}{{cite tweet|user=BBC6Music|author=BBC Radio 6 Music|number=821410566182961152|date=2017-01-17|title=New to the playlist - tracks from @boniver @TheRyanAdams @theflaminglips @petedoherty @DespJournalist and more http://bbc.in/2ixU0Rk}}{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/21660-desperate-journalist-resolution-video|title=WATCH: New Desperate Journalist Vid|date=2017-01-27|access-date=2017-01-27|publisher=The Quietus|first=Patrick|last=Clarke}} A third single, "Be Kind", was released in March 2017, two weeks before the album. It was playlisted by Virgin Radio UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/205830/9|title=Desperate Journalist Stream New Single Be Kind|date=2017-03-10|first=Laura|last=Johnson|accessdate=2017-03-11}} The fourth and final single, "Why Are You So Boring?", a 'protest song about tossers' was released in June 2017.{{cite web|url=http://fiercepanda.co.uk/news.php?story=556|title=DESPERATE JOURNALIST RELEASE NEW SINGLE ON JUNE 2ND|date=2017-05-21|accessdate=2017-05-24|publisher=Fierce Panda}} The band toured throughout 2017 making summer festival appearances at Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Tramlines, and Benicàssim, and supporting the Slow Readers Club on tour in November.
The band released a new single, "It Gets Better" in January 2018, from forthcoming EP You Get Used To It, whose release coincided with a German tour in April 2018.{{cite web|id=used|url=http://www.fiercepanda.co.uk/news.php?story=591|title=-It Gets Better For Desperate Journalist!|date=2018-01-04|accessdate=2018-02-14}} In November 2018 the band released "Cedars", the first single of a third album, In Search of the Miraculous, for release in February 2019. From November 2018 they were joined by Charley Stone as a live guitarist. On 2 April 2021 Desperate Journalist released "Fear" and announced their 4th studio album, Maximum Sorrow!, which was released on 2 July 2021.{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/25602-desperate-journalist-new-single-listen|title=LISTEN: New Desperate Journalist|first=Christian|last=Eade|date=2018-10-01|accessdate=2018-11-06}}{{cite tweet|user=DespJournalist|number=1067031515119390721|date=2018-11-26|title=If you came to see us supporting @marionthegroup on Saturday, you'll already know we were joined by our friend and **new live guitarist** @charleston51 . She'll be playing on all forthcoming dates, helping us sound bigger and better. Welcome Charley!}} On June 10th, Desperate Journalist released the single "Unsympathetic Parts 1&2" and announced their fifth album, No Hero, released on September 27, 2024. Stone did not feature in the subsequent tour.
Members
- Jo Bevan – vocals
- Simon Drowner – bass guitar
- Rob Hardy – guitar
- Caroline "Caz" Helbert – drums
; Live members
- Charley Stone – guitar (2018–)
Discography
=Albums=
- Desperate Journalist album (January 2015)
- Grow Up album (March 2017)
- In Search of the Miraculous (February 2019)
- Maximum Sorrow! (July 2021)
- No Hero (September 2024)
=Singles and EPs=
- Cristina EP [Cristina/Mistakes/Kitten/Wait] (June 2013){{cite web|url=https://desperatejournalist.bandcamp.com/album/cristina-ep|title=Bandcamp: Cristina EP|website=Desperatejournalist.bandcamp.com|access-date=2016-04-26}}
- "Organ" [CDs b/w "Distance"] (November 2013){{cite web|url=https://desperatejournalist.bandcamp.com/album/organ|title=Bandcamp: Organ|website=Desperatejournalist.bandcamp.com|access-date=2016-04-26}}
- "Happening" [CDS b/w "Vengeance"] (May 2014){{cite web|url=https://desperatejournalist.bandcamp.com/album/happening|title=Bandcamp: Happening|website=Desperatejournalist.bandcamp.com|access-date=2016-04-26}}
- "Hesitate" [CDs b/w "Happening (Medium Wave remix)"/"The Fire"] (June 2015){{cite web|url=https://desperatejournalist.bandcamp.com/album/hesitate|title=Bandcamp: Hesitate|website=Desperatejournalist.bandcamp.com|access-date=2016-04-26}}
- Good Luck EP [Good Luck/Leave Home/A Phase/Paint Something/Perfect Health] (October 2015){{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Desperate-Journalist-Good-Luck/release/7596771|title=Desperate Journalist - Good Luck|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=4 March 2020}}
- "Hollow" [CDs b/w "Hollow (Medium Wave remix)"] (October 2016)
- "Resolution" [CDs b/w "Bruce"] (January 2017)
- "Be Kind" (March 2017)
- "Why Are You So Boring" [CDs b/w ""Be Kind" and "Your Genius" (Pop10.de acoustic sessions)] (June 2017)
- "It Gets Better" (January 2018)
- You Get Used To It EP [Incandescent/It Gets Better/Nothing Happens/About You/The Bomb] (April 2018)
- "Cedars" (November 2018)
- "Fault" (April 2021)
- "Personality Girlfriend" (May 2021)
- "Everything You Wanted" (June 2021)
- ”Unsympathetic Parts 1&2” (June 2024)
- ”Afraid” (July 2024)
- ”You Say Your Lonely” (September 2024)