Courting made waves in the Liverpool music scene after forming in 2018. The band, consisting of Sean Murphy-O’Neill (vocals/guitar), Sean Thomas (drums), Joshua Cope (guitar), and Connor McCann (bass), released their debut single ‘Not Yr Man’ in 2019. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, they persevered and gained mainstream recognition with their 2020 single ‘Football,’ which received airplay on BBC Radio 1 and 6. In 2021, they released their acclaimed debut EP ‘Grand National’ and followed it up with their debut album ‘Guitar Music’ in 2022, which received extensive press coverage and widespread acclaim. They also embarked on a successful UK headline tour in the autumn.
Since then, Courting has appeared at various festivals and supported indie rock band Circa Waves on their sold-out UK tour. Their latest single, ‘Flex,’ showcases the band’s energetic and chaotic style. The track challenges assumptions with the opening assertion, “I’m not a pop-punk band,” and continues to push boundaries with turbocharged guitar riffs, punchy vocals, and vibrant trumpet notes. ‘Flex’ incorporates the swirling hyper pop and post-punk sensibilities that initially drew attention to Courting’s debut album.
The accompanying music video, styled as found footage, humorously depicts the behind-the-scenes life of a pop star and captures the angst of publicity and longing for distant relationships conveyed in the song. ‘Flex’ marks an exciting direction for Courting, who have already achieved significant milestones in their budding career.