Formed in 2011, with roots in the Midlands and beyond, there’s a lot to unpack with 80s-influenced band Deco – and they've only just released their debut album. With two Nottingham shows imminent, lead singer Max Kendall found time to sit down with LeftLion to talk about the new record, as well as the band’s headline tour, and everything in between…
After being together for 13 years, Deco certainly didn’t rush the release of their debut album, Destination: I Don't Know. Max Kendall explains the reason behind the wait. “We recorded it a year ago, so it’s a relief to finally get it out. But it’s been a long time coming anyway, regardless. We’ve had a lot of singles building up to it, so it finally felt like the right time to get a full-length out.”
Part of the delay came from changes within the band. “A few years ago, we were changing
members, and we’re quite settled now. Things started to get a lot better over the last year, and
things really gelled. Now, we have a collection of songs that work well together. We were biding our
time – we didn’t want to put our first album out and it not feel right. Also, we got signed, which
helps!”
To build anticipation, the band released five singles ahead of the album, starting with Photograph, which Kendall describes as “the most easy-listening track on the album.” From there, the singles took a different direction. “Want Me was going to be the first single, but we were nervous because it was very different from anything we’d done before. So, we wanted to start with something familiar,” he says.
“It’s been tricky picking the singles,” he continues, “as we have three writers, each with different
opinions. Then, there’s the label’s input to consider as well. There are a lot of other songs we
would’ve put out as singles if we’d had more time before the album release. But then, you risk
turning every song into a single, so you have to be careful.”
Our manager suggested we try the viral Sea Shanty trend in the Deco style
It’s hard to talk about Deco without mentioning their viral moment in 2020 when they began posting eighties mashup covers online, which dramatically expanded their fanbase. “By the end of 2020, we’d lost momentum because we couldn’t tour. We were trying different things on TikTok, and our manager suggested we try the viral Sea Shanty trend in the Deco style. After that, I started doing famous tracks in our style. It went crazy, and we spent that year making loads of different covers.”
It’s taken the band time to figure out how to turn that viral audience into fans of their original music. “We have a very diverse and larger audience now, which is great. The label has really helped guide us back to being a fully-fledged originals band – which we were before Covid, but we had to find our way back,” he says.
Now, with the ability to connect with fans in person, Deco is gearing up for their headline tour in October. “There’s something really exciting about this tour – mainly because all the dates are selling really well. We’ve always done well in places like London and Nottingham, but now we’re starting to sell well in other areas too, which is cool.”
Kendall is especially excited for the Rescue Rooms show. “It’s one of our favourite venues, and we’ve played it a lot. It feels big, but it’s small at the same time. I went there a lot when I was at Uni in Nottingham, so it always feels special to play there. I think we’ll have to open the balcony, which is cool, since it’s nearly sold out. It’s nice to return to where the band started – we’re based in London now, and have lots of homes, but Nottingham is definitely one of them.”
Before the headline tour kicks off, the band will also stop by Nottingham’s Rough Trade for an in-store show, following their first-ever record store performance at Rough Trade East last weekend. “Everyone is really close to the stage! You can see into people’s eyes, which gave me a real adrenaline rush. We haven’t done any indoor shows for a while – we did an outdoor tour with Nile Rodgers, and the crowd was so far away from us, but at the in-store show, we got to chat with everyone.”
The Nottingham in-store show will feature the full band, but with a slight change.
“Because the show had to be rescheduled, and our drummer will be in Germany visiting family that week, we’ll be using an electronic drum machine. It’s going to be a completely different vibe compared to the headline tour – which gives people another reason to come to the Rescue Rooms show!”
As for the album’s potential to chart, Kendall is hopeful. “Right now, we’re focused on selling as many albums as possible to break into the Top 40. We know we’re close, but the difference between number 35 and 45 can be tiny. It’s hard not to get excited, and it makes you want it more! It really could change the future of the band.”
Ultimately, Kendall is most looking forward to the tour, with the album out in the world.
“There’s a crazy amount of pressure when you’re releasing an album, but by the time we’re on tour, we’ll know whether it’s in the charts or not, and I’ll just be able to enjoy playing the songs live. We’ve done the best we can, and we’re proud of the album as a collection of music. That’s the main thing.”
Deco’s debut album Destination: I Don't Know was released on 20th September 2024. The band perform at Rough Trade on 23rd September and return to Nottingham for a headline show at Rescue Rooms on 24th October.
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