Music News Monthly issue 1

LITTLE THIEF
Debut Album
'Under The Patio'
linktr.ee/LittleThief
Hot on the heels of their recent single ‘Freak' comes the
release of ‘Under The Patio’ the incredible debut album
from Bristol-based rock outfit Little Thief on September
17th. Alongside the album comes its title track ‘Under
The Patio’..
Formed in 2015 by long-time collaborators Charlie
Fitzgerald and Rhii Williams, Little Thief have created
their own brand of raw, gritty and soulful alternative
rock that defines itself. They have a handful of
successful singles under their belts which have seen
them play live sets at Glastonbury and Liverpool Sound
City Festival, as well as receiving support from the likes
of Far Out Magazine, RTE, Steve Lamacq (BBC 6), BBC
Introducing, XS Manchester and Amazing Radio.
With interest in the band quickly growing, they soon
began working with independent record label Funnel
Records, who shaped them into the band that they are
today. With the financial pressures of Covid decimating
the arts industry however, Funnel Records sadly are no
more, and so as a newly independent band, Little Thief
had to turn to Crowdfunder to help to create their debut
album, raising a whopping £5,000.
Speaking about the album, recorded with heavyweight
producer Stew Jackson (Massive Attack) at Rockfield &
Invada Studios, vocalist Charlie Fitzgerald states, “The
album was something we worked really closely with
Stew Jackson to make. It went to a pretty moody place
and the process was fun and weird and everything in
between. We watched a lot of Tommy Cash videos and
serial killer interviews on YouTube whilst writing the
album and then went to Rockfield in Wales for 10 days to
record it. We teamed up early on with the incredible Paul
Hopkins on his thunderous bass who was a formidable
addition to the album. Paul’s bass work and Stew’s
production on this one was paramount to the new Little
Thief sound. We’ve worked with Paul for years, and he
was a big part of the swag that has emerged through
making Under The Patio. All in all we wanted to make
something with a bit of swagger that was slower and hard
hitting.
The album as a whole is something we are so proud of.
It’s not been an easy ride, but since we held the finished
vinyl in our hands, it all felt worth it. It’s a beautiful
record and we are so happy to be finally getting out into
the world.”
Throughout Under The Patio, Little Thief’s visceral
lyricism takes the listener on an introspective journey of
human interactions, through casual lust-filled
encounters, lost loves and crimes of passion all the while
blending their inimitable brand of bluesy, gritty rock,
unmistakable swagger, Williams’ signature groove and
Fitzgerald’s cathartic, raw vocals.
Prior to the album comes it’s title track Under The Patio, a
track inspired by two VERY contrasting experiences. “The
first verse was written a few months previous about a
beautiful relationship between a couple of our friends
who were stunningly explosive and never seemed to see
a boring day. The rest actually came from having to
watch a real court case about a guy who had killed his
Step-Dad, cut him up and hid him in boxes under his T.V.
It was pretty fucking creepy.
“On the whole, it’s about being confrontational and
honest with yourself so that you have nothing to hide. In
a world full of toxic masculinity, it’s about owning up to
those elements of your own personality and putting
them out to dry”, explains lyricist Charlie Fitzgerald.
Little Thief’s debut album ‘Under The Patio’ will be
released September 17th on vinyl and will be available
on all major platforms.
Title track ‘Under The Patio’ was released September
10th and will be available on all major platforms.