Hailing from Glasgow and formed in 2018, Flows have had releases on the likes of Glasgow Underground, Superfett and Lyceum Social Club among others. They’re back with Power, a euphoric piano house gospel anthem in collaboration with Edinburghʼs own His Bitter Truth.
His Bitter Truth is as an artist, session vocalist and writer who has worked with a huge range of artists including Sandy Rivera, Todd Terry, Louie Vega, MNEK, Low Steppa, Annie Mac, Simma Black, Motive Records, Kylie, Beverley Knight, House Gospel Choir and even The Muppets. With radio support from the likes of Sam Divine, MistaJam and Charlie Sloth, His Bitter Truth is a multifaceted artist to watch.
Power sees Flows blend the energetic rhythms of house music with the heartfelt essence of gospel, resulting in an inspiring and uplifting sonic journey. With mesmerizing piano hooks and soulful vocals, this soon-to-be anthem delivers an irresistible groove perfectly complimented by His Bitter Truth’s empowering lyrics.
Hi guys, thank you for taking the time to chat with us today! How has the year been treating you so far?
HBT: Ermmmmm yes! Hahaha let’s just say, music heals! Been grateful to have these wonderful guys to work with. It’s definitely helped through some tough times…but, we move!
Blair: The feeling is mutual! His Bitter Truth has been incredible to work with and honestly goosebumps hearing the vocal for the first time. Year has been a bit of slog to get to this point but I couldn’t be more excited to be here with this track coming out!
Dave: I couldn’t agree more, it’s been an absolute pleasure to work with such a talented artist and it is also so exciting to have Power as the first release on Blair and my Record Label venture ‘First and Favourite’!
Where do you think the impulse to create music comes from for you?
HBT: I think it’s primal. It’s something that connects us all, crossing boundaries and cultures. A driving rhythm is undeniable, in any language! It really unifies people. I think the appeal is the euphoria that it creates. It can truly transport you to another plain. There’s something so beautiful to see a crowd of people all move as one, reacting to a price of music, whatever the genre. But house music itself, is something else. That pulse is transcendental.
Blair: I couldn’t agree more. For me producing music, it’s an escape, a switch off. When I’m making music I get lost in it and can be there for 5 hours and feels like 15 mins. There are days where a track just seems to appear from no where in a couple of hours. Power saw a few iterations but we knew it was special so definitely wanted to make sure it was absolutely the best it could be.
Dave: I think for me music is an escapism and when I open up my DAW and start working on an idea, I like Blair can find myself deep into a session 5 or 6 hours later. I basically lose myself in the music (as CHEESY as that sounds). I have grown up in a really music orientated household where creativity was always encouraged and I always enjoy the thought of the music Blair and I create in our home studios really resonating with people in the UK and beyond.
Power is the first record we’ve heard from you for a while – was this an intentional break, or is that just how things panned out?
Blair: It was just how it happened. Although we have had releases on well known labels in the past and we would love to continue that, the music we were bringing wasn’t landing. We didn’t want what we love to not see the light of day and give people the chance to dance, hands up and sing along. So then came First and Favourite. We have been talking about doing our own label for a few years but not had the opportunity to take it forward until earlier this year.
Tell us about the background to writing Power, and what – for you – the record represents?
Dave: I think from memory we came up with the initial idea in late 2019. I have always been a fan of big piano house tracks and when I came up with the lead line and basic drum groove, it just took me back to some of the big hands in the air tunes from the 90’s that I grew up with and still love to this day (Baby D – Let Me Be Your Fantasy and True Faith – Take Me Away to name but a few). Between Blair and I, we sent the idea back and forth and came up with the drums and overall arrangement in the weeks after. We initially had a more tonal bass sound which we decided that we would replace with a more pluck bass which I think compliments the overall track perfectly.
HBT: when I got the link through, I’m won’t lie, I was having a shitty day, and was driving around town on a million errands. So I saw the message pop up on insta and thought, let me put this on. So I cranked up the volume and came to the Power instrumental…and thought, wait! What?! When that piano kicked in, I just smiled and started dancing behind the wheel. I knew straight away it had to be uplifting. And I knew it had to be simple. The word ‘Power’ come to mind and the the message followed quickly. I had to pull over as the melodies started coming, so I got them down on my phone and messaged the guys almost 10/20 minutes after they’d sent it and said, I’ll have something to you by the end of the day! What you hear now was very much my first reaction to the music, which is how I prefer to write. It feels more real. More authentic. We chatted about this on our podcast recently…I honestly think the song is already in there. You just have to listen and harness it’s energy! Sometimes I write and when I listen back I’m like, oh, hello message for me! It’s basically therapy! So for me, the record represents letting go. Stop searching outwardly for answers – you have the power inside YOU!
We heard that you’ve never actually met in real life – did that make collaborating on the record that much more challenging?
HBT: it seems to be the way of the world these days. It came from necessity through the lockdowns but it really actually opened up a lot of opportunities that wouldn’t have necessarily happened otherwise. It also takes a few new skills to make things happen, but you live and learn! And when it clicks…it just clicks. It is a really special experience to create in a room together but when needs must…you just do the damn do!
We have to ask about The Muppets – how was it that you came to work with them?
HBT: Well! That was pretty insane really. It was through working with House Gospel Choir. We got asked to perform Bohemien Rhapsody, of all songs, at the O2 with the actual Muppets on their tour. Such a crazy experience. And it’s where we (the choir) first met Kylie and sang with her backstage, which led to us performing with her at Hyde Park along with Jason, singing Especially For You in front of 30,000 people. It sounds like a crazy dream, but it happened. Oh and I met Rick Astley backstage. Baby-me was going crazy.
In a time when dance music seems to be more reflective and ‘serious’ than ever before, it feels like big, open-hearted records like Power are rarer than ever. How do you hope that it will be received?
Blair: I hope it’s received with open minds tbh, you’re right though, dance music can be so serious it trips over itself at times. We wanted to make a record that was uplifting and a summer banger. Although Scotland get’s it for a week, we wanted a big tune for that week!
HBT: I think it’s so very important. We need that escape. We need that antidote. And why can’t you have some words of wisdom laced up in a Dancefloor banger!? I hope people love it. I hope they get uplifted by the epic production and I hope they get some healing from the message. I mean it from the bottom of my heart.
Tell us about your current studio set up – any particular bits of go-to kit you find yourself returning to?
Blair: I run a Mac mini, with a fousrite scarlette 6i6 soundcard. Maschine Mikro for drum sampling and groove making, which is incredible for sounds and swing. I have a pair of Event 20/20BAS which being honest are too big for what I need but for not going over volume 4, they sound pretty great and give me space for hearing the subs. I got a Behringer Monopoly a few years ago and it’s my absolute go to. I have always struggled with soft synths but to be able to get my hands on something has been a game changer. Complimented by the Behringer Crave which was actually a gift for my 30th from Dave.
Dave: I tend to keep my home set up quite simplistic, I run Ableton Live Suite although through a Scarlette sound card and have a pair of trusty Yamaha monitors but tend to gravitate to My Sennheiser HD25’s to get an initial idea down and rough mix before I send to Blair (as we generally work remotely over Dropbox). I have a Korg MS20 Mini which is a beauty and also have a Korg Kaossolator and a Behringer TD-3 which Blair kindly bought me for my 30th birthday. In terms of soft synths, my guilty pleasure is always the Korg M1 VST which has some classic sounds in it and a must for all producers is the FabFilter Pro Q 3 EQ. It is just outstanding!
HBT: Mine is embarrassing at the moment! So I won’t out myself. Hahah. But it gets me by, for now. I do love going into a proper studio, whatever the size and recording with an engineer. Gets there job done quicker.
Which artists are currently exciting or inspiring you?
HBT: to be honest, I don’t ever sit to write a record and think, ooo I want it to sound like X, Y and Z, but I do absorb the music around me, so I guess it’s all subconsciously there when I sit down to write. I love the music coming out of Raising Records. Had the honour of releasing with them a few times. But it’s always great, soulful house. I love Alex Mills. Her melodies always BANG!
What should we expect from you for the rest of 2023?
Blair: Plenty more! This is the first of a few releases we have lined up on First and Favourite. Besides a platform to release our own music, we’re very excited to champion new talent coming through. Possibly might hear more from His Bitter Truth on one of those releases too… ears peeled.
HBT: Who me?! Well, that sounds like fun. Why don’t we make someth…shhhhh.