Will and the People

Will & The People are a multi-talented bunch who can all write, sing and play numerous instruments. Will Rendle launched the collective in 2010 while studying music at the British And Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM) in Brighton. Initially, he played solo gigs and, as it was just him standing in front of an audience, he would introduce himself as “Will & The People”. However, it wasn’t long before he had bandmates, with school friends Jim Ralphs and Charlie Harman plus his brother Jamie Rendle all coming on board.

Often compared to Iggy And The Stooges and influenced by artists like Bob Marley and Sublime, WATP created their own hybrid of reggae, rock, grunge, ska, folk and house.

In 2011, they launched the label Baggy Trouser Music and released their self-titled debut album. It established a signature sound filled with heavy guitar and catchy synth, as well as a reputation for upbeat live shows packed with fun and energy.

Early the next year, Will & The People’s sophomore album Friends came out featuring the song Masterpiece, with their third album Whistleblower arriving in 2014.

The band spent a lot of time on tour and also released a handful of singles over the next five years including 2016’s Gigantic and Wasting Time.

During the coronavirus lockdown of 2020, WATP recorded their five-song Head In The Sand (Live From Lockdown) EP, unveiled their first compilation called B-Sides Collection and released two more singles: Justify and Seatbelt.

The band made several live appearances in 2021 including sold-out shows in London and Brighton, as well as playing sets at the Boardmasters and Green Man festivals. In late August, Will & The People debuted the lead single Animal – recorded in Los Angeles with Thom Russo (Jay-Z, Audioslave) – from their fourth album Past The Point Of No Return, due out in November.

About Animal, the band said: “It’s the arch nemesis of the cancel culture world we live in today. It’s about primitive acceptance. It’s about desires, social conformity and was written to hit very hard, like our actions do when they come back and bite us”. 

To support the new album, Will & The People also confirmed UK tour dates for November and December 2021.