The Amber Bugs: Sketches & Sculptures
The Amber Bugs Unveil Dual EP Masterstroke: Sketches & Sculptures
by Jack Rush
London’s genre-defying indie outfit The Amber Bugs are back with their most daring release to date: a double EP drop that captures both ends of their musical spectrum. Sketches and Sculptures, reveals two radically different faces of the band—one raw and immediate, the other lush and unapologetically extravagant.
Two EPs. Two Extremes. One Band.
SKETCHES – Raw, Live, and Recklessly Honest
Recorded entirely live at Tilehouse Studios with producer Luke Oldfield, Sketches is a gutsy throwback to the days when bands laid it all down in a single take. No overdubs, no safety net—just the band in full flight. In an era obsessed with sonic perfection, The Amber Bugs embrace the glorious mess of live performance, channeling their kinetic stage energy into six unapologetically imperfect tracks.
"Recording live, the way our heroes did, isn’t the done thing anymore. And for good reason – it only works if the band is firing on all cylinders. But when it works… Mwah… it’s a thing of beauty."
Standout Track: The As Yet Unwritten Big Beat Banger
A fuzzed-out ode to free will, Ikigai, and the maddening search for the perfect song, this track is adrenaline bottled in sound. Gritty, chaotic, and totally unfiltered, it's the heart of Sketches and the band at their most explosive.
SCULPTURES – Big, Bold, and Beautifully Over the Top
Where Sketches strips things down, Sculptures builds skyward. Recorded at Buffalo Studios with producer JB Pilon, this EP is a maximalist triumph, bringing together strings, brass, woodwinds, orchestral percussion, choirs, vibraphones—and somehow making it all work.
"Vacuums suck, and we don’t operate in one."
This is The Amber Bugs at their most theatrical, their most cinematic, and maybe their most unhinged. A testament to collaboration, Sculptures brings impossible ideas to life with the help of a sprawling community of musicians who share their vision.
Standout Track: The Protagonist
A satirical take on The Hero’s Journey, this track explodes with horns, distortion, and wit. It skewers tired tropes while diving headfirst into melodrama—proof that The Amber Bugs know the rules well enough to gleefully break them.
Not Your Average Indie Band
The Amber Bugs are the kind of band that resists easy definition. Emo-indie-swing-ska-punk? Sure. Until they decide to do jazz. Or beat poetry. Whatever they are, they’re not trying to game algorithms or chase playlist placements. They want genuine connections, honest feedback, and listeners who are in it for the ride.
With Sketches / Sculptures, they're not just giving fans music—they're offering an experience. The double EP will be released exclusively and for free via their mailing list, complete with behind-the-scenes diaries, interviews, and deep dives into the music and the process. This isn’t just a release; it’s a creative world you can step into.
So if you’re tired of neatly packaged music with no soul, sign up, tune in, and let The Amber Bugs show you both sides of their beautifully chaotic coin.
Have a listen and connect with The Amber Bugs:
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