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Ferris & Sylvester

Ferris & Sylvester release 'Knock You Down' live from Real World Studios

Ferris & Sylvester have released a beautiful live version of their single ‘Knock You Down’, recorded at the iconic Real World Studios.

The new version of ‘Knock You Down’ strips the track back to stunning acoustics, with Archie Sylvester swapping the bite of his blues guitar for soft grand piano keys accompanied by hearty cello. It lays the foundations for the captivating vocal harmonies with Issy Ferris in this intoxicating coming of age anthem.

The video premiered with EARMILK alongside an interview where Ferris & Sylvester explained, We’d always wanted to record something at Real World. We were in the studio’s smaller live room called The Wood Room and everything looked and sounded warm, lively and exciting. It felt really interesting in this new set up, making it perhaps more melancholy and thoughtful.

“We waited until it got dark, cleared the room of everything but this amazing grand piano and just sang it together. In the spirit of a live session, we wanted it to be totally transparent, so we shot it with one camera angle. There isn’t anything to hide behind in that environment, we just had to trust ourselves in the moment. We’d never done a live session on piano before, so it felt nerve-racking and exciting when the engineer hit record. It certainly had a magic to it and we hope that translates in the video.”

‘Knock You Down’ is taken from the band’s brand new EP I Should Be On A Train, released earlier this month via LAB Records. The EP is an outstanding expansive record from the pair, which has been crafted during Covid-19 in their home studio and also in freer times in Seattle with the award-winning and Grammy-nominated producer Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers, Brandi Carlile, The Strokes), the latter working on the riff-laden new track ‘Good Man’.

It also features acclaimed singles including ‘Everyone Is Home’, described by Clash Magazine as the duos very own isolation anthem”, and the explosive blues ballad title track, which gained strong support from Bob Harris on his Radio 2 show, while it led BBC Introducing South West to feature the band as their ‘Artist Of The Week’. Ferris & Sylvester were featured as ‘Legends Of The Future’ by Sunday People and the song has continued to receive critical praise from the likes of American Songwriter, Maverick Magazine and many more.

The EP closes with their stunning cover of The Beatles’ ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’, inspired by the band’s lockdown livestreams where they shared a new cover every week with their fans and also raised money to help local venues stay in business via the Music Venue Trust, of which they are patrons.

The I Should Be On A Train EP finds Ferris & Sylvester thriving in the world’s state of transition, taking the opportunity to explore new territories, spurred on by the success of the past and looking forward to the future.

ACCLAIM FOR FERRIS & SYLVESTER

“A rich and fully realised sound that leaves you pining for a full length”

Rolling Stone

“A masterpiece of Brit Folk that should already have made them household names”

MOJO

“Rage-ridden brilliance. One of the best songs of the last five years”

Sarah Gosling, BBC Introducing

“Alt Simon & Garfunkel… dreamy pop with spikey sentiments”

The Guardian

"A great band, with lovely harmonies who opened for us last year. I’m sure they’ll continue to go from strength to strength"

Robert Plant

“Amazing band”

Frank Turner

“From bluesy guitars that storm and shimmer to unison vocals that build to a massive group sing-along. It heads straight for the brain's joy receptors, and damned if it doesn't hit its target”

NPR

“Their contagious blend of country and rambunctious rockabilly is beautifully delivered”

The Independent

“Sluicing together Americana-leanings with elements of blues, soul, and even a dash of pop, the pair seemed to tap into something primal”

Clash

“Pure, furious and carnal bluesy rock'n'roll”

Gigwise

Gorgeousan absolute sonic delight

Far Out Magazine

A major new talent.”

Richard Madeley, Radio 2

“Something very special indeed”

Ricky Ross, BBC Radio Scotland

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