Clean Bandit, the British band known for their chart-topping hits, recently disclosed that their former record label pressured them to shift away from pop music. The band, comprising Jack Patterson, Luke Patterson, and Grace Chatto, had achieved significant success with their unique sound, including four UK number one singles. However, their label sought to steer them towards a different direction.
In an interview with the BBC, Jack Patterson revealed, “We were told to stop making pop music.” The label specifically encouraged the group to embrace a “dance music” style, providing them with dance music playlists and stating, “Your music has to sit on here – only Harry Styles can make pop music.”
This imposed shift negatively impacted their chart performance, though at the time, Clean Bandit was eager to release new material for their fans. Grace Chatto reflected on the situation, saying, “We allowed it to happen because we were like, ‘We’d rather release something than nothing.’ But the music didn’t feel like our music. Our fans were feeling it. We were feeling it. In the end, we were like, what’s the point in doing anything?”
Now signed with a new record label, Clean Bandit feels their current situation is more favorable. Jack Patterson noted the difference in approach, stating, “Our previous label was based in the UK, so their priority was always what would work over here. If it wasn’t going to be played on Capital [Radio], they weren’t interested. Now, if we work with someone in Mumbai, that’s OK. The fact that we don’t have a singer means we can be light on our feet and work anywhere in the world.”
