Tiktok sensations Cherryholt set to release new single tomorrow
Lincolnshire-based indie band compared to The Kooks goes viral on Tiktok ahead of upcoming single release
Surprise! Stereophone is breaking free from Cardiff’s indie rock scene and out into the world. It all started with me scrolling through TikTok and coming across this band, I couldn’t get their song out of my head for days. So when I found out they were releasing it tomorrow, I knew I had to snap them up!
Cherryholt came together in November 2023, starting with drummer Dylan and lead singer Reuben, who had been school friends. Seeking a guitarist through Instagram, they quickly added Harvey, followed by Dan on piano, and eventually Harvey’s twin Ben on bass. Just eight months in, the band has already played multiple gigs and forged a tight-knit musical identity.
Why the Name Cherryholt?
The name comes from a familiar route Dylan used to walk daily: Cherryholt Road. “We were called No Labels before that,” Reuben laughs, “but Cherryholt Road just stuck.”
Getting Hooked on Music
Dylan discovered his love for drums in February last year, inspired by classic drummers like Ringo Starr.
Harvey plays every instrument under the sun but has settled on lead guitar.
Ben has been singing all his life but only started playing bass in the last year. Him and his twin brother Harvey have been in cover bands since they were little.
Dan’s defining musical moment was at a Jools Holland show in Skegness, it really got him into blues.
Reuben fell in love with music during lockdown, exploring emo rap before gravitating toward indie and Beatles-influenced sounds.
Their shared upbringing in Lincolnshire and exposure to local cover bands helped shape their musical foundations, even if the regional scene is “a bit of a sleeping music scene,” as they put it.
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Musical Influences and Style
Comparisons to bands like The Kooks and The La’s are inevitable, but Cherryholt’s sound combines nostalgia with modern indie energy. Reuben recounts buying The Kooks’ debut album Inside In/Inside Out and looping it in his car for 4 months (he’s not mad, he just didn’t have a phone aux), absorbing the chaotic yet melodic vibes that continues to inspire their writing.
“They just really just captured me. I guess I just subconsciously started writing like them because I had heard it so much. I think it's more of the feeling of the Kooks. I think we all aspire to that sound because it's just has a happy, rocky feel,” Reuben added.
Though they admire bands like Radiohead, Fontaines DC and Wunderhorse, they call their band ‘the other side of the coin’ as they gravitate toward fingerstyle bass and classic Britpop textures, aspiring to blend the past with their own unique sound.
Singles Spotlight: Bailey and Criminals
Their February single, Bailey, tells a quirky and intimate story: Reuben described sitting on the floor at a house party with his girlfriend at the time, sharing a bottle of Bailey’s, and joking about what they’d name their child.
The song evolved from personal anecdote into a polished track inspired by The Murder Capital’s song Ethel: “I was really into to Murder Capital at the time. In Ethel he talks about what they would name their child and how it would turn out. And then two days later, this occurrence happens and I was like, well, I've got to write about this.”
Their debut single Criminals on the other hand, captures teenage angst, exploring youthful rebellion and impulsive experiences. While they now see it as a stepping stone, both tracks showcase the band’s growth and hint at the more sophisticated production in their upcoming single, Irresistible.
The TikTok Factor
Cherryholt first caught fire on TikTok with a short clip of their music that unexpectedly went viral, racking up a total of 167.7k views. But the band’s breakout moment came almost by accident: “We were on the way to watch this gig the other day, and we were sat in the back of the car,” Ben recalled, “and I was like, I can't be arsed to even post today. We'll get 2,000 views, it'll be our mums, his girlfriend, and my girlfriend commenting, and yeah there’s no point.” But they posted it anyway — and it completely blew up.
Now they are receiving overwhelming praise as they count down to the release date tomorrow. The viral hit has definitely boosted their confidence, with them saying it has presented them with new opportunities and a sense of security.
Live Show Highlights
“Our favourite show was Mama Liz's,” they said. “It was our headline show in January, and we sold it out. Seeing everyone singing the lead line to Criminals through my in-ears… it’s mental. I didn’t even need to sing—it was amazing.”
“That line started in my bedroom, not even part of a song, and to hear it sung out loud… wow,” Harvey added.
And the momentum didn’t stop there. Ben was sat on the sofa one day and thought, “We’ve gotta get BBC Introducing.” With that he submitted Bailey and wrote their bio, and it wasn’t long before it got picked up. “ It got played on the radio. That was sick. Then, I got an email from Dean Jackson, asking if we wanted to play the Metronome. We couldn’t say no,” he said shrugging.
What’s next?
New single Irresistible TOMORROW – drops the same day as their sold-out headline gig at Mama Liz’s, which doubles as a release party.
PRESAVE LINK: IRRESISTIBLE
Lincoln Live – end of August with BBC Introducing.
Grantham show – supporting their mates’ band Dysarts.
BBC Introducing gig – 30th August.
Next single entitled Decisions – recording in the coming weeks, aiming for an October/November release.
Brand-new material – an EP expected by the end of the year into early next year!!