This time last year, singer Benjy, bassist Deon, drummer Tom, and guitarists Jessy and Tommy were just friends who all met online and bonded through a shared taste in indie rock. Soon after, they assembled in East London and began expanding their presence online as the newly formed five-member band bby.
Right out of the gate, they picked up steam when they released their debut single, “hotline,” in August. The song unexpectedly blew up, garnering millions of streams across multiple streaming platforms. For a group that previously had no songs to their name, that’s a rarity in an oversaturated indie music landscape.
With “u come near,” the band’s latest single, they’re moving away from the fast-paced and raunchy indie-rock of “hotline” and venturing into more romantic thoughts after being inspired by a TikTok.
When promoting the track on their Instagram, bby wore their heart on their sleeves when explaining the backstory. “It’s about those people who make you all awkward and quiet whilst your head gets all kinds of loud,” they said. The lyrics go somewhat against that notion, with lines like “Imma get high, Imma break shit” and “I got OnlyFans, I don’t need friends” proving their juvenile mindset.
Then, the chorus explodes. In real-time, Benjy becomes increasingly head over heels for a special someone as the rest of the band raises the intensity with each passing second. Deon’s once skeletal bass grows louder while the guitar begins whining as if crying unintelligibly from the void. The climactic ending ties everything together, proving bby’s short time together hasn’t dragged their quality down.
Recently, the band has been playing a series of local, intimate shows called “bby hangs,” which are better described as jam sessions that happen to be filled with packed audiences. Judging by their social media, bby is more comparable to a group of tightly-knit friends who generously share what they’ve created online. In some ways, it all comes full circle, considering they met through the internet, making their DIY efforts all the more impactful.
Words: David Sosa
“u come near” by bby is out on all streaming services. For more on new music and potential live shows, follow them on Instagram.
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