Under the Radar: Mixed Signals

With their debut single clocking up over 300,000 streams, Mixed Signals are clearly striking a chord, write Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon

As far as origin stories go, Mixed Signals must be one of the few Scottish combos who can claim they came together out of an act of charity. But when frontman Ben Gardiner needed a band for a fundraiser he had been booked to play in Lanark, his SOS to friends James Armstrong (guitar), Leon Calder (bass), and Nathan Christie (drums) was dutifully answered.

Things went so well that by the next gig Mixed Signals were born, and within months they had sold out their first headline show and played legendary Glasgow venue King Tut’s. As befits a band who met as students in Ayr, there is a nod in their sound to local heroes Biffy Clyro, with other influences cited including Wunderhorse, Inhaler and Muse.

The blend is clearly striking a chord, with debut single Are You Satisfied? clocking up 300,000 streams and bookings for Stag & Dagger, Isle Of White Festival and Pavilion Festival following last year. More recently Mixed Signals have been working with Tayte Nickols, just crowned Breakthrough Producer Of The Year, and on 13 February they release the single Different Frequencies. Catch them at King Tut’s on 21 February, see www.mixedsignals.co.uk

Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run music industry seminar and social night Born To Be Wide, see www.borntobewide.co.uk

Off Axis Tours CIC is a radical, musician-led social enterprise offering the fairest financial model on the market. Artists retain 100% of ticket profits, tour the UK, via a unique gig-swap system, and perform at festivals. Since launching, Off Axis has delivered over 300 gigs, paid £50,000 directly to artists, boosted venue attendance by up to 40%, and reached nearly 30,000 music fans. Visit https://offaxisgigs.com