The Brute Chorus (James Steel, Nick Foots, Dave Ferrett & Matt Day) emerged from the Camden and East London indie scenes of the late noughties. Their narrative style of songwriting seamlessly blended a multitude of styles and influences including folk, blues, rockabilly and surf music.
The Brutes’ first single Chateau // The Cuckoo & The Stolen Heart (2008) was picked up by DJs Steve Lamacq and Zane Lowe who championed the band on their Radio 1 and 6 Music shows. In their element when playing to sweaty club crowds, the band would go on to tour the UK, Europe and America, building a reputation for their live shows as they went.
Debut album The Brute Chorus (2009) was recorded live at The Roundhouse Studios in London before an audience of devoted fans. Co-produced by Choque Hossein (Black Star Liner) and Victor Van Vugt (Nick Cave, PJ Harvey), the album featured a number of the band’s friends as guest performers including Tigs (Chewlips), Mat Martin (Hobopop Collective), Johnny Lloyd (Tribes), Dan Clews, Rosie Oddie, Loo Hull (Louise & The Pins), Tallulah Rendall and Keith Austin (Captain Black).
The follow up, How the Caged Bird Sings (2010), was recorded in a rented village hall in Cumbria. Produced by Choque Hossein and mixed with Olga Fitzroy (Coldplay), the album featured the singles Could This Be Love, Birdman and Heaven. Once again these were picked up by mainstream radio and saw the band appear in session for John Kennedy on XFM and Marc Riley on 6 Music. Heaven was featured in the 2024 Netflix series Kaos.
Matt Day left the group in 2011 and was replaced by Mark Austin. The band went on to release two more singles, My Testament and Death Came Walking, to flank a crowdfunded American tour that would culminate in a string of performances at SXSW in 2012. They disbanded in September 2013.
Lead singer James Steel continues to record and perform as James Brute.