Himalayas (band)

Welsh rock band

This article is about a rock group from Cardiff. For other uses, see Himalaya (disambiguation).

HIMALAYAS

Himalayas performing in 2024 at Cardiff

Background information
Origin| Cardiff, Wales
Genres| Rock, indie rock, garage rock
Years active| 2015 (2015)–present
Labels|

* Nettwerk Music Group

Members| Joe Williams
Mike Griffiths
Louis Heaps
James Goulbourn
Website| himalayasofficial.com

Himalayas are a Welsh rock group from Cardiff, Wales, formed in 2015. The group currently consists of Mike Griffiths (lead guitar, backing vocals), Joe Williams (rhythm guitar, lead vocals), Louis Heaps (bass), and James Goulbourn (drums).

## History

[edit]

Goulbourn, Griffiths, and Williams all met in school and were later joined in the group by Heaps, who was an acquaintance of Goulbourn. The group cite interests from The Beatles, Otis Redding, Kelly Jones, Green Day, John Bonham, and Cher.[1]

The band began producing music on SoundCloud in July 2016, with their first track titled "Cheap Thrills".[2] This was followed a few months later by their debut EP release Ecstasy,[3] featuring "How Do You Sleep",[4] and "Intoxicate Me".[5] The group began touring at venues including Clwb Ifor Bach for Cardiff University's Xpresstival,[1] Warehouse 54 in Newport,[1] and Fiddler's Elbow in Camden.[1] The band have been managed since August 2018 by Stephanie Brennan; formerly of WME and Kobalt Records; and James Brennan, both of whom are based with the Dark Horses agency.[6]

The band's music is largely written by Griffiths and Williams and the band have worked closely with former Estrons member Steffan Pringle, who also works with rising Welsh names Adwaith and Jack Perrett.[7]

The band drew attention with the release of their track "Thank God I'm Not You" in 2017.[8] BBC Cymru Wales presenter Adam Walton reportedly called the band for permission to play the track on air within a day of its release,[9] and the band went on to appear on BBC Radio 1 with Edith Bowman,[7] Virgin Radio, Amazing Radio, and Radio X, with the track named by the latter as the This Feeling Track Of The Week for the week commencing 8 January 2018.[10] The 2019 single "The Masquerade" was released independently.[11]

The band toured extensively in 2018 with appearances at BBC Music Introducing Stage at Reading and Leeds Festival, Isle of Wight Festival,[12] the BBC Music Introducing/PRS for Music stage at South by Southwest 2018,[13] Cardiff Sŵn Festival, the Horizons Gorwelion stage at Festival N°6, a two venue run with Kaiser Chiefs, and sets at Truck Festival, Y Not Festival, Tramlines Festival, HOYfest, and a headline set at Nambuccapalooza in London.[7]

The band announced their 2019 single, "The Masquerade", during their BBC Radio 2 debut on the Johnnie Walker show, which will be their first independent release after leaving their previous label.[14] In 2020 Himalayas signed to Wild Music Management who have worked with Manic Street Preachers, AC/DC, Pink, and Courteeners.[15]

In mid-2021, the Himalayas had their a debut TV performance at The Hundreds on BBC Sport.[16] September 2021 saw Himalayas embarking on a headline tour which started with a sold out show at The Globe in their hometown of Cardiff and ended with another sold out show at The Garage in London. Himalayas supported Manic Street Preachers for two shows in September and December 2021.[17]

In May 2022 Himalayas announced via their social media page that they had signed a worldwide record deal to Nettwerk Records.[18] Himalayas released their debut album From Hell To Here on 12 May 2023. In March 2024, Himalayas released their single "V.O.V", which was a collaboration with Brian Johnson and produced by Dan Lancaster.

In June 2024, Himalayas supported Foo Fighters during their Everything or Nothing at All Tour at the Principality Stadium. On 25 April 2025, Himalayas released their second album, Bad Star.[19]

## Band members

[edit]

### Current

[edit]

* Joe Williams - lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2015–present)
* Mike Griffiths - lead guitar, backing vocals (2015–present)
* Louis Heaps - bass (2015–present)
* James Goulbourn - drums (2015–present)

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

* From Hell to Here (2023)
* Bad Star (2025)

### Extended plays

[edit]

* Ecstasy (2016)

### Singles

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Label  | EP | Album

|
|
|

2017  | Thank God I'm Not You  | Peepshow Records  |
2017  | Sigh on a Hurricane  | Peepshow Records  |
2018  | If I Tell You  | Peepshow Records  |
2019  | The Masquerade  | Independent  |
2020  | We Love to Hate  | Independent  |
2022  | Alone
Out of the Dark and Into the Light
From Hell To Here  | Nettwerk Music Group  | From Hell To Here \- LP
2023  | Into the Trap
Leave This Place  | Nettwerk Music Group  | From Hell To Here \- LP
2024  | V.O.V.  | Nettwerk Music Group  |
2024  | Hung Up
Cave Paintings
What If...?
Nothing Higher  | Nettwerk Music Group  | Bad Star \- LP
2025  | Afterlife
Surrender  | Nettwerk Music Group  | Bad Star \- LP

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "Himalayas | New Sound Wales". Newsoundwales.com. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
2. ^ "Cheap Thrills". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
3. ^ Ecstasy, retrieved 30 August 2019
4. ^ "How Do You Sleep". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
5. ^ Intoxicate Me, retrieved 30 August 2019
6. ^ "The Dark Horses - Staff". Thedarkhorses.com. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
7. ^ a b c "[INTERVIEW] with... Himalayas". Itsallindie.com. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
8. ^ "Himalayas - Thank God I'm Not You". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
9. ^ "Single Review: Himalayas - Thank God I'm Not You". Redbrick.me. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
10. ^ "THIS FEELING: 60 SECONDS WITH HIMALAYAS – THIS FEELING #BIGIN2018". Northern Exposure. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
11. ^ "Himalayas". Open.spotify. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
12. ^ "New Artist Showcase: Himalayas - Manchester - MCR Live Blog". MCR Live. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
13. ^ "BBC Music - BBC Music Introducing, Himalayas - Thank God I'm Not You (SXSW 2018)". BBC. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
14. ^ "BBC Radio 2 - Sounds Of The 70s with Johnnie Walker". BBC. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
15. ^ "Manics' mentor aims to guide another Welsh band to rock 'n' roll success". Nation.cymru. 5 January 2021.
16. ^ "Originals blaze to victory over Fire - highlights & reaction". BBC Sport. 31 July 2021.
17. ^ "Meet the Welsh band handpicked to support the Manics in Cardiff". Nation.cymru. 20 September 2021.
18. ^ Bylineneilcollins. "Himalayas Sign with Nettwerk Records". The Welsh Music Podcast. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
19. ^ Shah, Rishi (24 April 2025). "Album review: HIMALAYAS – BAD STAR". Kerrang!. Retrieved 5 May 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* www.himalayasband.com

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