Yorkshire's Sleuth Gang wants world domination

Yorkshire's Sleuth Gang wants world domination. And they're inviting you along too.

Sleuth Gang’s origin story is rooted in friendship, late-night shifts at a service station, and an unrelenting desire to create something different. The band’s foundations were laid when Lewis and Jeremy found themselves working side by side at Extra MSA, a service station in Leeds. Bonding over their shared passion for music, they began making tracks and performing together, and that's when Sam, a longtime friend of Lewis, soon joined in on stage. What began as a loose side project between the trio quickly gained momentum, especially after their track Quids In picked up attention from BBC Introducing.

Recognising they’d outgrown the three-piece setup, the founding members began assembling a full band. The expansion happened gradually—each new member carefully selected to deepen the group’s dynamic. Despite their varied backgrounds and influences, what unified them was clear: an electric chemistry, a shared work ethic, and a mutual respect for the creative process.

What started as three friends jamming together has evolved into a seven-strong collective. Today, Sleuth Gang is a brotherhood forged in long rehearsals, sweaty venues, and an ever-growing shared vision—proof that sometimes the right people really do just find each other. 

UPNORF were lucky enough to chat to five members of the band, Lewis, Jeremy, Tom, Sam and Dan. Read the conversation below:

Can you each tell us about your background and influences, and how you came to be in a band:

Lewis (vocals): Growing up I was in a metal band, a folk band, I then started rapping at age 15 and was in a short lived project for a while. I then continued to do my solo stuff alongside running a drum and bass night in Leeds. Influence wise, I am so broad. It ranges from Jade Thirlwall through to Job for a cowboy, it honestly depends which day you catch me on.

Jeremy (vocals): So, I'm from Bermuda where, if it isn't Reggae, Soca or Dancehall, it doesn't really get any love. We don't get hype over celebrities or fan over big artists, so those genres are ingrained in me by default. I grew up listening to Elephant man, Gyptian, Movado, Sean Paul, Vybz Kartel, Beanie Man, Bob Marley and more. Now the American side of me which took over when it comes to music started out loving battle rap. I was influenced by battle

rappers like Cassidy, Serius Jones, Jae Millz, Blind Fury and even Eminem.

Tom (guitar): I've always been into a broad range of sounds and bands, and I'll always be up for jamming out and playing to any style, but my main influences behind my playing and writing is definitely that riffy, high energy, guitar licks, mainly coming from my early love of artists like Muse and Jack White.

Sam (vocals): Personally, my influences come more from the Punk/Post Punk/Hardcore side of the sound. Bands like Turnstile, Militarie Gun and Knocked Loose are all redefining what the genre can be, and I think that's really cool. On the other side, I’m a big fan of some of the era defining greats; The Doors, Iggy Pop, Misfits, Type O-Negative. I have quite an eclectic music taste, and I think the nice thing about our band is that we try our best not to colour within the lines, which gives us room to explore different genres and draw from all those influences.

What does the name ‘Sleuth Gang’ mean to you now compared to when you started?

Lewis: When we started it was for sure a ‘make do’ name. I didn’t like it but now it feels right. We are Sleuth. We are the gang.

Tom: Honestly, it seemed a bit cringy to me at first, calling yourself a gang and all, but once I locked in with these boys I truly started to understand the brotherly connection, and how we'll always support each other.

Sam: Yeah, it’s changed from a cringey rap name, to feeling like an actual gang. And by that, I don't mean just the 7 of us. When you come to our show, you are part of the gang. If you listen to our music, you’re in. We love our [small group of] fans, and we want to take them with us on our journey.

With three vocalists, how do you manage such a diverse range of voices and experiences in one band?

Lewis: We’re lucky! We’re able to take the pick from 3 voices, nurture the parts we like about each other.

Jeremy: And honestly, although we have been through different things in our lives we all share similar experiences and those that differ, just add a special flavor into the mix. It's a good thing because it means we can teach each other. So pretty much, we learn something new every time we are together.

Sam: It’s kind of hard to explain sometimes, so I visualise it by comparing it to something familiar. I take inspiration from 90s rap group Geto Boys—they told stories from different perspectives, which I’ve always found cool. If we’re writing about love, we might show it as obsession, heartbreak, or something genuine. We each bring our own take, then tie it all together in the chorus. I think what makes it really interesting is you have 3 completely different walks of life approaching the subject. You have Lewis, who is openly gay, Jeremy who is black and from Bermuda, and me, who consistently makes bad life decisions.

Tom: All three are completely different in such brilliant ways, it's all contributing to that unique sound that spreads across each track, not to mention the intense and high octave shows that can be put on by three mad characters.

Dan (bass): I think the main secret sauce to having three vocalists is how they perform live. They’re amazing frontmen in their own right but together they’re just unstoppable. I’m more than happy to have my place behind them.

The band’s songwriting is a collaborative and freeform process. Lewis often brings lyrics he's written daily, while others might share riffs, samples, or verses to spark ideas. Their varied musical backgrounds bring different perspectives, shaping each song together. And as well as blending voices and experiences, they blend genres too.

How intentional is that crossover of genres—or does it happen naturally?

Lewis: Not massively, I think no one wants to write too close to what someone else is doing but we just combined everything we love in music, it’s simple.

Jeremy: You know what, I think it's a bit of both. We set out to try and intentionally sound different from anything out right now, and what you have heard before. But the band has 7 members. That's 7 opinions, 7 ideas and 7 perspectives. So naturally genres will blend,

and the songs write themselves.

Tom: I'd say it’s both. It's definitely planned that we all have our own tastes and so we can access other genres easily, yet it all comes so naturally and nothing ever seems forced.

Sam: Yeah, it happens naturally. It's quite a hard question to answer because we are big believers in experimenting. It wasn't always that way though, but we had a much harder time staying within a genre than breaking out of it.

Dan: A bit of both in my opinion, it’s not like it was in the 70’s where you chose your tribe in punk or ska and fought to the death over it. Obviously streaming is the main way people consume music nowadays and it’s so easy to spend an afternoon discovering new genres or artists. The world very much feels like your oyster when it comes to consuming through Spotify. It’s an amazing tool for the consumer but its treatment of artists is a conversation for another time.

Tell us about your latest single and video. What’s the message behind it, and how did the visuals come together?

Lewis: We have always toyed with the idea of a video with a storyline and to be honest we were inspired by Phoenix Nights. There’s an element of Safe Bet that is about desperation to be loved and although the song is about relationships we felt this was quite a good way to visually represent that. Literally begging for the affection of an audience.

Jeremy: If you read the lyrics off, each verse talks about a different perspective when it comes to toxic relationships. It started off as a song Dan had made that was on his soundcloud and was warped to something completely different. My verse is about messing up a good relationship through toxic behaviours.

Sam: Yeah, lyrically, Safe Bet is an exploration of toxic relationships. For me, its a representation of that moment of realisation you have when you look at yourself in the mirror and think, what have I become? It's the weird out of body experience you have when you realise that the person you were a few months back has been moulded into something you don't like. It's a track I personally found quite hard to write for, mainly because I had so much to say, but there's always those hooks in your back from that person who hurt you holding you back.

The music video explores a slightly different idea, as it has to represent 7 of us. For me it’s a visualisation of our toxic relationship with the music industry. The vocalists wanted to play caricatures of ourselves, painting a picture of what the industry tries to paint us as. I play an insecure guy, fighting for attention, whilst thrusting his hips in skinny trousers. Actually, as I'm saying this, that wasn't too far off!

What was different (or challenging) about creating this song compared to your past work?

Lewis: Songwriting comes pretty naturally to us. If a track feels forced, we tend to leave it. Music should flow, and with seven of us, there's always support if someone’s stuck.

Jeremy: The hardest part was reshaping the instrumental—what we started with sounded completely different. We needed something that suited the band and did justice to Dan’s artwork.

Sam: This was our first time working with a producer—thanks to winning Battle of the Bands at the Fulford Arms, which we love. Ironically, we all disliked this track at first. But after hearing the demo, something clicked. Once Dave Boothroyd worked his magic, Safe Bet became one of our favourite songs.

Dan: It wasn’t particularly hard, but it took the longest to finish. Working with a new producer, we wanted to get it just right. I overthink my writing a lot, so learning to trust the process—and the band—was key.

You’re known for chaotic, high-energy live sets. What do you hope people walk away feeling after a Sleuth Gang show?

Lewis: “Fuck.”

Jeremy: I want people to feel that sigh of relief, that excited feeling you get when you finally find a new artist good enough to not only be put into your playlist, but you actually listen to it in the car, on your way to work, or even pre-gaming before a night out.

Tom: Just like f*ck me that was good. We always put on every show like it's prime pyramid stage at Glasto, so the more hype and energy we can pass over, the better.

Sam: The stage is where I come alive. I’ve always imagined myself in the singer’s shoes, so performing feels natural. I have a loose plan, but I mostly let the music guide me. Live music matters—if people are spending their hard-earned money, we owe them a real experience. The goal is to make them feel something. Audiences can tell if you're faking it; if you’re not feeling it, they won’t either. It’s not about forcing fun—it’s about leading them there.

Dan: I want people to feel like the scene where they play Master Explorer in The Pick of Destiny. Brains all over the ceiling, people throwing their underwear around and screaming. It’s intense.

Do you feel rooted in Yorkshire, or do you see yourselves as part of a broader northern or UK scene?

Jeremy: I love Yorkshire and definitely feel rooted here. I would love to perform in the broader UK and that will come! Charity starts at home though and we will not hesitate to let people

know we are repping the north in full force.

Tom: We're mainly all Yorkshire lads so it's hard to escape that, I'm a proper gravy miner me so my roots will never leave!

Sam: I 100% feel rooted in Yorkshire. We’re the underdogs, but I like that! I’m from York, which is a city which isn't exactly known for its music scene. That's not due to a lack of talent, because I watch and play alongside some amazing local bands week after week. Unfortunately York's creative side just doesn’t get nurtured the same way other big cities do. It sounds corny, but I want to change that. Lets put a magnifying glass on my hometown for once. There's more to York than Harry Potter shops and Vikings.

Dan: I love Yorkshire, I absolutely love being from Yorkshire and I love getting to live in Leeds so I very much see myself as Yorkshire rooted but on the path for complete world domination. Yorkshire is gonna go global.

Lewis: Yeah, Yorkshire is great but world domination is better.

Sleuth Gang touches on serious themes. How do you decide which stories or issues to spotlight in your songs?

Lewis: It’s real life. If you have an outlet or a platform why wouldn’t you write about something important. We try to turn what are quite heavy subjects and make them somewhat more lighthearted. I think as a band of 7 cis men, we have a job to redefine what a man is and show other blokes that there’s so much diversity within being a man. We are all so different, different sexualities, different races, different backgrounds, whatever it may be, but there’s not one more masculine than the other.

Jeremy: To be honest that can literally come from anything. From a band mate going through something, and experience we have seen online or in the media or simply just living.

Sam: What's that phrase? When life serves you lemons, make lemonade? We pretty much do that. Life has a way of beating you down. You can either stay down and wait for the count out, or you can stand up and keep fighting. I’m sick of laying down. 

Sleuth Gang are my boxing gloves, the world is our ring, and we’re not stopping until we’re Heavyweight Champions.

How do your personal lives shape the band’s voice and message?

Lewis: In every way.

Jeremy: We’re all on the same wavelength, so communicating and supporting each other comes naturally. If one of us struggles, the rest step in.

Tom: We all feel the pressure of everyday life—especially in a country that doesn’t seem to value you—so music becomes a way to let that frustration out.

Sam: Social commentary is a constant for us. Whether it's personal experience or things we've observed, our music usually reflects the world as we see it.

Dan: Balancing awful day jobs with trying to succeed as a band is tough. That tension fuels our songs—but it’s also a form of release, not just ambition.

What’s next for Sleuth Gang? Are there more videos, gigs, or projects lined up?

Dan: Yes but I’d have to kill you if I told you…

Tom: Absolutely, bigger and better than ever, new tunes, videos and of course, sweaty gigs!

Sam: We have lots of songs we are waiting to drop! We love making videos as much as we love making music, so expect more of that too! We’re playing Back Doune The Rabbit Hole in Scotland alongside some amazing bands, plus plenty of local shows to look forward to. Keep your eyes on our socials for updates!

Any other northerners in the music industry you would like to shout out?

Lewis: Moose Knuckle, Safeguard, Marx and Jodie Langford. All legends.

Dan: Yes! Jodie Langford, Moose Knuckle, and also Bit Britain and Jarvis Cocker.

Jeremy: A third shout out to my homegirl Jodie Langford. Also, Dharma Hounds, Moose Knuckle, Trippie Sixx, Percy Bones. There's too many to name so if I missed anybody out, I love ya!

Sam: There are so many people I'd love to shout out, so if I’ve forgotten you, just know we love you, it's a me issue, and I am on the waiting list for an ADHD assessment! Huge shout out to Jericho Keys and the rest of the BBC introducing team. He has given us SUCH a leg up, and opened doors to so many opportunities we had never even dreamed of! If you’re from our ends and you’re making music, then let Jericho know about it!

Also shout out to Steph who runs the Fulford Arms in York. She has been rooting for us since we first graced the stage. We are so blessed and grateful for the names in our corner, and without you all we wouldn't be where we are now.

If you’re wanting to know where to start, Sleuth Gang members point to two standout tracks: Pity Party and Safe Bet. For vocalists Lewis, Jeremy, and Sam, Pity Party captures the band’s essence—a fun, high-energy track layered with serious, emotionally honest lyrics. It reflects their core approach: blending lived experience with chaotic, cathartic sound.

Guitarist Tom and bassist Dan champion Safe Bet as the true embodiment of Sleuth Gang’s current identity. With its riff-heavy and punk-inspired energy, it oozes each member’s unique style. For both, it represents what Sleuth Gang is all about—pure, unfiltered energy and total creative chemistry.

We’d recommend giving both a listen to get a true essence of what Sleuth Gang are all about. With seven members, three vocalists, and zero fear of genre boundaries, they’re a group worth watching, and if you’re here, you’re already part of the gang.

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