Window Seats

Jude McCaffrey, Tony Furnell and bassist Ryan Lilley formed Window Seats in 2007.[5] Writing and performing together, the band also recorded their music themselves. In 2008 this culminated in the release of a 3-track demo named "Local Superhero".[6] The title track received support from UK radio stations during 2008 and 2009, including BBC Radio 1[7] and BBC Radio Ulster.[8]

Lilley left the band in 2009 and was replaced by Ryan 'Didsy' Bradley,[2] who McCaffrey and Furnell had initially met while attending college together in the early 2000s.[4]

2010 single "No Show"

After Bradley's addition to the lineup, Window Seats began self-producing new single releases and a number of music videos.[2]

In 2010, CD singles "No Show" and "Miss Midnight / Awake" were given much critical acclaim by the Irish press.[9] As music journalist Jackie Hayden described in Hot Press, "No Show bursts from the traps and runs riot all over your hi-fi before going into stop-start mode driven by demented, rasping drums."[1] AU Magazine described the first track of double A-side "Miss Midnight / Awake" as "featuring some lovely, atmospheric production, a strident vocal performance from Jude McCaffrey."[10] Coinciding with these single releases, the band produced two music videos for "No Show" (both directed by Bryan Stewart[11][12]) and one for "Miss Midnight" (directed by Jonathan Beer[13]).

In May 2011 Window Seats made their back catalogue available to download for free, alongside a new song, "Rat".[14] In a live review BBC producer Steven Rainey described the song as "head and shoulders above the rest of the set, possessing an effervescent guitar and bass melody that really causes the audience to pay attention, perhaps pointing the way forward for this band of indie-rock adventurers."[15] The band released a video for "Rat" in April 2011[16] but had already begun work on the next music video, an ambitious project to accompany the next single.[14] In August the group performed a live session on BBC Radio, which they filmed and made available online.[17][18]

2011 single "Local Superhero"

In October 2011, after ten months of preparation, Window Seats released their next video and single, a reworking of "Local Superhero".[19] The video production was a collaboration between the band and more than 30 other contributors,[20] notably director Marty Stalker and prop builder Ciaran Larkin, and featured actor Denis Halligan, who had appeared in Game of Thrones and the film Killing Bono.[21][22] The video was filmed in a set entirely built by the band and their team of volunteers, in the style of a comic book store with props and references from sci-fi and fantasy films and comic book series including Iron Man, Star Wars, Spider-Man and X-Men.[23] Many of the props and costumes (including arc reactors, light sabres, a proton pack and an Inception totem) were created by Ciaran Larkin.[24][25] Filming took place during summer 2011 and included pyrotechnics on the set, with visual effects added to the footage later.[26]

The music video for "Local Superhero" was nominated for Best Production Effects at the Irish Music Television Awards.[27] BBC Radio 1 presenter Rory McConnell described the video as "the most awesome video ever".[19] Like the band's previous singles, "Local Superhero" was released as a free download via their website.[20]

Debut EP Frozen Bones

In December 2011 the group released their debut EP Frozen Bones, which featured both "Local Superhero" and "Rat".[28] All tracks on the release were mixed and mastered by Neal Calderwood, who has also recorded albums for General Fiasco and Fighting with Wire, among others.[21][27] Songs from the EP have received comparisons with Joyrider and west coast American rock bands Tad and Far.[29]

Window Seats launched Frozen Bones with a tour across Ireland.[27][30]

In January 2012, the "Local Superhero" video was picked up for broadcast on international music television channels MTV Rocks and Kerrang! TV. This made Window Seats the first ever unsigned band from Northern Ireland to have a video shown on MTV Rocks.[2] The video was also named BBC Big Screens 'National Film of the Week' and playlisted on all 22 BBC Big Screens in cities across the UK.[31] It received further support from national television, including a feature in Ireland on TG4's magazine show PONC XL in February 2012.[32]

The video showed additional longevity in March 2013, when it was showcased on Channel 4's short film programme The Shooting Gallery.[33]

By February 2012, Window Seats had begun working on their sixth music video.[31] This time the crew was much smaller, with the band taking on full responsibility as writers, directors, editors and producers.[5][34] Throughout the year the band worked on the video, in between live appearances across Ireland including Forfey Festival in County Fermanagh,[35][36] Belly Bang festival in County Tipperary[37] and Belfast support slots with Duke Special and Delorentos.[38][39] The "Juliette's Letter" video and single were launched in November 2012 with a 16-date tour across the UK and Ireland,[40] concluding with a showcase at the 100 Club in London.[34]

"Local Superhero" was nominated for Best Production Effects at the 2011 Irish Music Television Awards.[45] The video was directed by Marty Stalker.[26]

"Local Superhero" was awarded second place in the Best Music Video category at the 2012 Institute of Videography Awards.[46] The video was directed by Marty Stalker.[26]