It's No Figmennt Of Imagination. Shoegazing Northern Prodigies Are Back!

'We would love to be playing big gigs and for people to love our music.
Shoegaze is quickly rising in popularity' 
- Figmennt

Despite their young age Figmennt seem certain about which direction they're heading in, both musically and in terms of ambition. After a few minutes of chatting it’s even more certain how down to earth they are likely to remain. Their idea isn't to play pop music for the sake of it; instead they endeavour to represent a modern reflection of our time but with an old form. They are embracing a genre of music which is neither current nor particularly prevalent; Shoegaze. Rock and roll in a simple format. And this is what is making Figmennt a brighter alternative than the rest. 

"We love both positive and negative feedback. It helps us to keep going and writing music.  Although on occasion we've witnessed really great bands and gigs in Teesside, both are a rare occurrence. I think if anything this lack of musical availability has inspired us to make music more because there is so little of it".

The unique sound appears to be the merged result of curiously different musical tastes boasted by each member of the band. Throughout 'She', for example, each member showcases something different, whether it is the fuzzy grunge tones of Nirvana, the sensitiveness of Slowdive, the modernity of Jamie XX or the shrieking guitars of John Frusciante. What's more they show incredible maturity in doing so, sweetly portrayed in their melancholy lyrics:

Shoegaze is weird. The whole story is odd. It barely survives Grunge and later Brit Pop, but somehow Shoegaze is back. Well, with thanks to bands such as Deerhunter , TOY and Whirr, who are all helping to bring the 80's movement back with a bang. And now also belonging to the list is Figmennt. The young Teesside band have thus far survived the grim northern weather (their words not ours) and took the time to meet up with Third Outing to share their shoegazing secrets.  

"We first had the idea of starting a band when we all met at Leeds Festival in 2014. As we got talking about our musical tastes we realised although they were very different, we all shared an interest in loud, ambient sounds, post rock and shoegaze".

Figmennt's story is a simple one. They met, talked music, got drunk and agreed on one thing: to fight the lack of fresh new music in the North East and form a band. A few months later their debut 'She' emerged online.

She grows inside 
She's in my head 
She hears my thoughts 
and now I'm left here again 

Her seductive cry 
Her feeling again 
Her powder gold 
Her lucid chimes, ring around my head 

So are they a new The Jesus and Mary Chain? Maybe. The band is currently working on their new EP which will be released in the next few months. "Expect ambient drones and fuzzy guitar" they say. We say; till that fine day comes listen to 'She' on repeat and wait for the return of Teesside's very own  shoegazing northern prodigies. 

'She' by Figmennt, 8/10.