Dive In

An English electro-pop outfit known as Dive In draws upon vibrant, soaring refrains and sonic textures reminiscent of the 1980s. Originating in Pilton, Somerset—the locale famed for hosting the Glastonbury Festival—the group came together through local players already active in other ensembles, united by dreams of achieving widespread pop acclaim along with a shared appreciation for the Police's Synchronicity. The initial lineup featured Matthew Guttridge handling lead vocals, Daniel Hayes on keyboards, Adam Mason handling guitar duties, and Stephen Evans behind the drums. After issuing a pair of tracks in January 2012, they quickly drew interest from prominent record companies. However, when those labels pushed for collaboration with an outside producer to align them better with current pop trends, the musicians resisted and instead put out "Let Go" during 2013. This single gained traction across online music blogs and streaming platforms, securing a contract with Vagrant Records that left their aesthetic untouched. As they refined their stage presence and developed material for a debut EP, personnel shifts occurred. Co-produced alongside Andy Greene of Keane, the resulting five-song collection titled Eighteen featured mixing by Alan Moulder, chosen for his prior contributions to Smashing Pumpkins recordings, and saw release in March 2016. At that point, Warren Senior had taken over drumming from Evans, while Matt Mead had come aboard to play bass.