Start Listening To: Flypaper

Flypaper’s music invites you to pause and embrace the beautifully imperfect moments in life.

Rory, the creative mind behind Flypaper, is a London-based singer-songwriter with roots scattered across various landscapes. His debut album, Forget The Rush, captures a contemplative spirit, encouraging listeners to slow down and savor life’s chaos. With a DIY ethos honed from his time in the band Beachtape, Rory crafts mid-fi soft rock that feels both intimate and relatable. In this conversation, he opens up about his songwriting process and the quirks of home recording.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

Rory, London based song singer from all over.. Mid fi soft rock singer song writer alternative kinda sad kinda sad happy.

What inspired you to choose the title Forget The Rush for your debut album, and how does it reflect the themes within?

The title is an ode to slowing down, it’s a running theme throughout the album and maybe throughout my life to be honest.

Can you share your songwriting process?

I usually just sit and play guitar and hope to come up with ideas that stick. I keep notebooks full of words and chord ideas, that are usually illegible because my handwriting is so bad so I keep voice notes on my phone too, I have hundreds, maybe thousands of them. I listen to them when I’m on the Tube sometimes and constantly try to figure out what I’m mumbling or what tuning I decided to use that day.

Do you typically start with lyrics, melodies, or a specific emotion that you want to express?

There is no formula, it constantly changes. I like to write quickly and not over think things, often I’ll go back to a song and find a whole new meaning or emotion in something that I wasn’t aware of at the time. My songwriting is like my diary I guess, I look back and seriously regret saying / writing / recording things sometimes but that's life.

How did your experiences growing up across different locations influence your music and the stories you tell through your songs?

Honestly I don’t know, I guess I’ve found solace in music since a kid. I think that's always made me gravitate towards chill music.

In what ways do you feel your previous band, Beachtape, shaped your artistic identity as Flypaper and your current sound?

In Beachtape we always really focused on a DIY approach which helped me learn and build the foundation for my approach as musician. There are similarities in sound but I think flypaper has a more simple approach.

Is there a particular song on Forget The Rush that you feel most connected to, and why does it resonate with you personally?

One of my favourites is the intro song Fold, I put it together between recording songs in January, without the intention of putting in on the album or really writing a song. It really has no structure and feels calm but chaotic and felt like good intro into the other songs for the record.

How did you approach the recording process in your bedroom?

I approached every song differently, sometimes the songs changed drastically as I record them. We recorded drums in a studio in Dalston then everything else in my bedroom with the exception of some pedal steel done in Robbie our guitar player's house. I have 1 mic I used for everything and most electric guitar is DI’d. I'm trying my hardest but honestly mostly winging it.

Did the intimate setting impact the sound and feel of the album?

Yeah absolutely, my space and skills definitely challenge the process in a way which I enjoy too. I live in an old office building with like 17 people too, so often I'm singing super quiet when everyone’s asleep, trying to be quiet. If you listen carefully enough you can hear doors being slammed, washing up and constant chatter in the background too. I think the imperfections of home recording give songs a real character which you cant get in a studio sometimes.

What role do visuals play in your music?

Defo, I was really into this clown called Emmet Kelley, I’ve made nods to him in a few of my videos and artworks, this kind of down-and-out character. I like to keep the visuals similarly scrappy/lofi to the music too, but I also make most of my artwork / videos myself as well, again have no skills so winging it there too.

As you prepare for your UK tour, what are you most excited about in connecting with your audience during live performances?

I'm excited to play songs off the album, we’ve been slowly introducing new songs over the last few shows. The live set is heavier and also softer than before, bringing some chill but enjoying also giving it a bit more welly too is fun.

Are there any particular artists or genres that have influenced your sound while creating Forget The Rush?

I don’t think I’ll live down Elliott Smith comparisons, not that I think I’m anywhere near as good, but I love his songwriting and sounds ofc. A lot of 70s stuff and singer songwriters like Michael Hurley to things like Pavement inspire me. But mostly I just love good songs and try to write good tunes.

What do you love right now?

*This week I'm loving autumn & making risotto also a band called snuggle that put an album out recently, been soundtracking my morning cycle to works - it's good vibes.

What do you hate right now?

All love dudeeee.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?

I'd say anything blink 182, its the first music I ever fell in love when I was like 8 years old and made me want to play guitar, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket still takes me back to a time and place whenever I listen, somewhere in an alternative universe I’m rocking 3/4 length Dickies, a sideways cap with my guitar down by my knees.

When someone hears your music for the first time, what do you hope sticks with them?

I have no expectations, I hope they can vibe for like like 3 minutes and maybe come back for more.