Chiming with the overarching concept of ‘Protagonists’ (out 31 March, via Kind Violence), the Manchester band’s new single finds them stepping into the shoes of a character trapped in a complex relationship and at odds with her true feelings. As frontman Adam Houghton explains:

““Nothing More Nothing Less” is a simple love song really written from a woman’s perspective who isn’t exactly sure what she wants.”

Infusing atmospheric synthesisers and inspiriting backing vocals into their signature post-punk sound, “Nothing More Nothing Less” sees IST IST delivering one of their most cathartic and climactic singles to date.

“Nothing More Nothing Less” arrives as the next-in-line in a string of fascinating singles to have been released in recent months, with “Something Has To Give”, “Stamp You Out” and “Mary in The Black and White Room”, all leading the way to their upcoming ‘Protagonists’ LP later this month (31 March). A record all about new beginnings, the album will touch on the trials and tribulations of love, tricky family relationships, and the feeling of being trapped by the past. The title is inspired by songwriter Adam Houghton’s magpie-like method of writing, with its songs placing prominent characters, fictional and non-fictional, into dystopian worlds with new and uncertain outcomes. Recorded and mixed by Michael Whalley and IST IST at Milkshed Studios, the album was mastered by the legendary Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone at Sterling Sound (The National, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Interpol) and as its precursory singles suggest it will see Ist Ist traversing a broader spectrum of genres and sounds than ever before.

Alongside the album, IST IST also delighted to confirm news of another exciting venture – a brand new community studio. Acting in response to the shock closure of the Brunswick Mill rehearsal spaces earlier this month, a facility used by IST IST since 2018 but also countless artists from across Manchester, the band quit their day-jobs and have decided to establish their own rehearsal rooms. Built with their own bare hands and located on the third floor at Nile Mill A in Oldham with just shy of 4,000 sq ft of space, KVR Studios aims to offer a safe space to all of the creatives in the city who have been evicted from Brunswick Mill and similar spaces blighted by gentrification. The studio will boast nine rehearsal rooms in total, a blackout photo studio big enough for photoshoots and videos, and lockable storage areas to store equipment. With 24 hour access to the facilities to accommodate all schedules and needs, rooms will be available to rent in four hour blocks or monthly, with multi-band sharing opportunities also available.

Opening its doors in early April 2023, Andy Keating of IST IST elaborates on the launch of KVR Studios and their motivations for the new project:

“This is the second time we’ve been in this situation, as I’m sure a lot of other bands have been. Instead of becoming a tenant elsewhere and potentially having to share a room with other bands which brings its own logistical headaches, we decided to establish KVR Studios, named after our label Kind Violence Records. We want our space to be somewhere where bands and artists want to hang out and for it to be an aspirational place to rehearse, write and create.”

Touring their latest work, IST IST will be hitting the road for a run of UK headline shows in Glasgow, Newcastle, Nottingham, Birmingham, Bristol and London, plus sets at this year’s SXSW festival in Austin, TX and Whitby’s Tomorrow’s Ghosts Festival. There will also be an unmissable hometown launch of ‘Protagonists’ at the O2 Ritz in Manchester on 31 March. As a special gesture of support for NHS workers amidst this turbulent time, IST IST also announced recently that 100 FREE TICKETS had been reserved especially for music fans working in the service.

With new in-store shows also added for release week in Leeds and Kingston – all current UK live dates and details can be found below:

IST IST UK LIVE SHOWS

MARCH 2023
31 – Manchester Ritz

APRIL
4 – Leeds – Oporto (Crash Records Instore) ** New ** – Tickets/Details
5 – Kingston – Fighting Cocks (Banquet Records Instore) ** New ** – Tickets/Details
13 – Glasgow – King Tut’s
14 – Newcastle – The Cluny
15 – Nottingham – Bodega
20 – Birmingham – Hare and Hounds
21 – Bristol – Thekla
22 – London – Omeara

29 – Whitby – Tomorrow’s Ghosts Festival

Tickets will be on sale now.

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Established in late 2014, IST IST have forged a formidable reputation on the back of uncompromisingly intense live shows and a fierce DIY work ethic. Releasing their debut album ‘Architecture’ in the midst of the pandemic on their own label Kind Violence Records, the LP found significant success in the indie, physical and vinyl charts.

Second album ‘The Art of Lying’ was released in November 2021, peaking at number 87 in the UK Top 100 and firmly establishing the band as one of the leading lights of a new era for music born in Manchester. The release was followed by a ten-date UK tour including sold out shows in Manchester, London and Bristol, as well as a string of sell-out European dates too. The band will release their much-anticipated third album, ‘Protagonists’ in 2023.

A compulsive, character-driven record from a band hitting their creative zenith, IST IST will release ‘Protagonists’ in Spring of 2023. Listen to the new single “Nothing More Nothing Less” now.