Swansea’s underground scene just got a whole lot louder. The Fiends—a four-piece alt-indie outfit carving out their own lane in South Wales—have dropped “Sonder,” and this thing is an absolute wall of sound that’ll hit you right in the chest.
Formed in 2020, this crew has been grinding hard, and it shows. They’ve already got two EPs under their belt, with ‘Mazel Tov‘ and the darker, bolder ‘Lazarus‘ EP marking their evolution. The latter proved they weren’t messing around, mixing immersive textures with alternative rock. And let’s talk about their live game—these guys have sold out hometown shows and shared stages with some serious heavyweights: Peter Hook & The Light, The Snuts, and The Lottery Winners. In March 2025, they took their high-energy sound across the pond, hitting SXSW in Austin, New Colossus Festival in New York, and even playing shows in Los Angeles.
The track explores that mind-blowing realisation that every single person walking past you on the street has a life just as vivid and complex as your own. You know that feeling when you’re sitting on a bench or staring out a bus window, watching the world go by, and your brain starts wandering? Yeah. The song pushes us to be more curious about the people around us, to form deeper connections with those who differ in culture, religion, and opinion. Because underneath all our differences, we’re all human, and we should treat each other with grace and understanding.
The Fiends are one of Wales’ most exciting emerging alternative bands, and “Sonder” proves they’ve got the chops to go all the way. Catch them live at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff on July 3rd with Black Havana, or catch their double performance at Tramlines Fringe Festival on July 25th in Sheffield.
Play “Sonder” loud, and take a moment to appreciate the beautiful complexity of every person around you. This one’s a keeper.