The Last Dinner Party are a band that have been catapulted into the mainstream in 2023. With only a handful of singles released and an album scheduled for February, their success is something to marvel at.
The five-piece formed at the end of their time study at university in London, coming out of Covid, which pianist Aurora says felt like it was “perfect timing.”
The Last Dinner Party has had a career-changing summer.
Having great success after their first single Nothing Matters, the band quickly gained a following and in June 2023, the ladies were given the opportunity to play at the UK’s biggest festival.
“None of us had ever been to Glastonbury. We tried to get to tickets, but it seems like playing was the only way to get to get that,” says Aurora.
“It was so emotional… We played the Woodsies stage, and I couldn’t get over how packed it was. It’s incredible, that festival feeling where everyone escapes reality for a bit and is ready to have a good time.
“It just feels like this whole year has been kicking off the bucket. The things that you didn’t think were possible.”
June was a big month for them as they released their second single Sinner. Aurora explained the importance of this song to frontwoman Lizzie:
“It’s about growing up in the north of England and loving where she grew up but not like she can totally be themselves. You can be anyone in London.”
Moving to London has ultimately given the ladies this creative freedom that they have been searching for. With their fresh sound and a dress sense resembling that of a Pride and Prejudice adaptation, the female-fronted band are celebrating one success after another.
(Image Credit : Cal McIntyre)
Industry plant allegations
A rare sight to behold, but it’s fresh to see The Last Dinner Party making waves in the industry. Being fully female hasn’t come without its criticism of course.
With the fast climb to success, the debate around why this has happened so fast for them has quickly appeared. When thinking of current bands off at the top, a male-dominated picture appears in the mind. Bands like The 1975 and Arctic Monkeys are everywhere at the moment.
The Last Dinner Party being unique as can be, is making their own mark. Aurora spoke about the band making their mark in such a male-dominated industry.
“When everything started happening and we got signed, there was a part of me that thought have we only got on there because we’re a female fronted and that’s kind of trendy right now,” she said.
“But then I don’t want to think about that too much because you know, we all have worked very hard, and do you feel like we deserve to be doing what we’re doing.”
On Twitter the term “industry plant” has been thrown around, implying the girls’ success isn’t due to their pure talent but due to the connections they may or may not have.
“The industry plant stuff on Twitter, there was a brief moment of that,” she continued.
“It felt very biased because there are other male-fronted bands that have had the exact or pretty much exactly the same journey as we have had into the industry.”
Apart from sexist remarks, The Last Dinner Party has had an amazing 2023.
Since speaking with Aurora ,The Last Dinner Party have announced their debut album Prelude To Ecstasy which will be released on February 2.
Prelude To Ecstasy has been described as “both the closing of that introductory chapter and the opening of the next.” And we are excited to see what they have to offer.
Feature Image Credit: ChuffMedia
Music Editor of Brig Newspaper. 4th year film, media and journalism student.
