The Leeds indie four-piece talk finding each other, escaping corporate life, and the making of their emotional debut single.
There's something refreshing about a band that doesn't take themselves too seriously but cares deeply about the music they're making.
Meet Mini Disc, the Leeds-based four-piece bringing a little nostalgia, a lot of feeling, and some beautifully moody guitars to the indie scene.
Formed in early 2026, the band consists of Fran on vocals, James on guitar, Charles on bass, and Aaron on drums. Their debut single, "Whale Song," arrives October 30 via Launchpad+, introducing a group whose chemistry feels like it has been developing for far longer than a few months.
The track is atmospheric, intimate, and quietly devastating, capturing both the beauty of finding someone you love and the vulnerability that comes with imagining life without them.
From Corporate Life to Mini Disc
Mini Disc's origin story is about as charmingly unconventional as you'd hope.
Aaron and James first connected through what Charles describes to Everyday Jams as "essentially Tinder for musicians." After discovering their musical compatibility, they put out an advert for a singer and bassist. Fran and Charles auditioned, and the four quickly realized they shared more than just musical interests.
"I think we all realised quite quickly that we had similar tastes, ambitions and, most importantly, a shared sense of humour," Charles tells us.
Their mutual frustration with corporate life also played a part.
With days filled with meetings, deadlines, and endless emails, the band became an opportunity to make something entirely their own.
"Having something completely separate from that world is brilliant," Charles explains.
It's a philosophy that seems to suit them. They take their songwriting seriously, but there's still plenty of room for humor along the way.
The Story Behind “Whale Song”
Some songs arrive almost fully formed. Others need a little more time.
For Mini Disc, "Whale Song" was a bit of both.
The instrumental came together during a single rehearsal, while Aaron spent approximately six months refining the lyrics.
Inspired by the experience of finding a life partner, the song explores that beautiful, complicated realization that loving someone deeply also means having something precious to lose.
James recalls the opening guitar swells coming from a particularly difficult evening, when he picked up his guitar without much of a plan.
"I didn't have anything else in mind other than the guitar parts, so it was exciting to see what everyone else came up with."
What followed was a genuinely collaborative process. Aaron's drums helped connect the arrangement, Charles introduced a melodic bassline inspired by Interpol, and Fran brought the lyrics to life with her vocal melodies.
The result is a song that gradually opens up, moving from a restrained, almost delicate beginning into something much bigger.
"We wanted the song to feel like it was gradually opening up rather than suddenly switching gears," the band explains.
And for a debut, it's a pretty lovely introduction.
Finding Their Own Sound
There's a clear affection for the indie music of the 2000s running through Mini Disc's sound.
The band cites Daughter, Interpol, Foals, and Radiohead among their influences, and you can hear that appreciation for atmosphere, thoughtful arrangements, and guitars that carry as much emotion as the lyrics.
But Mini Disc aren't interested in following a fixed formula.
"We enjoy experimenting with different sounds and playing around with traditional song structures, or occasionally abandoning them altogether!"
That freedom is part of what makes their creative dynamic work.
James will often arrive with an initial guitar idea, and the rest of the band will spend a rehearsal developing it together. Everyone has a voice in the process, including when something isn't quite working.
Their home city's music community has also helped shape their early days. Already having played a sold-out show at Leeds' Key Club, the band are beginning to experience what it's like to hear their songs connect with people outside the rehearsal room.
"There's something quite surreal about watching strangers react to music you've spent months working on in a practice room," Charles shares.
Just Getting Started
Although "Whale Song" is Mini Disc's official debut single, the band have plenty more they want to share.
They've been writing music that moves between energetic indie rock and more atmospheric, melancholic territory, with no plans to limit themselves to one particular sound.
And that's part of the appeal.
Mini Disc are still at the beginning of their story, but "Whale Song" gives us plenty of reasons to pay attention. There's a real sense of care in the songwriting, a natural chemistry between the four members, and a willingness to let a song become whatever it needs to be.
For a band that started as an escape from the everyday, they've found something genuinely worth sharing.
Stream Mini Disc's debut single "Whale Song," out October 30, and keep this Leeds four-piece on your radar.
Photography: Claire McClean Photography
