(Artist Report)

Written by: Ginny Gaines   

In the heart of Bristol, two brothers, Adam and Lawrence Purnell, started making music together long before they even had a band name. Growing up, music was a big part of their lives. They spent countless hours playing guitar, singing, and writing songs in their family home, slowly finding their sound and learning how to blend their voices into something special. Their musical adventure as a duo officially began when Adam moved to Belgium for school. While he was studying classical guitar, the brothers kept writing songs together over Skype. Because Adam was living abroad, they started calling their project Foreign Affairs, a name that stuck and eventually became the identity of their band.

When Adam returned to England, the brothers dove into recording and performing full-time. Their early work came out in 2018, with their debut EP The Old Fire Station. The songs had a mix of rock, blues, and Americana, music that felt like it came from Nashville but carried a British edge. People quickly noticed their chemistry and natural connection as brothers, and the EP helped them start getting shows around the UK. As they grew, Adam and Lawrence found their own lane in the music world. Their songs blended emotional storytelling with soulful harmonies and a touch of grit. They took inspiration from Southern American rock and country sounds but gave it their own UK twist, think heartfelt, honest lyrics with a little bit of swagger.

The pair worked hard to build a reputation on the road. Over the years, Foreign Affairs toured across the UK and Europe, often playing as a full band but sometimes just the two of them on stage, real, stripped-down, and powerful. They played festivals like Glastonbury, opened for major acts such as Larkin Poe, Margo Price, Morgan Evans, and Striking Matches, and played packed hometown shows in Bristol and London. Their music started reaching bigger audiences too. They gained support from BBC Radio 2, where hosts like Bob Harris and Dermot O’Leary championed their songs. Their tracks also landed on Spotify playlists and were used on TV shows and sports broadcasts, including coverage on Sky Sports, BT Sport, and the BBC.

Behind the scenes, things were moving forward as well. In 2019, the brothers signed a publishing deal with Peermusic, giving them professional backing for their songwriting. They continued releasing singles like “Chained to Love,” “Walk Away,” and “Killer Spell,” each one showing off their knack for heartfelt lyrics and bold guitar tones.

By 2025, all their hard work came together with the release of their first full-length album, Brothers. The record felt like the perfect title, not only because they’re literally brothers, but because it summed up their bond, their journey, and their sound. It was a mix of everything they’d been working toward: emotional ballads, foot-stomping rockers, and thoughtful lyrics that showed how far they’d come since those early songwriting sessions on Skype. The release of Brothers was followed by a UK headline tour, with packed shows and glowing reviews from music outlets like Wonderland, Clash, and Record of the Day. Fans and critics praised their harmonies, raw emotion, and ability to blend classic Americana storytelling with a fresh British energy.

Today, Foreign Affairs stand as one of the most promising modern roots-rock acts in the UK. What started as two brothers writing songs across different countries has grown into a career marked by passion, persistence, and genuine musicianship. Their story is one of brotherhood, built on shared dreams, long roads, and the kind of connection that can only come from family.

That will do it for this report on Foreign Affairs. Thank you for reading!! In closing, please just know, Soundwave Music Media will be here and I will always do my best to bring you the rock music report! Please consider supporting me and the crew by purchasing a Soundwave shirt or hat and support our sponsors! Until next time... Rock on friends🤘

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