South Wales psych-rock six-piece Waterpistol return with “Felin,” their first release of 2026, following their BBC Horizons 2026 Launchpad Fund award in partnership with BBC Cymru Wales and Arts Council Wales. The new single sharpens their identity, threading 90s shoegaze guitar textures through the pulse of golden age rock and roll.
Formed in late 2022, the band played their first show in April 2023 supporting CVC at a sold-out hometown date. Momentum built quickly. Festival appearances at FOCUS Wales, Green Man, Sŵn Festival and In It Together Festival put them in front of fast-growing crowds, tightening their chemistry and expanding their reach.
Previous singles laid the groundwork. “Shotgun” picked up airplay across BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales and Amazing Radio, while October 2024 release “Où est ton âme?” earned playlist support from DIY Magazine. Across each track, their devotion to touchstones like The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The La’s and Shack runs deep without feeling nostalgic.
With “Felin,” Waterpistol turn inward, exploring the emotional peaks and dips of the creative process. It serves as the first glimpse of a broader body of work already taking shape. The band sound locked in and self-assured, pushing their swirling guitars and melodic instincts into sharper focus.