The indie rock duo are lifelong friends who learned to play guitar and write songs together, eventually working under several different names before “The Filibusters” became the one that stuck roughly a decade ago. What began as a creative outlet gradually developed into a completely independent operation, with the duo writing, producing, recording, and even creating their own music videos from start to finish.
Their journey as recording artists stretches back around 15 years, with much of their early catalog shaped by a relentless release schedule. At one point, The Filibusters were releasing a new song every month, an approach that helped them sharpen their instincts and better understand the kind of music they wanted to make. That pace also came with limitations, and the duo eventually stepped away from constant releases to focus more deeply on quality, production, and creating songs they felt represented their full potential.
One of their earliest major moments arrived when YouTube inventor Colin Furze used one of their songs in his video documenting the construction of a multi story beach hut in Skegness. The video went on to attract approximately 23 million views, bringing a wave of new listeners to the band. The featured track would later accumulate roughly 100,000 streams across various music platforms, giving The Filibusters one of their first significant introductions to a wider audience.
Despite that exposure, the duo admits that self promotion has never been their strongest focus. Instead, much of their energy has stayed centered on the creative process itself. Over the years, their music has also received recurring support from BBC Introducing, offering another important platform for their evolving sound.
Musically, The Filibusters have often been described as creating relaxed, understated music, with a style that has naturally softened over time. Their influences stretch across artists including Stephen Fretwell, Ben Howard, Nirvana, and The Beatles, combining elements of indie rock, acoustic songwriting, and stripped back production.
During the creation of their first album, the duo even developed a specific set of rules for each song. Those creative limitations helped them avoid overproduction and maintain the clean, raw band sound they had envisioned. While their earlier monthly release schedule sometimes forced them to put out music before they felt it had reached its full potential, their approach today is noticeably different.
Now, The Filibusters spend considerably more time crafting, producing, and mastering each release. Rather than chasing volume, the goal has become simple: every new song should surpass the one that came before it.
Their latest release, “Sum of Our Past,” reflects that evolution. The track arrives from two musicians who have spent years refining not only their songwriting but also the way they approach production as a whole. Every element was handled internally, continuing the independent process that has become central to The Filibusters’ identity.
That same hands on philosophy carried into the accompanying music video. The duo filmed and edited the visual themselves while they were still completing the song’s mastering process. Later that same evening, they were joined by dancer Arabella McMurray who choreographed a routine specifically for the video, extending the shoot late into the night.
For The Filibusters, the slower pace of releasing music today has not meant stepping away from creativity. Instead, it has allowed them to become more deliberate. After years of experimentation, constant releases, unexpected viral exposure, and continued development, the duo now appears focused on making each release feel complete before allowing it into the world.
“Sum of Our Past” represents exactly that approach: two longtime friends taking everything they have learned over the last 15 years and channeling it into music that feels increasingly closer to the sound they always wanted to create.
