Doe have had quite the year. Their debut full length, 'Some Things Last Longer Than You', came out earlier this month on Specialist Subject Records and has been met with widespread acclaim, and they’re currently touring the UK with Charla Fantasma. We managed to grab them for a quick chat about the album and their plans for the next few months.

The first thing of note when speaking with Doe is just how well they all get on. There’s a real sense of togetherness, of friendship, and of joy in each other’s company. Throughout our chat, they laugh and joke with each other as best friends do. At one point, when discussing recording their earlier work, Nicola Leel (guitar and vocals) jokes that when Jake Popyura (drums and vocals) was at the helm, he was “a bit of a dick”. Dean Smitten (guitar) joins in, laughing, “well, you’re not a prick, you just get stressed out”. “Nah, I am a bit of a prick”, Popyura responds self-deprecatingly. This ability to not take themselves too seriously, whilst still being focused on their band and their goals, is one of Doe’s strengths. They make decisions regarding the band’s future based on whether those decisions fit into the band’s ethos and vision, rather than simply in terms of exposure.

For example, working with producer MJ at his Suburban Home studios in Leeds was a direct choice made by Doe, rather than simply just finding someone who had the right availability. Leel discusses how “it felt like we were taking a step up working with MJ, we already knew a lot of the records he had done and chose him specifically because of that. He just came across very DIY-minded but also really knows what he’s doing, he’s well good and makes you comfortable”. So, I wonder, is being DIY-minded a vital part of Doe’s decision process? “It’s weird, we talk about it now and again. We don’t put this label on ourselves that we have to be DIY, it’s more like our collective mindset – we like doing stuff ourselves, we’re capable of it and we don’t have any money to get someone else to do it haha”, Leel explains. This self-confidence is great to see in a band as talented as Doe, and it’s refreshing to see a band willing to figure things out on their own, a band trusting their decisions and their ideas. Leel continues, “we’d never do anything just for the sake of moving on. everything we do is a choice and should feel like the right thing to do. We wanna do everything ourselves to an extent, but we wanna progress and play bigger shows, so it’s about finding that balance between being DIY and larger…or something. Just give us everything, haha.”

Doe and many of their contemporaries, especially many of their label mates, are sticking to the more DIY-minded side of things when it comes to the way they manage their band ‘business’. Even using the word ‘business’ feels unsuitable when discussing the way Doe and others conduct themselves. Why do Doe feel this desire to keep things so close within the band? “Doing stuff yourself is just really satisfying. Booking a tour, doing the artwork, self-managing – when stuff like that comes off, it’s just the most rewarding feeling and you feel a real sense of accomplishment”, Popyura calmly explains. “I feel like a lot of bands who from the get go are just managed and taken care of by other people and don’t have to lift a finger, I don’t think they’d ever feel the same satisfaction we feel. We’ve crafted something that’s alive now, its own entity, but if someone else is doing that shit for you from the beginning, it’s just an empty shell”, he continues. Smitten agrees, explaining that “we’re just gonna keep doing what we’re doing and if that means we can do more of it, then we’re definitely going to do that. It’s super fun and we all like each other, we enjoy hanging out a lot and touring. I’d rather be doing this than going to work, essentially.” It’s hard to argue with his logic.

Doe love to tour, and are in fact currently on the road with Charla Fantasma. What is it about touring that appeals to them so much? Popyura excitedly describes how “touring is a sure-fire way to form relationships super-fast, you don’t have any personal space and it’s really intense and you’re in each other’s company 24/7. When you’re driving to shows and stuff, you’re sitting chatting and getting a life story from people and giving yours to others. Everyone we’ve toured with has been really awesome, we’ve had really great tours and got along with everyone, and at the end of it you feel like you’ve got a whole new set of mates which is the best feeling.”

With plans for a European tour in November, plus hopes to cross the Atlantic Ocean and play shows in North America, Doe have a bright future ahead of them. This young and talented band are going about things in the best possible way, making decisions about their future based on what’s in their hearts and minds, rather than simply what will get them in front of a bigger audience. This band deserves your attention, and if you haven’t listened to ‘Some Things Last Longer Than You’, you should do so immediately. Doe are making it happen for themselves, don’t miss out on the party now.

‘Some Things Last Longer Than You’ is available now from Specialist Subject Records.