Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Good Time Locomotive

Good Time Locomotive (GTL) are a London-based alt pop/rock band delivering emotion-packed music about identity, hope and resilience. Their sound blends nostalgic echoes of the 80s and 90s with a sharp modern edge, creating a connection that resonates across generations, both live and on record.

Influenced by artists such as The 1975 and Don Broco, GTL have been working with Grammy-winning producer Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse), refining their style while staying true to their DIY roots. Their upcoming EP, dimensions, due for release on 20th January 2026, expands on these themes with a broader, more ambitious sonic palette, marking a new chapter for the band.

With a steady flow of new music, an active presence on social media, and high-energy live performances, GTL are carving out their place as one of the UK’s most exciting rising acts.

Ben, the bands bass player, is here today to answer some questions:

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

My earliest memory connected to music is having piano lessons in primary school and absolutely dreading them. I literally never practiced and couldn’t connect with it at all, so it felt more like a chore than something exciting. Everything changed in my early secondary school years when I discovered bands like Green Day and Avenged Sevenfold. Hearing that kind of energy really pushed me towards picking up a guitar, and later bass guitar, which is when music finally started to feel natural and genuinely exciting to me.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

Throughout my teenage years I played a lot of music with local bands and in youth centers and when we would write music together all the time. Don’t get me wrong, the music we’d write was mostly trash but there were still one or two gems in there that inspired me to continue. 

What’s the story behind your current music project?

Good Time Locomotive had already been rolling for a while before I joined the lineup. They found me through a band member–recruiting website, and I must have done something right, because James (our drummer) invited me to his boat to learn the songs. At that point, I was genuinely unsure whether I was about to join a band or get murdered at sea — thankfully, it turned out to be the former.

The band itself is a real collision of backgrounds and influences. Hugo, our vocalist, moved over from Portugal, and Ellyes, our keyboardist, came from the US, both drawn to London’s rich and ever-evolving music scene to pursue their passion. That mix of perspectives is a huge part of what makes GTL what it is today. 

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

We’d describe our sound as high-energy and emotionally resonant, blending feel-good indie-pop and rock with funk-driven grooves, disco-tinged synths and anthemic choruses that move between uplifting euphoria and introspective depth. Our music has that nostalgic nod to 80s/90s sonic textures while still feeling fresh and modern, with moments that are upbeat and fun, and others that carry a bit of sadness or introspection — all wrapped up in dynamic, catchy songwriting that’s meant to connect with people on and off the dancefloor. To be honest, we get compared to almost every band under the sun because there are so many different flavours in what we create, but at the core it’s about making music that feels alive, emotionally honest, and impossible not to move to

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

Actually an appreciation to different genres has definitely helped. I come from quite a rock/metal background and spent a lot of my late teens listening to bands like Protest the Hero, Periphery and TesseracT. Joining this band has sort of forced me to explore other styles of music so that now I can pick up almost any type of music and draw things that I like from it. 

Listening to classical music has also really helped understand the fundamentals of musical ideas and dissecting the theory behind that has helped me understand why things sound good when used intentionally. 

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

We are the kings of DIY in Good Time Locomotive. We record everything in ProTools and Logic, whether that be simple ideas, full demos or final recordings. All of our creative ideas come from recording and sharing so we couldn’t really do what we do without it. 

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

If we are talking Indie in the traditional sense of the word, it would have to be Shrimp Scampi by Atomic Guava for me. The song slaps and deserves way more recognition than it currently has. 

If you mean Indie as a genre, Black Sheep by Metric has been on repeat for me for the past month. 

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

We essentially write about whatever we are feeling in the moment so some of songs can feel like a bit of a stream of consciousness. Whether that be impactful moments in life or just weird thoughts that become something bigger, it all gets funneled into music. 

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

We want everyone to have a connection with our music, which is why there are some slightly darker songs and some upbeat lifting songs. The overall message of the band has always been about having a good time, but acknowledging some of those bad times is hopefully what makes us come across as human as possible. We just want anyone that listens to come away from it feeling SOMETHING, that’s all we can ask. 

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

Practice is the most important thing anyone pursuing music can do. Part of the reason so many young people give up on music instruments is because of the dedication it takes to get to a professional level. A friend of mine once told me that practice does not make perfect, practice makes permanent. Make sure that you are practicing things correctly the first time every time. 

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

I’d personally love to play Reading Festival, and I know a lot of the band would agree with that one. We all have our own dream venues, but for me it’s got to be the O2 Academy Brixton. It’s such an iconic building, and the idea of seeing our band name lit up on the sign out front is something I’ve always pictured — it just feels like a real milestone moment. 

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

There are so many bands and artists big and small that we would love to collaborate with it would be so difficult to pick just one. Chris Martin would be an insane feature, if not a little ambitious. Billie Eilish would also be great on some of our tracks if you have a contact? In serious are happy and excited to work with anyone who shares our vision in music. 

Where can our listeners follow and support your music?(Website,Spotify, IG, links)

We are Good Time Locomotive on all music streaming platforms and then you can also find us on social media under @goodtimelocomotive

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

Play bigger shows, write better music. That’s all we want to do. 

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

I hope listeners discover our honesty and passion — that we put everything we’ve got into our music and that they can feel that energy. Hopefully they’ll discover our journey and join us along the way.