In a city renowned for its party life and legendary music history, some of the most original and interesting sounds are still being created under the radar. Dish, Texas are one of those bands – four musicians who have been quietly building something distinctly their own within Newcastle’s independent music scene.

Made up of Joe, Alex, Dom and Felix, Dish have only been playing together for just over a year, but their love for creating music bonds them as though they’ve known each other forever. For them, the band started to feel ‘real’ not with a big announcement or viral moment, but with something much simpler: introducing their bassist (Joe) and playing their first gig.

“There’s a lot of bands that exist for ages and never actually play live,” they explain. “When we played our first gig, that’s when it felt real.”

Despite the intimacy of these spaces, the band’s ambitions stretch far beyond them. Locally, venues like The Cluny and the Boiler Shop sit high in their mutual aspirations. Further afield, their dreams reach selling out arenas, and projecting visuals onto the Las Vegas Sphere. But between us, for Dish, Texas, these dreams seem achievable.

That imagination is reflected in the band’s name. Dish, Texas is named after a tiny town in Texas – a place Dom discovered by repeatedly clicking ‘random article’ on Wikipedia during a solo project phase. The town, home to around 400 people, once controversially changed its name as part of a deal with a satellite TV company. The story stuck, and so did the name.

“It just sounded cool,” Dom says simply.

Trying to pin Dish, Texas down musically isn’t easy – and they prefer it that way. When asked to describe their sound without using genre labels, the answers come out poetic, original and surprisingly cohesive.

“Woody,”
“Spiky,”

“Groove”

Eventually, the band lands on a single image: a bathroom with a campfire in it. It’s warm, slightly surreal, and oddly fitting.

At the heart of Dish is a deeply collaborative process. Most songs begin with Joe recording rough voice memos, often just reciting vocals and with acoustic guitar. Then he goes on to sharing them with the rest of the band. From there, ideas develop quickly.

“Sometimes parts come together within ten minutes,” they say. “It just materialises.”

Rather than one dominant creative voice, the band describe their writing process as a “true democracy”. Everyone contributes, challenging one another’s ideas in order to shape the final result. That collective approach also extends to how they see each other’s roles.

Felix is described as a “musical genius,” capable of switching instruments effortlessly. Dom’s lyrics are praised for their emotional clarity. Joe brings passion and grounding energy, while Alex is the “secret weapon” – adding a floaty, almost psychedelic edge to the band’s sound. The dynamic feels less like bandmates and more like a shared creative ecosystem.

Despite their growing confidence, Dish remain largely hidden – and they’re honest about why. The band point to the realities of today’s music industry: reliance on social media promotion, declining attendance at local gigs, and the difficulty of breaking through without being based in London.

“There are so many great bands in Newcastle,” they say. “But the coverage just isn’t always there.”

Still, they don’t see this as discouraging and instead just part of the process. Having only been active for a year, they believe visibility will come with time. For now, the focus is on writing, playing live and letting the music evolve naturally.

That evolution never really stops. Songs continue to change even after release, shaped by live performances, new influences and the band’s own growth. “You’re never really finished with a song,” they admit. “It just becomes more like you.”

So what keeps them going?

“Because it’s fun,” they say. “And it’s fulfilling.”

There’s something powerful, they explain, about standing in a room where people are moving together to something you created; to share a moment that exists only in that space and time.

Each time someone discovers Dish, Texas the band hopes they feel two things: connection and movement. Lyrics are written to be relatable, not rigid, allowing listeners to project their own experiences onto the music. Sonically, they want people to groove, even when the emotions underneath are heavier.

“It’s energetic and emotional at the same time,” they say. “That’s kind of our thing.”

In a city full of noise, Dish, Texas are quietly carving out space for something thoughtful, collaborative and deeply human. Hidden for now – but not for long.

Some final words from the boys: