No Guidnce: a boyband you need to hear out.
Who would’ve thought we could love another British boyband?
collage by Amishi Gupta.
While Spotify’s “More Like This …” usually plays songs that draw your interest, the true magic happens when it plays a song that demands all your attention. I can only thank Spotify for playing “Is It A Crime?” one random summer day in 2023, marking the day I first listened to No Guidnce. As soon as the song began, I was captivated by the blend of vocals across the foreground and background. Leaving no time to spare, I knew I needed to hear more.
No Guidnce, a four-member boyband, released their first single “Committed” on March 15th, 2023, coupled with “Lie To Me” on March 16th. This debut pair showed just what No Guidnce had to offer. From singing in their favorite London parking lot and posting covers on TikTok (@noguidnce) to the overwhelmingly positive reception they embraced, the band successfully introduced themselves to the UK R&B scene. Welcome Ebubé, Josh, Kai and Zeekay!
R&B is broadly my most-listened-to genre and has claimed that title for many years. Though I blend together artists from the USA and the UK, it is irrefutable that the UK R&B scene has been making a mark globally. My favorite artists include Mahalia and Ella Mai—both showcase a different perspective on love and the tragedies it can entail. Alongside them, some chart-toppers include FLO, RAYE, and Jorja Smith. Noticing a pattern? The UK’s R&B scene has been dominated by female artists (love!), and largely solo artists too. Introduce a 4-member R&B boyband and you are genuinely adding something new to the mix. Indeed, discovering No Guidnce brought diversity to the artists that reside in my playlists. As far as I’m aware, no other R&B artists mirror No Guidnce’s exact style, leaving the boyband to carve a path of their own: 4 Londoners striving to make R&B music while simultaneously trying to bring boybands back into the limelight.
Characteristic of a successful boyband, No Guidnce form a cohesive unit with each member still displaying their own personality. Seeing the group live at the Lafayette in London in October 2023 truly gave me a sense of this. Dressed in black and grey tones, each member was styled uniquely: Ebubé in dungarees, Josh with a sweater vest, Kai in a tank, and Zeekay in sweats. Together, they sang smoothly, looked attractive, and danced rhythmically. Safe to say, they stole the hearts of many young British girls (I still remember the 16-year-olds screaming beside me). At the time, Kai particularly drew me in; hearing his voice live coupled with his silly dance moves and smirks showcased how much he loved their music. I recall the invigoration and enthusiasm present in that venue, both audience and performers bouncing off one another. Seeing No Guidnce again later that year, this time at an Apple Music event at London’s Regent Street, I realized again how much nostalgia a boyband evokes.
Many of us grew up adoring a particular band, perhaps even multiple—something I am proudly guilty of. In the mainstream English music scene, bands have ceased to exist. What happened to seeing a unique mix of characters and searching for the one that you resonate with the most? What happened to learning their names and watching their music videos for hours on end just to follow each member closely? Clearly, this calls for some hunting on my end; I remain on the search for more bands to listen to. But, in the meantime, No Guidnce fills that spot in my heart comfortably.
To the disappointment of many fans, Ebubé announced his departure from No Guidnce in the summer of 2024. Though the reason remains unclear, both No Guidnce and Ebubé have moved on since; the boyband introduced a new member named Eshan, and Ebubé launched into his solo career. Like many within the Misguided family (the name of the fanclub), I was surprised to hear this change in arrangement. I must admit, Ebubé’s voice is primarily what attracted me to No Guidnce. His voice widened the vocal range No Guidnce had to offer; it was so different from the others’ that it was noticeable even when it made a small appearance in the back of the mix. The production of each song leveraged the variety of vocals No Guidnce had at their disposal, resulting in complex and enticing sounds. Looking back to last year, I recall wondering: what does No Guidnce’s future look like now?
The release of “Around Me” in October 2024 answered my question, at least partly. Followed by “Nostalgic” in November and “Different Ways” in January 2025, Eshan’s integration into the band solidified and I felt a shift in No Guidnce’s mood. Though they retain their lyrical nature, it appears the group is returning to mellower sounds, almost ballad-like, mirroring their debut EP’s title track, “Is It A Crime?”. As far as this goes, I have no complaints. Admittedly, it is too early to know whether the change in members caused this or whether No Guidnce is hoping to transition their music altogether. However, I am yet to be convinced by Eshan and what he brings to the table. While I’m known to be resistant to change (sometimes…), the singles so far lack Ebubé’s presence, which hasn’t been replaced by the entrance of someone as powerful. Consequently, March 14th, 2025 may be the make or break moment for me; No Guidnce’s first EP with Eshan, “Confessions of a Loverboy,” is set to hit streaming platforms, and I am excited to hear them out.
Until then, I believe that you’re doing yourself a disservice if you’re not listening to No Guidnce’s entire discography. However, to serve as a starting point for your own discovery, I’d like to share four tracks that I continue to gravitate towards (in no particular order).
1. “Is It A Crime?”
From their debut EP of the same title, “Is It A Crime?” perfectly encapsulates the band’s effortless harmony and seamless flow. Funnily, the track’s tone poses the quartet as sincere— simply people looking for love. Yet, a closer listen to the lyrics reveals the opposite: “Tell me is it a crime/to want them all/How could I decide on either or/Too many beautiful girls in this world.” Though I’m not promoting nor dismissing No Guidnce’s perspective, I’m reminded of their concert at the Lafayette. Specifically, I am reminded of their introduction to this song (and here I paraphrase): “Some people say our songs are toxic, so we ask, but are they?” And that’s a thought I’ll leave you with as you listen.
2. “Lie To Me”
Nothing says sultry like “Lie To Me.” Perhaps I owe my love of this release to Spandau Ballet, seeing as No Guidnce sampled their hit track “You.” Admittedly, the lyrics can be mildly cringe here and there. Yet, this doesn’t distract from the ease at which each members’ voice glides off the previous. Despite asking for reassurance, each members’ voice remains calm and clear. Chosen as one of the first two songs ever released under No Guidnce, this track does an excellent job of demonstrating what the band is capable of. For anyone who listened to this two springs ago, the itch to hear more must have been painful.
3. “Let It Rain – Unplugged”
Unlike “Let It Rain” from their EP titled Spicy, the unplugged revision concludes with an additional, and pivotal, verse. The track embodies an airiness that simultaneously feels light and heavy—almost as though the band’s voices are overcompensating for the hollowness of the instruments…or vice versa? Leveraging the presence of multiple singers, No Guidnce repeatedly layer their voices over one another, building the eerie sound which climaxes in the additional verse, releasing the frustration the lyrics articulate. “Let It Rain” ends feeling unresolved, begging for a relisten; each time, I’ll gladly do so.
4. “Long Walk”
I must admit, for the few months that followed its release, I had mixed feelings on the flow of this track. Its inclusion in my recommendations hopefully indicates that I have come to a conclusion: I thoroughly enjoy it. Moving through pushes and pulls of varying intensities, we are shown a new side of No Guidnce’s creativity, as this track differs from much of their discography. As a listener, you’re left guessing where the rest of the melody is headed, only for it to take you completely by surprise. Reflecting on the track, the group shared how “Long Walk” surprised them too as they ventured into producing something more “boom-bap style.” Each of the members’ voice shines, truly because they sound so distinct.
edited by River Wang.
collage by Amishi Gupta.