After 25 years of crafting high-energy, electric performances with Bond, Eos Counsell, and Gay-Yee Westerhoff have taken a new musical path as FIRL. For FIRL’s upcoming album, Wildwood, which is set to be released in April 2025, Eos and Gay-Yee draw deeply from their travels and love of nature. Inspired by places like Hokkaido's hot springs and Costa Rican forests, the album uses elements such as birdsong to create an immersive, calming soundscape. In addition to music, Eos and Gay-Yee use their platform to support humanitarian causes. Recent contributions include donating prize money from their appearance on Celebrity Eggheads to CARE International and performing at events like Vietnam’s Typhoon Yagi benefit. Their dedication extends beyond fundraising, as they continue to use their music to connect listeners to the beauty of nature and the importance of supporting global humanitarian efforts. Read on to learn more about FIRL.

Where are you based?
We are both based in London.

What inspired you both to come together and create music?
We’ve been working and writing together for 25 years with the electric string quartet, Bond. FIRL is a continuation of that relationship and an opportunity for us to write and perform a different style of music that reflects the people we’ve become. We write, arrange, record, and produce all our own music as FIRL.

You used to be under your band Bond, so why the change to FIRL? Will you still work under Bond as well? How are these two bands different?
Bond is still very much alive, and FIRL is another creative outlet for us that represents another side of our personalities. Whilst both Bond and FIRL are melody-driven, Bond is performed on electric instruments, and is high-energy and fast-paced. FIRL is performed on acoustic instruments and evokes feelings of tranquility and serenity.

We still work and perform as Bond, in fact we’re recently back from Vietnam and Mexico, and we’re off to perform in Shanghai and Taiwan soon.

Congratulations on the release of your single Summer Rain. How would you describe this single?
Summer Rain is one of the more active tracks from our album — it features piano, cello, and violin. It builds with each instrument reaching a pinnacle and releasing an uplifting melody.

Could you share more about the inspiration behind this piece?
Summer Rain represents the gathering of clouds before a summer rain storm.

How would you describe your music style? Are there any artists you both look up to or are inspired by?
Our musical style as FIRL is nature-inspired and cinematic. We write and perform multi-layered instrumental music using piano violin cello and electronics. We favor simple melodies and structures to convey a calm and tranquil atmosphere.

We heard your debut album Wildwood is due for release in April 2025. Can you tell us more about the upcoming album?
Wildwood is our debut album as FIRL and it's a love note to nature and the peace and connection it offers. Wildwood is inspired by our travels, from the natural hot springs of Hokkaido to the birds of Costa Rica as well as the forests of our homelands.

The addition of elements such as birdsong in the music of Wildwood is fascinating. How did you decide on incorporating these elements, and what effect do you think they bring to the overall sound of the album?
We incorporate birdsong into some of our music as an homage to nature. We have both always been interested in birdsong as an insight into the world around us. Eos’s name means nightingale in Welsh. There’s a natural response to birdsong that is very calming- the practice of forest bathing or Shinrin yoku - (where you absorb the calm and space of a forest in a mindful way) is very therapeutic. ‘Breathe’ from our album, is one such track.

We heard you are potentially partnering with the Woodland Trust for the album's release. Could you tell us more about this collaboration and how you hope to raise awareness for environmental issues through your music?
We have been members of the Woodland Trust for decades — it’s a charity close to our hearts and we hope that our music may help people to remember those moments of stillness and awe that are found so readily in nature. Our next single, Little Bird, will feature a short video with some of the footage provided by the RSPB.

You guys contributed your £20,000 prize money from your appearance on Celebrity Eggheads (as Bond) to Care International. What inspired you to support this organization?
CARE International is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty, operating in over 100 countries. They place special focus on women and girls because they know that we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities.

Do you have a bit of a relationship with a minute?
We performed at their annual event — March for Women several times as Bond.

As artists with a platform, how important is it for you to use your music and performances to raise awareness for humanitarian issues?
Being able to perform at fundraisers and charity concerts is a privilege for us and an opportunity to connect with communities and raise awareness of environmental and humanitarian issues.

In what ways do you believe music can play a role in addressing social and environmental issues? How do you hope to inspire your audience through your efforts?
We believe that fundraising through performances is the best way to address these issues. The main work needs to be through policy on governmental levels but as musicians, we can bring awareness and hopefully raise money to help these causes.

For example, we were recently in Hanoi, Vietnam where you’ll remember they suffered a devastating Typhoon. We were privileged to be able to help in whatever small way as all proceeds went to help rebuild the lives of the survivors of Typhoon Yagi.

Are there any upcoming projects you would like to share?
We have our London debut coming up, on November 26th at the Pheasantry, Kings Road, Chelsea. https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/firl-wildwood

It has been a crazy past few years, how have you been staying positive?
A huge part of staying positive lies with friendships and connections. The two of us in FIRL meet up regularly for writing which is often followed by some food and a lot of laughter.

We both keep up to date on world affairs but avoid doomscrolling. We also both find solace in music and walking in nature.

What is your motto in life?
Neither of us really has a life motto - but I’d say we have similar outlooks - don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t be a dick. We enjoy ourselves, and see the good in people.

To learn more about FIRL, please follow the links below:
Instagram: @firlmusic
Facebook: @FIRLmusic
YouTube: @FIRLmusic

FIRL - Symphonic Melodies