HORSHAM BAND THE EVERLASTING

So, who do we have here?

Four friends – all pupils at Bohunt School in Horsham. They are Zac Nottage (bass, keys), Harry Maguire (drums), Aidan Riley (vocals) and Reuben Goddard (guitar). Together, they are The Everlasting.

Some kind of band?

Indeed. The Everlasting have an indie-pop sound inspired by bands such as The 1975, with a generous spoonful of 80s synth and a light sprinkling of alternative rock. On 23 September, they released an EP, For When We Move On, comprised of six songs written over the past year or two. 

They’re very young…

Despite only being 15 and 16, the band have been together for several years, although Reuben joined the fray only recently. He said: ‘Without going into the feudal system of teenage friendship groups, I knew everyone in the band, but while Zac, Harry and Aidan have been close for a long time, I moved in different circles. We came together to record a one-off track and discovered a shared passion for music.’

So, how did they originally form?

Zac was the architect. He was inspired after seeing Coldplay perform live at Wembley and discussed the idea of forming a band with Aidan during walks to school. Harry demonstrated flair on the drums during music practice to create what was then a trio. Bohunt has provided a nurturing environment for talented pupils, with several bands forming there in recent years. 

Is there a story behind the band’s name?

Only that it was the best option presented when its members and about 20 friends gathered in the library to name their music project. ‘It was that or Screaming Eyes!’ the boys recall. 

Where does the boys’ passion for music stem from?

All of the band’s members come from musical families. Aidan and Harry have both had formal lessons on piano and drums, while Harry, Reuben and Zac have taught themselves the guitar and bass, respectively. Aidan has also enjoyed singing from a young age. He said: ‘My mum is a singer in a covers band, Saviours of Soul, and has always encouraged me to sing around the house and perform as if no-one is listening.’ 

Who writes the songs?

Zac takes a lead when it comes to the instrumental components and produces the final songs from his own home. Aidan writes the lyrics and melodies, although Harry and Reuben also contribute to the songwriting process. Aidan said: ‘I’ve always loved poetry, so writing comes quite easily to me. Sometimes, I find myself scribbling ideas down in my notebook and I give a lot of thought as to the message I want to convey.’

Do they perform live?

The Everlasting have played at youth clubs in Brighton and Horsham, and performed as part of Sussex Sounds in West Street. However, opportunities are limited. Aidan said: ‘We can’t really play pubs as we’re only 16 and most of our fans are not old enough to drink alcohol. While we can’t play as often as we’d like, it means we really look forward to it when we do.’

What have The Everlasting released?

The first release was an EP, The Afterthought, in June 2025. Tracks included To the Moon and Back, Telling Me Lies, Back to the Ground and Ghosts. This came about after the band had played S’Kool Fest in Worthing. Zac said: ‘S’Kool Fest gives a chance for school bands to perform to a crowd of about 800 people, mostly comprised of family and friends. As a result of that, we had the chance to record at Northbrook College. This gave us three hours of material that I then sifted through to produce our first EP.’

How did The Afterthought fare?

With no experience of promoting music, the band did little more than tell their friends about it, generating a few thousand streams. Momentum could have petered out, but they were rejuvenated by a collaboration with Reuben on a new track, I Hate the Rain. While still maintaining the band’s sound, Reuben’s raw guitar added a new element. Reuben said: ‘They had some good songs, based around Zac’s synths. I felt I could infuse this with some classic guitar, inspired by bands that I love, particularly The Smiths. It was a nice fusion and I’ve worked with them ever since.’  

Tell us about the new EP…

It opens, fittingly, with Intro, which sets the tone for a synth-dominated sound. While Gen Z may note the influence of The 1975, Millennials might recall Julian Casablanca’s (The Strokes) solo material, while Gen X will hear Giorgio Moroder. Save My Soul is driven by a vibrant beat, reminiscent of Neneh Cherry’s Buffalo Stance. It is the track that has gained pre-release traction amongst the band’s fans. Harry said: ‘The first time I heard it was when Zac played a demo of just the instrumental parts, with Aidan singing his lyrics over the top while we were all in the car. It was immediately catchy and I couldn’t stop thinking about it, as it has such a good chorus.’

What are the other tracks?

Next comes I Let You Go, with the fourth track being Worldwide, based on a lovely melody which Mumford and Sons fan Harry wrote on the guitar. It starts as an acoustic number, before Zac’s production takes it in interesting new directions. Crazy About You is another song built around a catchy, synth-heavy chorus, before the EP ends with title track, For When We Move On. Several members cite this as their favourite track, with the tender naivety of Aidan’s vocals taking centre stage.  

Have the songs been well received?

It was encouraging that – during our interview at Horsham Skate Park – other young people recognised them, even playing one of their tracks. They also posed for their first selfie in September! However, most of their promotional efforts are focused on social media, says Zac. ‘Like everyone, we dream of achieving 100 million views, with everyone hearing our tunes, but it’s not that easy. We just post snippets in the hope that people connect to a song, which is a way of them becoming familiar with us and being part of our journey.’  

What’s next for the band?

The EP has a fitting title, as the band feel it marks the end of one chapter and the start of another. Zac said: ‘We treated this project as the end of our old songwriting process. We are very proud of these songs and they are the first we’ve written that I would listen to, even if they weren’t mine! But it already feels like we’re entering a new, more collaborative period, with Reuben as an integral part of the band. So, we hope the EP will be a stepping stone to a more developed sound.’

Further information: For When We Move On is now available all on streaming platforms. Find them on Instagram here.

First published in AAH Magazine in October 2026 edition. Words: Ben Morris / Photos: Alan Wright Photography