In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, The Getdown Services—consisting of Josh Law and Ben Sadler—likened themselves to CBBC’s Dick & Dom. “You see guys who seemingly possess no dignity or self-worth at all, tossing mushy peas at a bunch of kids. I think we tap into something similar,” they said.
The band is gaining recognition for their eccentric stage performances, which have always been part of their style but developed unintentionally. Emerging from the lockdown, they began joking around and making each other laugh, a dynamic that has since become integral to Getdown Services’ performances. “It was never really our intention, but that’s how we’ve always handled things, without consciously deciding to,” Josh explains.
The cover art for their album reflects a similar comedic and bizarre aesthetic, showcasing an eclectic mix of themes, from random food items to eerie humanoid chip shop statues. "We thought it would be a one-off, something like ‘eugh, that’s disgusting!’, but now, playing in mainland Europe, they’re everywhere,” Ben shares. Josh adds, “We thought we had stumbled upon something unique, but they’re literally all over Belgium. It's like featuring the Colonel on your album cover.”
Regarding their latest EP titled ‘Your Medal’s In The Post,’ Josh notes that this is the first artwork where a concept was prioritized from the start.
“There’s a lot in the EP focusing on class tensions and the confusion surrounding the class system in this country... There are many issues and questions about entitlement and similar topics. Ben and I come from very different class backgrounds, but we connect on many levels, so we decided it would be fitting for our parents to represent the artwork, showcasing our differing financial situations and the overall confusion, frustration, and challenges surrounding it.”
“They’re our parents,” Ben states, “and they hold great significance for us. It’s incredible that we’ve reached a point where we’re releasing something that people might actually want to listen to. So, it’s only fitting to showcase our background on this.”
In a more sentimental vein, Josh adds, “We just wanted to have a nice picture of our parents.”
Getdown Services clearly show a strong influence from rock and disco, referencing bands like T. Rex, Daft Punk, Chic, and AC/DC—all of which are more evident in the new EP. They have also drawn comparisons to Sleaford Mods and LCD Soundsystem.
“With the Sleaford Mods comparison,” Ben acknowledges, “I can see it, mainly because it’s spoken word, two guys, a laptop, and lots of swearing!”
Josh and Ben have known each other for years, having attended school together and been part of various bands prior to this, yet Getdown Services emerged as a lockdown project. Would it have been created without that context?
“No, I don’t think so,” Josh replies. “I don’t think we’d have considered it; we were both busy working before lockdown.” The end of lockdown coincided with their musical endeavors, leading to gigs and a newfound excitement. Ben states, “Lockdown forced us to be at home, extremely bored, and sharing ideas back and forth, giving us plenty of time to invest in this project.”
Getdown Services operate without practice spaces or studios; they record and produce everything at home. Since this was a COVID project, it raises the question of whether the pandemic influenced the sound of their music in any way.
Josh: “I hadn’t really thought about that... but I would say definitely. The free time allowed us to focus on learning how to record.”
Ben: “We’ve always made music at home for each other. We probably would have never deemed it serious enough to go into a studio again... that was never really an option. During lockdown, you end up doing everything yourself, so I guess it naturally evolved that way.”
Musically, the band’s sound has transformed since those early recordings—some songs from the album carry a more melancholic tone compared to their recent tracks, which are more reminiscent of Bolan and Daft Punk. Ben explains, “We’re less angry, less sad and depressed, and less distracted now.”
Josh adds, “If you’re stuck doing something you despise, you’ll be miserable. Now, we spend our time doing something we enjoy, so the music’s a bit more uplifting. Unless some major crisis arises, we’ll likely keep it ‘party-time.’ [But] we still enjoy venting about things.”
“We love a good whinge,” Ben chuckles.
Josh notes, “We love complaining. Even when things are going well, I still love to whine about stuff—I think that’ll always be part of our music. But the anger and bitterness are just taking a new form, I believe.”
Despite the humor, this deeply creative project is continually growing. Ben adds, “We’ve considered doing another album—we want to attempt
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In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, The Getdown Services, consisting of Josh Law and Ben Sadler, likened themselves to CBBC's Dick & Dom. "You see