{{Use British English|date=September 2024}} {{short description|Shoegaze band from London, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Whitelands | image = Whitelands.jpg | caption = Whitelands at Islington Assembly Hall in April 2025 | landscape = yes | origin = London, England | genre = Shoegaze, dream pop, alternative rock | years_active = {{start date|2016}}–2026 | label = Sonic Cathedral | past_members = *Etienne Quartey-Papafio *Michael Adelaja *Vanessa Govinden *Jagun Meseorisa }}
'''Whitelands''' was a shoegaze band from London, England. Originally formed as a solo recording project by Etienne Quartey-Papafio, the current lineup is also made up of Michael Adelaja, Vanessa Govinden, and Jagun Meseorisa. The band was signed to the record label Sonic Cathedral before they announced their disbanding on April 28 2026.
== History == Formed in 2017 originally as a solo recording project by Etienne Quartey-Papafio (vocals and guitar), it is now a full band completed by Michael Adelaja (guitar), Vanessa Govinden (bass), and Jagun Meseorisa (drums).
Their first full band live performance was at First Timers 2017, at DIY Space for London.<ref name="GIHE">{{cite web|url=https://getinherears.com/2024/10/07/live-slowdive-deary-whitelands-earth-theatre-hackney-07-10-24/|title=LIVE: Slowdive, Deary & Whitelands – Earth Theatre, Hackney (04.10.24)|website=Get In Her Ears|first=Kate|last=Crudgington|date=7 October 2024|accessdate=8 October 2024}}</ref>
Their first full-length album ''Night-Bound Eyes Are Blind to the Day'' was released on Sonic Cathedral in February 2024.<ref name="Line">{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/whitelands-night-bound-eyes-are-blind-to-the-day-bring-shoegaze-to-future|title=Whitelands "Night-bound Eyes Are Blind to the Day"|date=21 February 2024|first=Chris|last=Todd|accessdate=12 September 2024|website=Line of Best Fit}}</ref><ref name="Skinny">{{cite web|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/whitelands-night-bound-eyes-are-blind-to-the-day|title=Whitelands – Night-bound Eyes Are Blind to the Day|date=19 February 2024|first=Laurie|last=Presswood|accessdate=12 September 2024|website=The Skinny}}</ref><ref name="NMEReview">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/whitelands-band-debut-album-review-radar-3589524|title=Whitelands – 'Night-bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day' review: London shoegazers' debut comes alive in the details|first=Huw|last=Baines|date=20 February 2024|website=NME|accessdate=12 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="Clash">{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/whitelands-announce-debut-lp-night-bound-eyes-are-blind-to-the-day/|title=Whitelands Announce Debut LP 'Night-bound Eyes Are Blind to the Day'|date=10 January 2024|first=Robin|last=Murray|website=Clash|accessdate=12 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="Stereogum">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2247457/whitelands-tell-me-about-it/music/|title=Whitelands – "Tell Me About It"|date=10 January 2024|website=Stereogum|first=Danielle|last=Chelosky|accessdate=12 September 2024}}</ref> In June 2024, ''NME'' called it one of the best debut albums of the year so far.<ref name="NME24">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/best-debut-albums-of-2024-so-far-radar-3768653|title=The 10 best debut albums of 2024… so far!|website=NME|date=26 June 2024|accessdate=12 September 2024}}</ref> In November 2024, Rough Trade listed the album as number 64 on their top 100 albums of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Albums of the Year 2024 |url=https://www.roughtrade.com/en-gb/collection/albums-of-the-year-2024?ref=blog.roughtrade.com |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Rough Trade |language=en}}</ref>
On 18 June 2025, the band released the single "Heat of the Summer".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2312262/whitelands-heat-of-the-summer/music/|website=Stereogum|title=Whitelands – "Heat Of The Summer"|first=Danielle|last=Chelosky|date=18 June 2025|access-date=2 October 2025}}</ref> On 30 September, the band released a further single titled "Glance" and announced that their next album ''Sunlight Echoes'' would be released on 30 January 2026. A music video was made for the song featuring David Jonsson and Honor Swinton Byrne.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2324758/whitelands-announce-new-album-sunlight-echoes-hear-glance/music/|title=Whitelands Announce New Album Sunlight Echoes: Hear "Glance"|website=Stereogum|date=30 September 2025|access-date=2 October 2025|first=Margaret|last=Farrell}}</ref> On 20 November, they released a third single from the album, "Songbird (Forever)", also accompanied by a music video.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/whitelands-share-evocative-songbird-forever-video/|title=Whitelands Share Evocative 'Songbird (Forever)' Video|website=Clash|first=Robin|last=Murray|date=20 November 2025|access-date=20 November 2025}}</ref> On April 28 2026 the band announced their disbanding.
==Discography== *''Old News'' (2018), self-released *''Whitelands'' (2018), self-released digitally and on cassette on For the Sake of Tapes *''compilation'' (2019), Hidden Bay Records *''Night-Bound Eyes Are Blind to the Day'' (2024), Sonic Cathedral *''Sunlight Echoes'' (2026), Sonic Cathedral
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:British shoegaze musical groups Category:British dream pop musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 2017 Category:Alternative rock groups from London Category:2017 establishments in England Category:Black British rock musicians