Pet sounds: Motivated by music

We’ve always wanted to make a real impact on the projects we work on, and to be part of the creative team rather than just taking orders for hotel, bar and restaurant furniture.

This is what drives us: we're surrounded by creative forces and being aware of these helps us appreciate what's around us and informs our approach to projects. Since launching Furniture Fusion almost 25 years ago, we’ve absorbed all we can about how hotels and restaurants work, how design studios work and how our furniture fits into the wider operation.

It's no secret to any of our clients, partners or suppliers that we're passionate about music, art and design, and about what goes into producing something worthwhile. The effort, sweat and toil that are necessary to ensure we show a piece that reflects the original concept of being creatively different, without reinventing the wheel. There’s inspiration everywhere and this is why we share our favourite books, music and more in our monthly email newsletters, rather than just focusing on our latest project or new products.

We’re currently working on our campaign for this year’s HIX Event - while we’re keeping the details under wraps for now, we can say that it’s driven by our love of music. It’s been another truly collaborative process as we bring together ideas, influences and inspirations from our team and a partner design studio. Inviting guests to share the finished installation with us is an exciting element and one that we think will spark further creative conversations.

Until we reveal more, we thought we’d set the scene by sharing a few of our favourite music recommendations from past newsletters - read on for a little of what we love to listen to, and subscribe to be first to hear what to expect at HIX 2024.

Mitski - The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We
Fans of singer-songwriter Mitski cheered the release of her 7th album The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We - despite announcing her retirement in 2019, she's back with more country-inflected orchestral pop and soaring melodies. More than just a viral hit - these are universal love songs that will stand the test of time.

David Bowie - Waiting in the Sky (Before the Starman Came to Earth)
David Bowie is one of MD Sam’s musical heroes, so it was no surprise that this made the cut for our March newsletter. We were counting down the days until Bowie's posthumous album, Waiting in the Sky (Before the Starman Came to Earth) was released on Record Store Day. Billed as a new album, it's really a reworked version of the classic The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, albeit with a different track listing and four songs that didn't make the original album.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Frogs
It’s been a big year for fans of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Ahead of releasing their new album Wild God in the summer, anticipation built following the release of two tracks from the record - Frogs was our playlist pick in March. It's an exuberant, infectious, sweeping epic, referencing the biblical story of Cain and Abel and full of intensity and emotion.

Tyla - Tyla
South African singer Tyla's Water was one of the biggest viral hits of the autumn last year, and one that shows the incredible power of social media in launching artists and songs. Starting strong as a trending sound on TikTok, it’s now hit almost 900m streams on Spotify. Full of personality, Tyla's music offers an innovative take on pop and R&B, with the feelgood sound of South African amapiano a perfect match for her vocals.

Sam Morton - Daffodils and Dirt
Oscar-nominated actor Samantha Morton and XL label owner Richard Russell are the duo behind Sam Morton - the pair's debut album Daffodils and Dirt is perfectly timed for a trip-hop revival. Morton has a sweet voice that works with the gentle melodies while the haunting lyrics have a raw edge that reveals the poignancy of her troubled childhood.

Idles - Tangk
Idles' frontman Joe Talbot describes the band's 5th album Tangk as their "album of beauty and power, all love songs” - even referencing freudenfreude – the notion of taking delight in other people’s success. The change in style proves the band is more than pure punk and iconic producer Nigel Godrich's influence is clear - this is a beautiful record, more dancefloor than moshpit.

Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter
Don't be surprised that Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter is a country album - born in Texas, she's got the bona fides just as much as Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton (who all feature here), but earlier rejection from the scene spurred Queen B on to create this powerful and ambitious piece of music. Funky, melancholy, soulful and kitsch, this is something special, musically and culturally.

Queens of the Stone Age - In Times New Roman
Described as 'dark, sludgy, brutal', Queens of the Stone Age's long-awaited 8th studio album In Times New Roman reflects the turmoil and upheaval the band have experienced over the six years since their last release - we love the swagger and raw-edged sound.

Fontaines D.C. - Romance
The fourth album from Fontaines D.C., Romance moves away from the band's Irish origins, positioning them firmly as global rockstars. There's a touch of grunge and a smidgen of shoegazing, but don't expect cookie cutter retro. This is an ambitious and inventive record that's full of highlights and seems set to become a classic.

The Smile - Wall of Eyes
One of our playlist favourites back in January - the second album from Radiohead side project The Smile. Wall of Eyes is the title track from trio Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and Tom Skinner's second LP, recorded between Oxford and Abbey Road Studios. Described as a 'dreamy, samba-like jam', it was the perfect track to pique interest ahead of the album release.

Lana Del Rey - Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
Shimmering strings meet trap beats on songwriter Lana Del Rey's emotional and enthralling 9th album - Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. She opens up on her life, considering the big questions and contemplating her future, with her characteristic soulful, classic, timeless sound.