DOWN WITH BORING.
ISSUE 63 · MARCH 2022 · READDORK.COM
2 2 14.1.22 14.1.22
um the new album the new album
Index. Issue 63 | March 2022 | readdork.com | Down With Boring
WHAT'S ON THE STEREO? CMAT
If My Wife New I’d Be Dead
Spoiler alert: you're going to be reading a lot about CMAT and her debut album in this issue of Dork.
Yard Act
The Overload
Joining the getting-pretty-longnow list of indie champs' albums getting to Number 2 (see also: Sporties, Deccers, Fontaines), Yard Act's all-the-stars debut 'The Overload' got a proper hammering in Dork HQ during their chart battle week.
Wet Leg Wet Leg
We best not talk about this, but... O. M. G.
Between Friends we just need some time together EP
What's that, you've never heard of Between Friends?? True, they haven't made the biggest splash on UK shores, but since the LA duo released this (retrospectively) 5* EP back in 2018, they've been racking up streams like no one's business - not just millions, but tens and tens of millions. Immensely suitable for any good-times alt-pop playlist, they sit perfectly alongside the likes of Wallice, ELIO and spill tab.
EDITOR'S LETTER
I DON'T KNOW about you, Dear Reader, but it feels like the music
world is starting to hit boiling point. After a couple of years of broken momentum, shaky planning and an inability to fully realise creative visions, it seems as if spring 2022 is when everyone and their metaphorical dog finally gets to put their lockdown schemes into practice. Acts we've been buzzing for a debut album from are making those vital moves. From CMAT's stunning first full-length this month and Yard Act's chart battle at the start of the year, to Wet Leg, Alfie Templeman, Walt Disco and more to come in the near future. So much potential we've long predicted all set to land in the space of a few months, you'd forgive us for getting over-excited. But it's not just the relative newbies at it, either. This month's cover stars Foals are amongst alternative music's most celebrated superstars. Festival headliners, arena kings - as Yannis and co. reveal they're set to deliver an album that's down to party, it would be impossible not to get a little bit giddy at the prospect. And they're not alone, either. Everything Everything are on the road back too. There's a new Rex Orange County album very soon. The 1975 are making noises. Sports Team are making noises. Dork is getting worried at the prospect of The 1975 and Sports Team making noises at the same time. That can't end well. Charli XCX's 'Crash' is almost upon us. Alt-J have made another mighty jump with their new record 'The Dream', and new works from Let's Eat Grandma, Father John Mitski, 100 gecs, Fontaines D.C., Blossoms and more are just around the corner too. How we're going to fit it all in is beyond me. We'll try, though. There's no such thing as too much, right? Fill us up.
Band Index. Alfie Templeman
49
alt-J
46
Amelia Moore
20
AURORA
56
Bakar
10
Bastille
47
bdrmm
57
Beach House
15
Between Friends
03
Big Thief
47
Blossoms Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard Charli XCX CMAT Crows
57
Do Nothing
57
Dora Jar
16
Eades
49
English Teacher
16
Everything Everything
06
Foals
22
Foxes
49 51
Gemini Aaliyah
20
George Ezra
10
Grandmas House
57
Griff
16
Grimes
16
Hatchie
10
Holly Humberstone
16
Home Counties
50
Hurray For The Riff Raff
49
iamkyami
20
Idles
54
Italia 90
57
Jarv is...
57
Jaws The Shark
51
Kawala
48
Lady Bird
49
Lauv
10
Lava La Rue
51
Let's Eat Grandma
48
Lime Garden
18 47 38, 47
Nova Twins
15
Peach Pit
49
Porridge Radio
57
Priestgate
21
Rex Orange County
09
SASAMI
49 50 50, 58 16
The Smile
15
Spector
52
Swim Deep
15
Thomas Headon
16, 48
TV Priest
57
VLURE
47
Wallows
16
Walt Disco
03
Warpaint
09
Wet Leg White Lies Willow Kayne
Contributing Editors Jamie Muir, Martyn Young Scribblers Chris Taylor, Connor Fenton, Dan Harrison, Dillon Eastoe, Finlay Holden, Jake Hawkes, Jamie MacMillan, Jasleen Dhindsa, Josh Williams, Laura Freyaldenhoven, Melissa Darragh, Neive McCarthy, Sam Taylor Snappers Bella Howard, Frank Fieber, Hazel Gaskin, Jamie MacMillan, Lily Brown, Lissyelle, Marcus Maddox, Molly Daniel, Patrick Gunning, Pete Ray, Rosie Foster, Sarah Doyle, Sarah Louise Bennett, Stewart Baxter, Tatiana Pozuelo, Tony Jupp
PUBLISHED FROM
42, 50
49
Sigrid
Associate Editor Ali Shutler
15
NewDad
Sea Power
Deputy Editor Victoria Sinden
15, 16
Mitski Nilüfer Yanya
Editor Stephen Ackroyd
16
The Let Go
Mimi Webb
‘Editor’ @stephenackroyd
52
Gang of Youths
Shamir
It's time, guys. It's bloody time. Honestly, Walt Disco are never far from the Dork Stereo - 2020's 'Young Hard and Handsome' EP is hands-down one of the best of recent years - and now it's debut album time, with 'Unlearning' out from 1st April. Can't get enough.
16, 48 03, 32, 48 16
Famous
readdork.com
09 12, 51
Conan Gray
Metronomy
Unlearning
51
BENEE
The Linda Lindas
Walt Disco
16
Alice Glass
03, 48
WELCOMETOTHEBUNKER.COM
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All material copyright (c). All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of The Bunker Publishing Ltd. Disclaimer: While every effort is made to ensure the information in this magazine is correct, changes can occur which affect the accuracy of copy, for which The Bunker Publishing Ltd holds no responsibility. The opinions of the contributors do not necessarily bear a relation to those of Dork or its staff and we disclaim liability for those impressions. Distributed nationally.
48 47
Yard Act
03, 09
Youth Sector
20, 58
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This Month. #63. MARCH 2022.
Intro. 06 EVERYTHING EVERYTHING
Grounded, yet abstract; meaningful, and yet elusive. Everything Everything’s sixth record ‘Raw Data Feel’ processes trauma through the lens of technology, proving the indie darlings as raw and sophisticated as ever.
10
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF... HATCHIE
You know what’s easier than following around your fave pop stars, day in, day out, to see what they’re up to right that minute? Asking them. Here’s what Aussie popster Harriette Pilbeam, AKA Hatchie's day looks like.
12
BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD
Cardiff indie types Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard have finally found their way to that much anticipated debut album. While the world around them continues to implode, and that nervous anticipation takes hold, they're a band ready to take that next step forwards.
15
16
BENEE
BENEE is back with a new single, her first of 2022. ‘Beach Boy’ - an easy-breezy early teaser from the playful alt-popster’s upcoming seventrack EP ‘LYCHEE’.
BANGERS
The best of the latest new tracks.
Hype. 18
MIMI WEBB
With three Top 40 singles already under her belt - including 'Good Without', which went Top 10 last year - the Number 3 spot on the BBC's coveted Sound Of 2022 list, and a legion of fans on TikTok, Mimi Webb is a new force in pop.
Incoming. 46 REVIEWS
The new releases you need to hear - and some you definitely don't.
46 Q&A: ALT-J
Alt-J's fourth album may have taken a little longer to come around than it's predecessors, but it also sees them progressing to places further than they've ever been before.
20 YOUTH SECTOR
With their EP 'Adult Contemporary', Brighton's Youth Sector definitely have some stuff to say. Matched with some whip-smart bangers of substance, we pinned down frontman Nick Tompkins to find out more.
21
32
The latest band to arrive from Ireland's seemingly never-ending conveyor belt of exciting new talent, NewDad's latest EP is Really Rather Great - so great, we asked them to tell us all about it.
PRIESTGATE
With an expanding list of promising singles behind them, and a debut EP on the way, Priestgate could well be on the road to something big.
Features. 22
49 ARTIST'S GUIDE: NEWDAD
49 ARTIST'S GUIDE: HOME COUNTIES
With a cheeky swagger and a wry refrain, Home Counties are a band with something to say. We asked them to run us through the inspiration behind their second EP - out now via Alcopop Records. And they did.
FOALS
Before the pandemic, Foals delivered their most ambitious project yet. A sprawling two-album epic released within the space of a few months, it saw them embracing their status as one of the UK's biggest bands like never before. As we approach the other side, they're back - one member down and with a new full-length with completely different ambitions. Yannis, Jack and Jimmy are ready to party. Are you?
CMAT
Cutting humour via the medium of country pop brilliance, CMAT might well be the greatest pop star on the planet. Don't believe us? You will soon.
38 NILÜFER YANYA
Having kickstarted her career with buzzy SoundCloud demos, then broken through with a standout debut, six years later Nilüfer Yanya is delivering her second album, ‘PAINLESS’ – a raw melding of soul, indie rock and hip-hop.
42 METRONOMY
After a period of forced contemplation and reassessment, Metronomy's Joseph Mount hit a new creative hot streak. Now seven albums deep, 'Small World' sees them operating in a whole new register.
4. DORK
49 ARTIST'S GUIDE: JAWS THE SHARK
Arriving via new talent mecca Nice Swan, Mr 'The Shark' guides us through the inspiration behind his debut EP.
Get Out. 52
LIVE
Catch up with live reports from Spector and Rockaway Beach.
54 DECENT EXPOSURE
The best live photography from Idles and Aurora.
Backpage. 58 ANY OTHER QUESTIONS... SHAMIR
Yes, Dear Reader. We enjoy those ‘in depth’ interviews as much as anyone else. But - BUT we also enjoy the lighter side of music, too. We simply cannot go on any longer without knowing that Shamir has a teddy bear collection.
THE BEATING HEART OF POP.
Data 6. DORK
re-entry
Grounded, yet abstract; meaningful, and yet elusive. Everything Everything’s sixth record ‘Raw Data Feel’ processes trauma through the lens of technology, proving the indie darlings as raw and sophisticated as ever.
readdork.com 7.
Buzz 12. DORK
Cardiff indie types Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard have finally found their way to that much anticipated debut album. While the world around them continues to implode, and that nervous anticipation takes hold, they're a band ready to take that next step forwards. WORDS: JAMIE MUIR. PHOTOS: LILY BROWN.
band
T
he world is a bit fucked, and Tom Rees knows it. The Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard frontman is hunkered down in his Cardiff studio, his bandmates nipping out to get portions of chips in on a chilly January night - and no, this isn't the start of a Netflix horror movie, we can promise. "You know, there are many, many integrated problems in our society," Tom notes. "The world's on fire. China is probably going to take over the entire world. We're not going to Mars - it's not going to fucking happen because society is going to eat itself whole, and all we can do is sit and complain about it all… but on the other hand…." His eyebrows rise. "I can watch TikToks on my phone, you know what I mean? We can find the good in life and have fun through it all. It is possible." Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard are unlike any band you'll come across in 2022, even if you think their form of skyrocketed, glam-stomping, arm-waving and bone-shaking rock'n'roll could come straight out of a diehard record collection from the 70s. Debut 'Backhand Deals' is imbued with the sort of irreverent freedom from when rock'n'roll was at its most outlandish and refused to be confined to a couple of lines under a 'genre description'. The band know about having a good time and how vital embracing that truly is. "We're in this weird phase at the moment where it's excitement paired with massive amounts of fear. You spend your whole time - absolute years of your life - trying to get to this point, and then when it actually comes, you feel like saying - actually, can we not? And just do it like next year, maybe? Because I'm actually scared that people are just not going to buy it?!" It's more excitement, though, that feeds into the moment where Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard unveil their statement to the world. They're becoming a word-of-mouth live favourite through feverish performances, an uncompromising sound that engulfs you from the first note, and, in Tom, a lead singer complete with the kicks and presence that makes it feel as though he's preaching his sermon to the masses. "Tell you what, though," he interjects. "It is quite hard when after a month of feeling like a god on
readdork.com 13.
COVER STORY.
22. DORK
FOALS.
Before the pandemic, Foals delivered their most ambitious project yet. A sprawling twoalbum epic released within the space of a few months, it saw them embracing their status as one of the UK's biggest bands like never before. As we approach the other side, they're back - one member down and with a new fulllength with completely different ambitions. Yannis, Jack and Jimmy are ready to party. Are you? WORDS: MARTYN YOUNG. PHOTOS: SARAH LOUISE BENNETT, ED COOKE.
readdork.com 23.
FEATURES
B
32. DORK
CMAT.
Be the cowboy Cutting humour via the medium of country pop brilliance, CMAT might well be the greatest pop star on the planet. Don't believe us? You will soon. WORDS: JAMIE MUIR. PHOTOS: SARAH DOYLE.
readdork.com 33.
FEATURES.
Pain 38. DORK
NILüFER YANYA.
killer.
Having kickstarted her career with buzzy SoundCloud demos, then broken through with a standout debut, six years later Nilüfer Yanya is delivering her second album, ‘PAINLESS’ – a raw melding of soul, indie rock and hip-hop. WORDS: FINLAY HOLDEN. PHOTOS: MOLLY DANIEL.
readdork.com 39.
FEATURES.
A Whol New World.
After a period of forced contemplation and reassessment, Metronomy's Joseph Mount hit a new creative hot streak. Now seven albums deep, 'Small World' sees them operating in a whole new register. WORDS: JASLEEN DHINDSA. PHOTOS: HAZEL GASKIN.
42. DORK
METRONOMY.
le
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