DOWN WITH BORING.
KennyHoopla
ISSUE 81 · OCTOBER 2023 · READDORK.COM
BACK ISSUES! Want to complete your collection and grab Dork covers with all your faves? Get ‘online’ and head on over to shop.readdork.com and find our complete back catalogue, available while they last.
Issue 81 | October 2023 | readdork.com | Down With Boring
Hiya, Dear Reader. It’s a changing of season at Dork this month - not just as summer gives way to the less sweltering conditions of autumn, but also as some not-insignificant changes are afoot. Many of you will know that the editorial team behind this very magazine also make another publication - our sister title, Upset. Focused on the louder end of the music spectrum, for over seven years now, we’ve been putting out both each month. But now, we think it’s time for a change. Starting from this issue, we’re delighted to welcome Upset as a new, fully integrated part of Dork. As this magazine - and music as a whole - has become more and more flexible with genre, it began to feel more and more reductive to keep one part of the spectrum walled off in its own publication. We’ll be publishing regular digital Upset cover features on readdork.com, with the best of the acts that Upset covers making their way into the pages of Dork, giving them the widest possible audience. That starts now, with one of this month’s three cover stars. KennyHoopla has been an Upset favourite for years now. One of the most vital acts in heavy music today, we’re delighted to welcome him to the front of Dork this month. He’s joined by one of the breakout acts of the last 12 months or so, the brilliant Jockstrap - who by now will either have won the Mercury Prize or... not - and the magnificent Holly Humberstone, finally here with her debut album. Quite possibly our most packed issue yet, there’s so much to get your teeth into this month, you’ll still be going by the time the next issue drops. Enjoy!
readdork.com Editor Stephen Ackroyd Deputy Editor Victoria Sinden Associate Editor Ali Shutler Contributing Editors Jake Hawkes, Jamie Muir, Martyn Young Scribblers Abigail Firth, Alex Cabré, Ciaran Picker, Dan Harrison, Emma Quin, Finlay Holden, Jessica Goodman, Joshua Williams, Minty Slater Mearns, Neive McCarthy, Rebecca Kesteven, Rob Mair, Sam Taylor, Steven Loftin Snappers Bryce Glenn, Claryn Chong, Derek Bremner, Em Marcovecchio, Frances Beach, Kaio Cesar, Patrick Gunning, Moja, Nici Eberl, Philip Chester, Ronan Park, Sarah Byrne, Sarah Louise Bennett PUBLISHED FROM WELCOMETOTHEBUNKER.COM
Intro.
Hype.
04 08 09 10 10 12 14 16 18 20
24 26 27 28 30 31
20 22
DORK’S DAY OUT DAY OF THE GIRL SPRINTS LIVE AT LEEDS SOFT PLAY FLOWEROVLOVE CHART ATTACK CLAIRE ROSINKRANZ TEENAGE KICKS JOEY VALENCE & BRAE GRIFF A DAY IN THE LIFE OF... LIZZIE ESAU
D4VD MISO EXTRA SOFY MITCH ROWLAND PARIS PALOMA HANNAH GRAE
Features. 32 38 40 46 48
HOLLY HUMBERSTONE VAGABON JOCKSTRAP LUCIA & THE BEST BOYS KENNYHOOPLA
54 58 60
REBECCA BLACK COACH PARTY BLEACH LAB
62
REVIEWS
68 76 76 77 77
READING 2023 FLOW FESTIVAL SZIGET FESTIVAL BOYGENIUS HAIM
78
FIZZ
Incoming. Get Out.
Backpage.
UNIT 10, 23 GRANGE ROAD, HASTINGS, TN34 2RL
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.
‘Editor’ @stephenackroyd READDORK.COM 3.
INTRO.
A BIG DAY THE BEATING HEART OF POP NONSENSE.
Mosh-pits, singalongs, on-stage drinking games, a birthday cake, posters that are mysteriously missing come the end of the day (cheers for the clean-up help, guys) – and even a pop quiz thrown in for good measure. Turns out we can organise a piss-up in a brewery. Words: Alex Cabré, Jamie Muir.
Photos: Patrick Gunning.
4. DORK
‘QUESTION FOUR. WHAT - TO THE NEAREST 10 ‘GSM’ - IS THE WEIGHT OF PAPER STOCK USED FOR THE INNER PAGES OF DORK?”
READDORK.COM 5.
COVER STORY
HUM
32. DORK
HOLLY MBERSTONE IS THE REAL DEAL HOLLY HUMBERSTONE
Dive into HOLLY HUMBERSTONE’s debut album, ‘Paint My Bedroom Black’, where raw emotions and relatable experiences create a musical sanctuary. By Neive McCarthy. Photography by Bryce Glenn.
"IT’S ABOUT LETTING GO OF THE SHIT THAT IS HOLDING ME BACK" H O L LY H U M B E R S TO N E
READDORK.COM 33.
Strap The last twelve months have seen JOCKSTRAP rise from buzzy newcomers to Mercury nominees. Breaking the mould, fusing genres and defying expectations, they’re not done yet. By Martyn Young. Photography by Nici Eberl. Photography assistant: Pooja Dua.
40. DORK
I
In.
JOCKSTRAP
READDORK.COM 41.
COVER STORY
KENNY VS THE WORLD 48. DORK
There’s no doubting that KENNYHOOPLA is one of the most exciting artists to break through in recent years - but he’s not done yet. As he admits himself, he’s trying to take over the world. By Ali Shutler. Photography by Derek Bremner.
KENNYHOOPLA
READDORK.COM 49.