Issue Forty-Eight
mary
in the
Also inside: Lime Garden Yard Act Whitelands C Turtle Ugly Duvet City Parking Voyeur Christian Music Ebbb
junkyard
Josh Whettingsteel, ‘Oscillations’. Paper collage, found board. Oil and acrylic on wood, 30cm x 30cm.
Issue Forty-Eight is our first of 2024 and our first chance to highlight the artists we are most excited about this year. Twelve months on from their debut interview, mary in the junkyard are on the cover. The trio have just released their new single ‘Ghost’ and following an introductory year which included countless live performances, sold out headline shows and a much anticipated debut single (‘Tuesday’), it seemed the perfect time to dig a little deeper to see how this newfound attention is sitting with the band. At the other end of the release spectrum, Leeds’ Yard Act are preparing themselves for the release of their second album, ‘Where’s My Utopia?’ in March. After establishing that nobody is paying for Zoom, we dig into the new record, New Orleans and how James is letting the band know what the album is about - interview by interview. February is home to the debut album from Brighton’s Lime Garden. Having travelled this journey with them extensively, in print and more, we gave them a call, post rehearsal, to discuss “judgement day”, ‘One More Thing’ and how they’re already writing album two. Joining Lime Garden on tour are London-via-Cambridge’s Ugly. The six-piece made a very welcome return last year and they have a new EP on the way. In our conversation with the band, we travel the transformation of their sound, touring with Black Country, New Road and the influence of spirituality. Within these pages we welcome two more debut albums. The first from London’s Whitelands. The band have been working with shoegaze label heroes Sonic Cathedral for some time now, and are about to tour with shoegaze legends, Slowdive. We chat to them about the record, ‘Night-bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day’ and the aforementioned tour.
Staying in the capital, C Turtle are venturing towards the March release of their first album. Over a year on since our last chat, we give Cole a call (in China) to talk AI, ‘Expensive Thrills’ and Flabby Toad. Stoke’s Christian Music will be a new name to most. Disinterested in ‘buzz’ and open to “play the game” with industry types, the long-time friends of fellow noise makers, UNIVERSITY are set for an exciting 2024. Eager to hear more about their latest single ‘Marimba-Tragic Death Cult’, we gave them a ring. Keeping it loud, Manchester’s Duvet have become live favourites of ours. A string of singles and a handful of shows into their careers, the band have been impressing everywhere they go. We checked in to chat about the importance of venues like YES and the variety of influences within the band - in style and sound. Rounding off our interview features are two bands separated by over 3000 miles. In Sheffield, City Parking have recently shared EP ‘It’s Mad Round Here’ and the follow up single, ‘Carl’ - both of which have been on regular rotation. Curious of the impact a city can make, and intrigued by the variety of influence on show, we spoke over email. In New York, where new alternative music is thriving, a new name is causing a stir in Voyeur. The band’s debut EP ‘Ugly’ is out now and we gave them a call to dig into their grunge influence and their fuzzy response to the club scene which surrounds them. To finish, we satisfy our obsession with London’s Ebbb, a band who are retaining as much mystery as possible at this early stage, with some words on why you should be obsessed too. ‘The Other Folk’ tells the story of the alternative folk movement that’s happening right now and who’s at the forefront. Finally we get to know the artist behind Folly Group’s debut album artwork, Elli Antoniou.
4 Lime Garden Judgement Day 9 Ebbb A Pilgrimage 11 mary in the junkyard Ghost 18 Whitelands Night-bound Eyes
39 Duvet Sweaty Dog 46 Ugly Twice Around The Sun 49 The Other Folk
24 Yard Act Who’s paying for Zoom?
53 Christian Music Hype isn’t real
28 Voyeur Ugly in an Ugly World
53 C Turtle Expensive Thrills
35 Elli Antoniou Down There!
53 City Parking It’s Mad Round Here
GLASSER FRI 16 FEB ST PANCRAS OLD CHURCH PALACE FRI 23 FEBSOLD OUT HACKNEY EARTH SAM EVIAN TUE 27 FEB HACKNEY OSLO ASTRID SONNE & ML BUCH 27/28 FEB OUT SOLD ICA LOREN KRAMER WED 20 MAR THE GRACE TATYANA FRI 22 MAR THE WAITING ROOM MARY IN THE JUNKYARD WED 27 MAR CORSICA STUDIOS COSMORAT THU 28 MAR WHIRLED CINEMA THU 4 APR SHACKLEWELL ARMS THU 11 APR ST PANCRAS OLD CHURCH ISOBEL WALLER-BRIDGE THU 11 APR ICA VERA SOLA FRI 12 APRIL CHATS PALACE PALEHOUND TUE 16 APRIL HACKNEY OSLO
MOLLY LEWIS WED 17 APRIL THE LEXINGTON TIRZAH FRI 19 APRIL IN THE ROUND FESTIVAL ROUNDHOUSE KAI BOSCH WED 1 MAY 2024 THE SOCIAL MITSKI UT LD O 8/9/10/11 MAY ALL SO EVENTIM APOLLO FRANCIS OF DELIRIUM TUE 14 MAY HACKNEY OSLO LANKUM SUN 19 MAYSOLD OUT HACKNEY EMPIRE THE GARDEN 25/26 JUNE UT OLD O HEAVEN S THE NATIONAL FRI 5 JULY CRYSTAL PALACE PARK FUTURE ISLANDS SAT 27 JUL CRYSTAL PALACE BOWL NAILAH HUNTER THU 5 SEP HOXTON HALL JUNGLE THU 12 SEP THE O2 KETY FUSCO THU 14 NOV ICA
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There’s nothing really to it. If you do your art, and
I know, the thing around Stoke is real, because I work
put your art out, and you’re prolific with it because
in the Venue [The Underground], and I’ve been going to
it’s something you really want to do, because there’s
that same venue since I was 15, I’m now 21. And it’s real.
something inside you that has to come out; and if it
With real bands and real people. And I see it all happen.
doesn’t you get frustrated with yourself…then if you choose to put that to the public, and people enjoy it, then
I’m sure you’ve heard of Fat Dog? They got huge,
that’s all you need to do.
unbelievably big, having not put a song out. There was nothing. It’s baffling that it can happen. My girlfriend
But the reason I’m here at all is that people are getting
actually told me that their friends had been talking about
excited about you. It seems you have benefited from the
Fat Dog. And that this whole thing that was interesting
‘hype’ which you claim doesn’t exist. So there must be
about them, was that they hadn’t put out a song. If you
something to it?
were from anywhere else, and you were trying to play that game - we’re not going to put a song out until we get big
Depends what you mean by ‘hype. If you mean interest
- no chance! It’s a London thing! I don’t care if bands are
from people who have the power to make things happen
from London, or aren’t from London, as long as they’re
for your band. Then yes, definitely - that’s a positive
good. But it’s the fact that there’s an advantage being in
thing. However, the lie that, “if loads of people are into
that place geographically. That’s what bothers me. I’ll be
your band, and you do these specific things...”, it doesn’t
honest, it’s quite cathartic talking to you. Can you tell it’s
mean you are then through your door, and you get noticed
been stressing me out!
by someone on the other side. I think they are two very But also, now that you have this platform, and a chance
different things.
to shout about where you’re from, is that something In terms of the ‘Industry’, you can play the game as much
you’re happy to take on board as a symbol of pride?
as you like, but you have to stick to your own philosophies and ideals. I’ll play the industry game a little bit - but I’m
Partially. Because I don’t think that where you’re from
never going to bend to their will. If there’s something I
should matter. Nothing should matter except the music.
don’t want to happen, it won’t happen.
But unfortunately, you have to have an image. If you take everything away except the music, that’s your fair
I guess also, a factor is that so much of this ‘industry’
judgement right there. It’s, “do you enjoy it or not?” Not
is based in London and the south, with much less
even if it’s good. Once you’ve found your answer to that,
infrastructure from where you’re from in Stoke.
then, go ahead. I think it’s particularly unfair that the geography of a band will determine if they’re big or not,
I do think about that. A lot. My mentality is that I’m
or if they become big, or if they have the potential to get
doing this exactly how I did before there was any interest.
big, or even get noticed.
Nothing has changed. Maybe I can do some bigger gigs. But I write in the same way. Record in the same way. No
Where do you want to take the Christian Music
one else can push me to do anything else other than that.
Project? Where do you want to play, what do you want to do?
Us and UNIVERSITY are kind of from the same place - and people are saying “yeah, there’s this new scene in
I set out to play gigs regularly, and create and put out
Stoke!” But it’s not a new scene - this scene’s been going
music. That was my goal. And I’m doing it. I’m already
as long as any other scene. Except, it’s new because the
living the life I want to live. Anything else is a bonus. I
people from London have only just found out about it!
hope that people enjoy the music, but if they don’t, that’s
You know that thing about history, that it’s written by the
not my problem. I make music for myself. I’m not afraid
victor. It’s that, except, things only exist if London pays
or ashamed to say that. As long as there’s people to dig it
attention to it.
- despite the fact that I don’t care what anyone thinks - if they dig it I do however appreciate it!
55
Christian Music
Your music has a clear direction and style, has it
Is the Sheffield music scene/community a thriving and
always been this way or has there been some trial and
motivating place to be right now? Are there any artists
error?
who you think deserve a large spotlight?
We never really focused on the style or the direction too
There’s a lot going on in the Sheffield music scene. We’ve
much to be honest we just put out what we think sounds
met a lot of local bands while doing gigs and discovered
most like us and what we’re proud of. We don’t want to
new ones from being on the same lineup or whatever.
end up being stuck in one particular sound so we always
There’s a lot happening and people should support it. Go
like to just mess around and see what fits the song. There
and see your local band and go to your local music venue.
have been some songs that it’s took a while to figure out
It’s what it’s all about. We need local music. I’ll tell you
what it needs to really bring it to life but that’s where
who you should listen to, Astrels. We saw them at The
Dave Sanderson, a producer from Sheffield, came in. We
Other Festival last year during Tramlines and they were
have Joe Green on drums and his drumming, especially
fucking amazing.
live, is just insane and really sets the tone for some of the tracks. ‘Nymphomaniac’ definitely wouldn’t be what it is
You released a cover of the John Cooper Clarke classic,
without him.
‘Evidently Chicken Town’, on his birthday. Is the Salford Bard a reference for you?
On your debut EP, ‘It’s Mad Round Here’, it feels like you’ve captured the essence of Sheffield. Do you feel
He is, of course. He’s one of those who writes about the
particularly connected to the city? Does it inform a lot
ugly and makes such brilliant material out of it. I mean
of what you do?
Chicken Town is a great example of that. You can picture everything he’s talking about and everyone can relate to it
I feel very connected to it, as I mentioned earlier there’s
in some way. Ninety Degrees In My Shades is my all-time
a lot of beauty that can be found in things that you might
favourite of his.
not even pay any attention to and living in a city is perfect The vocal inspirations and comparisons come to mind
for finding things like that.
relatively easily, but musically City Parking is quite Sticking with Sheffield, you’ve had the public
diverse. Is that a product of discovering your sound
approval of Rev Jon McClure. Do you have an ongoing
over time or intentional to show vast inspiration and
relationship with him and his music? Does that local
interest? You’re not afraid to get heavy.
yet established validation breathe confidence into the project?
As I mentioned before, we didn’t want to get too caught up in one sound and end up unintentionally stuck in a box.
I reached out to Jon before City Parking was even a thing
So we always try just to do whatever sounds good for each
and told him that his writing had inspired some of my
song. We have a very diverse music taste between us so
own and I shared some poetry with him. He was very
there are always bits of inspiration from various places
supportive and when we released a remix of the demo of
coming in and out.
‘Mad Round Here’ by Dean Honer, a Sheffield producer What can we expect from City Parking in 2024?
and mixer, he was one of the first people to share it and let people know about it. We’re big fans of his music and they’re a great band, especially live. Obviously, he’s been
Well, a lot more gigs. We’re supporting Joe Carnall on his
on the scene for a long time so having him show such
Good Cop Bad Tour show at Leadmill on 20th April. We
strong support for what we’re doing is really great.
recently announced that we are playing Tramlines on 27th July, which is going to be massive for us. And of course, more music.
63
City Parking
Editors Sam Ford
Josh Whettingsteel
Writers Sam Ford
Amber Lashley
Natalia Quiros Edmunds Eve Boothroyd Mia Lambdin Leo Lawton
Peter Martin
Josh Whettingsteel Alicia Tomkinson Reuben Cross
Elvis Thirlwell Will Macnab
Sachin Turakhia
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Artists
Josh Whettingsteel Ned Mundy
Mamo Kawakami Eline Veldhuisen Chi Park
Gabriel Hollington Vanessa Branchi Elli Antoniou REN
Eugénie Lavenant George Goom
Cover Photo Steve Gullick
Photos for Collage Charlie Harris
Chris Saunders
Luca Pellegrino Ashley Birks Jono White
Seren Carys Inigo Blake
El Hardwick