Issue Forty-Three
THE GOA EXPRESS
Also inside: Do Nothing Miss Tiny bar italia Slow Fiction cumgirl8 Island of Love Water From Your Eyes feeble little horse Model/Actriz Hot Face Geese
‘Cream’ by GG Skips Marco Pini
Issue Forty-Three welcomes the spring sunshine in with it. The brighter weather has us thinking of outdoor stages, so why not have a band on the cover who only write future festival anthems? Burnley’s The Goa Express are on the front and their string of singles will soon amount to something bigger. Ahead of imminent big news, we discuss the decision to sink a bottle of whiskey on the flight to SXSW, mixing with the village locals during a recording trip and not over complicating it. Over in New York, Geese are preparing for the release of their much anticipated second album, ‘3D Country’. Via Zoom, we explore the band’s growth since their debut, discuss how they nearly called it a day, and dig into their ambition to break out of the post punk bubble. Staying in the big apple, cumgirl8 have just signed to 4AD. With their new “sex positive” music now being shared with the world, we touch on new single inspiration, Cicciolina, her importance to the band and more. Brooklyn’s Water From Your Eyes have quickly become new favourites. Their recent singing to Matador Records seemed the perfect moment to reach out. They take our call to undergo one of their less chaotic interviews. Model/Actriz are quickly becoming one of the most talked about bands from across the pond. Their London headline debut sold out in a day (maybe less) and they’re the band that everyone took home from SXSW this year. We catch up following the release of their debut album and ahead of a debut trip to the UK. Wrapping up this issue’s love affair with New York are Slow Fiction. The band have recently shared their debut EP and we were keen to hear all about it.
4 Geese 3D Country 8 Do Nothing Snake Sideways 11 The Goa Express Good Luck Charm 18 Miss Tiny The Sound 22 Model/Actriz Dogsbody 25 Hot Face Monster House 33 Water From Your Eyes True Life
The five-piece kindly took our call to chat about what they got up to at SXSW and their hopes to play The Windmill! Heading home again, bar italia have been a long time favourite. Whilst sitting behind a no interview policy, the band have announced a new album. We dig into everything the band have done to date and tell you exactly why you should be excited for them. London’s Hot Face are a new noisy favourite. The band will be releasing their debut single very soon and the 3-piece gave us the early details to get a feel of what’s to come. Monster masks are just the start. Staying in the capital, Miss Tiny is the exciting new project from Dan Carey (Speedy Wunderground) and Ben Romans-Hopcraft (Childhood, Warmduscher). Ahead of the release of their debut EP, two familiar names tell us about their less familiar new music, salad recipes and the personal impact of living in London. Preparing themselves for the release of their debut album are Island of Love. The Third Man signings are doing things their way, and who are we to question that? Vocalist, Karim, takes our call from a packed out train carriage to talk about the new record and their distaste for the world of post punk bands that surround them. Nottingham’s Do Nothing also have a new album on its way. It’ll be the band’s first release outside of a lockdown! Overthinking, ‘Happy Feet’ and trying not to be whiny, are all on the agenda. Finishing off this issue, we speak to Pittsburgh’s most exciting new band, feeble little horse and preview Brighton’s The Great Escape Festival. We can’t wait to be back on the beach for the So Young stage!
37 Slow Fiction Madman 41 The Great Escape The Festival For New Music 44 Island of Love Fed Rock 47 cumgirl8 cicciolina 51 feeble little horse Steamroller 55 bar italia Punkt
I knew nothing about the music industry three years ago;
I have a lot of vocal inspirations like Linda Sharrock,
it was just this distant, fickle thing. We’ve come in with a
Robbie Basho and Tim Buckley.
lot of optimism and wanting to work hard, but we’ve also introduced money and stakes to our friendship, which is
Is there a particular point in your past that was your
really poisonous and scary in a lot of ways. Back when
‘eureka moment’ for wanting to be in a band?
we were in high school, I used to see successful bands breaking up and fighting - like you’re one of the biggest
I’ve been thinking about this actually, there have been
bands to exist, why would you ever give that up and stop
a few moments that clued me into different things. I
fighting for your creative vision? I couldn’t understand it
remember being in eighth grade being driven to school
as a 16-year-old, but I totally get it now (laughs). It’s a lot,
and my dad put on the song ‘International Feel’ by Todd
and it’s not the life some people want. The ups and downs
Rundgren. It starts with all these bleeps and bloops, but
are very extreme, but at the end of the day, we’re learning
when it got to the chorus, it modulated down in a way
so much musically and that’s the most exciting part. What
that sounded so crazy to me that I never would have
we do have is this blind and foolish musical ambition to
anticipated. It literally blew my mind, so I listened to
make it really good and keep moving away from what
everything he had ever done in a week after that.
we’ve already done. Was music always a big thing around the house? Did the process of making ‘3D Country’ feel more free than ‘Projector’ did?
It wasn’t the be all and end all of life, but my dad would show me music when we were driving. There’s a part of
Yes and no - they both felt free. ‘Projector’ was super free
him that finds it kind of pretentious to make music similar
because we didn’t have to answer to anyone at all, so we
to what we make, but he does like it. During ‘Projector’
were free to make mistakes I guess. This record felt better
he was a real help because I’d take him early demos, and
in that we had definitely progressed a lot musically. Since
the ones that were bad he’d be really honest with me about
getting signed and going in, we got to a point where we
them. He’s helped me grow, but he’s always been good as
could make what we wanted to. We had an idea in our
a resource to tell me when something’s shit.
heads that we couldn’t really accomplish immediately. That was more freeing in a way. We also had people
Are there any people external from your family or the
helping us - we could hire backing singers and a string
band that gave you that extra push?
section. We were in an after-school programme that put a bunch of I’ve noticed that you’ve grown a lot more comfortable
kids with rock equipment in a room learning covers, and
in your voice and sticking to a more consistent style
we had an instructor called Bob Jones. He’s now in the
too, why did you choose to move away from the variety
bands Pill and P.E. from New York. He was a huge help,
of voices you used on ‘Projector’?
especially when labels came knocking as he could give a lot of great advice. He’s been with us since we were 10.
I just feel like there’s a lot of talk-singing at the moment,
We took him out for dinner with our first advance.
and while a lot of it is great, I get mad at it because it really doesn’t suit some bands like they might think
How do you hope people will react to the developments
it does. I got mad at the trend, and I wanted to do the
in sound on the new record, and what do you think
opposite of that and sing way too hard. Now the singing
their takeaways will be?
parts are really overblown and exaggerated. I really like vocal affectation too - I know it doesn’t sit well with a lot
I think it’s going to be positive, but I can never tell.
of people, but I find when it’s done right it can be really
People have responded better than I thought to the singles.
beautiful.
There’s a few people who think it sucks, but I disagree. It’s a more representative direction and I just hope people like it. We tried our best.
5
Geese
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A lot of my neighbours are big hippies from the sixties
We’d come into college wearing fucking kaftan’s and that.
and seventies, funnily enough Bill from across the road
We’d be in flares and boots in Burnley running about. We
has just given me 150 of his old records to sift through.
just like listening to whatever we can get our hands on.
Some are fucked and super damaged but there’s some gold in there like Frank Zappa and some classical stuff. There’s
Finally, is there an element of pride behind that for you
a lot of good music here, obviously The Lounge Society,
all especially as you head into such a bright future?
Working Men’s Club, I don’t know if it’s a coincidence but it’s strange how vibrant it is for such a small place.
Joey: I think we’re all proud of where we come from.
There’s a lot of magic mushrooms around here as well so
The whole reason we started this band is because there
maybe that has something to do with it.
was so little going on in Burnley. It’s weird to see but it’s good, especially when it’s always been so London-centric
Joey: Those psych influences run pretty deep with us as
historically, it’s refreshing to see, it’s beautiful.
well, we’d spend hours going down YouTube rabbit holes of wild psych music.
15
THE GOA @shephg EXPRESS
NEW RELEASES FROM
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MUSIC FOR FILM: Tramps! & Women Against The Bomb
MEMORIALS The new band from Verity Susman (Electrelane) & Matthew Simms (Wire, It Hugs Back) 12th May 2023
The state51 Conspiracy INDEPENDENT MUSIC HOUSE
16
As we begin to enter that craved festival season again, the
First up is a string of acts from the renowned indie scene
sun is starting to shine and Brighton’s ready to get brighter
of Glasgow, featuring the rising quartet Spyres as they set
for the welcome of The Great Escape 2023.
out to teach the beach about the life of a Scottish teenager, and soloist Dylan John Thomas, appearing with his trusty
Spread across 30+ walkable venues between 10th - 13th
acoustic and some of the most infectious head-bopping
May, the seaside leaves behind its bucket and spade to
tunes.
embrace some of the world’s most anticipated upcoming artists, as well as the return of some crowd favourites. The
Across the waters comes Ireland’s post-punk five-piece,
shore is prepped and decorated with over 500 musically
The Murder Capital, once they’ve ‘returned their head’
gifted talents, making it the perfect location to kick off
from a recent Coachella debut. From Leeds, we’re excited
2023’s summer celebrations.
to hear the synth-y guitars of So Young favourites, English Teacher and the poetic sounds of Liverpool’s female-led
Claiming the Spotlight Shows this year are two of the
Picture Parlour. Yet closer to home there’s a dangerously
UK’s most dynamic, female, contemporary singers, Arlo
good lineup from some of London’s most notorious bands
Parks, and Maisie Peters, and also the chart-topping
like Sorry, Heartworms, FEET and Deadletter.
British rapper Unknown T. Parks, 22, and already a Mercury Prize winner, delivers a particular angst message
With what already promises to be a real party in the sun
within her music as she sings about substance abuse, being
(fingers crossed), we’re thrilled to announce our return
in love, and trying to navigate your 20s in today’s society.
to the shore with a stage on the beach. Kicking us off on
Indeed, not an act to miss as we expect to see tunes from
the Friday are Teeth Machine as they infiltrate the earlier
her upcoming album ‘My Soft Machine’ before its release
hours with a melancholy style of grunge, easing us nicely
on 26th May.
into the night ahead. Next up is Oscar Browne, a seamless contrast from the previous act as he brings along a unique,
Peters, 22, a previous TikTok sensation, known for her
ethereal sound of experimental folk and hazed indie,
love letter of songs, grabs the attention of a similar
creating a superior feeling for a day in the sun.
audience as she sings about dealing with troubled relationships and getting over breakups. Her music
As we reach the middle, Nottingham’s quartet Divorce
compiles the deep sadness of a well-deserved cry and the
joins the team, sharing an alternative view on country
beautiful realisation that everything will be okay. A feel-
music, with a twist of filth hidden amongst cynical lyrics.
good moment of the weekend is ensured.
Their discography contributes as a story to the band, exploring the vulnerability within their juvenile selves and
Unknown T, 23, grabs the last spot of the headline
also showcasing a great sense of humour to foot-stomping
shows with his versatile drill style, channelling personal
tunes. Dear friends Humour follow, throwing some
anecdotes from his upbringing and his dalliance with
menacing screams from the Glaswegian punk crew across
crime. His music is easily one of the most influential
the sea, sure to draw the attention of the heavy-hitting riot
sounds of rap to come out of East London today and is an
listeners. Then finally we close with London’s Fat Dog,
excellent showcase of the genre’s evolution.
fuelling the stage until the very last second with ultimately classic rock ‘n’ roll melodies and rapture.
Although the roster for the weekend is well and truly packed to the brim with flair, there are a few that have
So if it’s a chance to see one of your favourites out in
already caught our eye that we’ll undoubtedly be in
action, or you’re looking for an excuse to hear some good
amongst the crowd for.
new music, then a trip to The Great Escape 2023 isn’t one to ignore.
41
Words by Alicia Tomkinson
Artists
Gavin Shepherdson Josh Whettingsteel Marco Pini
Editors Sam Ford
Josh Whettingsteel
Writers Sam Ford
Reuben Cross
Eve Boothroyd
Rhys Buchanan Poppy Richler
Natalia Quiros Edmonds Amber Lashley Elvis Thirlwell Will Macnab
Line Hachem Shunny Kim
Rozalina Burkova Mamo Kawakami Estée Preda Oyow
AYAKA FUKANO Lucie Lučanská
Hannah Robinson Yue Zhang REN
Cover Photo Harvey Pearson
Alicia Tomkinson
Photos for Collage
Leo Lawton
Dana Boulos
Charlie Brown
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Harvey Pearson Simon Mercer
Holly Whitaker Kyle Berger Ariel Fisher
Holly Dyes Shepherd Micah E. Wood Sid Simons
Lily Frances
Special Thanks Al Mills
Jamie Ford
Cameron JL West Jack Reynolds