It’s the first issue of 2022 and it’s one which sees us
In London, Blue Bendy are getting excited to finally
blend exciting brand new artists with established, and
release a body of work beyond a single. In a journey
now potentially, household names. The fastest rising of
that began back in 2019, debut EP ‘Motorbike’ is out
course are our cover stars, Wet Leg. The Isle of Wight
in February and we reached out to hear more about it.
newbies are preparing to release their debut via Domino
Staying in the city, newcomers, Teeth Machine have just
Records and we squeezed into their now hectic schedule
shared their debut single ‘Drive By DK’ via Slow Dance.
to confront the “industry plant” allegations and escaping
Excited for what’s to come, we caught up before a show
the island.
to discuss releasing books and how their songs are like animals. Heading to Galway, Ireland, four-piece, NewDad
Jockstrap have signed to Rough Trade, and in their first
are about to release their second EP, ‘Banshee’ following
interview for two years, Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye
a much hyped 12 months which included their debut (and
tell us all about the thrill of giving something personal
Sold Out) London shows. Ahead of its release, we Zoom’d
to the world, and how their music is never a joke - ever.
to get an insight into the alternative scene in Ireland as
Hopping over to Georgia’s other project, Black Country,
well as their route towards poppier songs.
New Road, it’s the opposite. As the band prepare for the release of sophomore album, ‘Ants From Up There’,
We tie up the new issue with a flurry of conversations in
members, Charlie Wayne and Tyler Hyde, tell us how the
the United States. New York stalwarts, BODEGA, kick
majority of their music starts as a joke, as well as how
us off with an in depth look into their Heidegger inspired
they nearly made an accessible album.
new album, before the new breed of Catcher and Been Stellar give us a first glimpse into their world. To see us
Whilst quarantining in Paris, Metronomy’s Joseph Mount
out, it’s over to the Pacific Northwest where we find the
takes our call. Following the recent release of their EP
much hyped, Enumclaw. The band share their experiences
‘Posse EP Volume 1’ (which saw collaborations with
of not having any black role models in the world of guitar
Sorry, Folly Group and more), the band are gearing up for
bands, tell us how wrestling inspired their name and
the release of their new album ‘Small World’. We caught
discuss the influence of the nineties.
up to discuss the inevitability of Radio 2, influencing a new generation and finding out where the band now lie in the world.
3 Black Country, New Road Ants From Up There
32 Ramon Keimig Self-Sampling
8 BODEGA Doers
37 Catcher The Fat of A Broken Heart
11 Wet Leg Oh No
42 NewDad Say It
17 Teeth Machine Drive By
45 Blue Bendy Motorbike
21 Been Stellar NYC
50 Metronomy Small World
25 Jockstrap 50/50
53 Enumclaw Jimbo Demo
“The explosion of all the Windmill bands a couple years ago really galvanized us”. Probably not a statement we are used to hearing from New York’s fast rising bands, but it’s clear that the UK has re-established itself as a breeding ground for exciting, alternative music and everyone is listening. Brooklyn’s Been Stellar have existed since founding members, Skyler Knapp and Sam Slocum were childhood friends, releasing sporadic singles since as early as 2014; but it’s only now that the NYU graduates have completed their full time line up, and moved into their Apartment and Basement Studio set up, that they’re ready to make their impact properly. Unafraid to reference The Velvet Underground and Oasis, but considered enough to know “it’d be incredibly cringey to hop on the same bandwagon and try to be the American Shame”, Been Stellar are preparing to unleash their New York story via their debut EP.
Hey Been Stellar, how’s it going? Could you tell us a bit
We also have a great live-in super too, Luis, who feels like
about how you found yourselves together as a group of
a father to us, he helps us with the floods and will make us
people?
Puerto Rican food from time to time.
Laila: Doing well. Sam and Sky knew each other first, but
With that set up, it feels like ideas can come to life
the way we all came together as a band was freshman year
pretty quickly. Did that help you keep your foot on the
of college. We all went to NYU, and Sam, Sky, Nando and
pedal during lockdowns when things must’ve felt very
Nico all happened to live in the same dorm. I met Sam
slow for most bands…
and Sky one night during welcome week and we got to talking about music. That’s when they told me they had a
L: During the lockdown we were here in the city. That
band called Been Stellar and I told them that I played the
was also around the time when we decided to rent our
drums. They had a gig scheduled but for some reason the
first practice space in Ridgewood. I think having our own
drummer couldn’t make it so Sky remembered I played
space allowed us to really foster new ideas, many of which
and reached out and we just continued on from then.
became the bare bones of the songs on the EP. Eventually Sam, Sky and Nando moved to their new place, where we
We know that Sam and Skyler were the starting point
now have our current studio / practice set up. I think this
of the group. What was it about your relationship that
is where we really have been able to come together and
led you to make music together and then want to share
flesh out the songs that we had started over quarantine.
it with the world?
I think the convenience of the space allows us to get our ideas out as they come to us. Since we like to write as
Sam: When I met Sky we were 13 or 14. At that age,
a full band, having a place to jam on new ideas became
when you meet someone new who really understands you,
really key for us in building our sound.
there’s that excitement. We both loved music, granted our tastes were pretty different. But we both knew that we
You’ve spoken before about your passion for New York
had to start making something together. It was never a
City. How do you channel that into your music and
conversation though, I don’t think. Doing music together
art whilst maintaining your status as more than a New
wasn’t something we thought about or decided to do.
York band? Is that important to you?
Thinking back, sharing it with the world was something I was drawn to, more so than Sky. I would always want to
Skyler: New York is definitely the most important guiding
play the tracks we came up with for friends or my parents.
light in our creative process. We all moved here inspired by the legend of it all, as cliche as that may sound. I don’t
As a group, you have a pretty special set up and
think we really realized how important the city was until
opportunity living and working within a pretty unique
we got to experience it during lockdown, however. It sort
space. Could you tell us a bit about your apartment/
of temporarily filtered out all the over romanticized BS
studio and how it allowed you to be creative?
that’s rife in NYC and forced you to see it in its most real sense. I think for us, it caused us to realize that it
Nando: Yeah for sure, Sam, Sky and I just moved in from
isn’t just a city for white kids to move to to pretend like
a tiny apartment in the L.E.S, one of the old tenement
they’re Patti Smith or Henry Miller (not excluding some
houses, to a bigger apartment in Bushwick. We got this
of ourselves), but a very troubled and delicate ecosystem
place because our friend Steele was leaving the spot so we
that’s really struggling at the moment. It was all we could
just took the lease right after him, no broker fee. They had
really think about, so naturally it became a main point of
a studio in the basement and would practice there. They
creative inquiry. We think there is a lot of the NYC story
even had a deal with the neighbours where they could
left to tell, and we’re lucky enough to have the outlet to
make noise from 10am to 9pm, and did that for about 7
add to it.
years, so when he offered it to us it felt like a no-brainer, he even left us some amps and a PA System.
23
Words by Sam Ford, illustration by Josh Whettingsteel
Regarding music specifically, however, we’ve always
I think when we start jamming or writing a song out, and
felt a desire to not simply exist as another new Brooklyn
it feels too one dimensional, where the song only feels like
band on the pile. We never really felt like we sounded
1 mood or evokes 1 feeling, we usually end up scrapping
like what most other folks are doing here at the moment,
it or trying to find a new route for it. I wouldn’t say we’re
so naturally we felt more kinship with what was going on
necessarily trying to defy genre, so much as we’re trying
across the pond.
to just simply make something we’re proud of.
We’ve been pretty lucky to hear a little of the exciting
In the UK, we’ve seen the massive influence of New
music that you’re soon to release. Could you tell us
York and the sound of the city on guitar bands,
about the development of your sound and why that was
however you cite Europe and the progress of bands
important to you?
here as a bigger influence on you. What is it that’s happening here that feels so exciting?
Nico: This new batch of songs is the first time we’ve truly collaborated as a band. Covid gave us a time to rethink
Sk: The explosion of all the Windmill bands a couple
our sonic identity and jam on little ideas. A song may start
years ago really galvanized us. I think at the time we
with a bassline, and once everyone starts jumping in, I end
were really disheartened by the fact that it didn’t seem
up changing my part entirely to better fit what everyone
like there were many kindred spirits in our city. NYC
else is doing. That process then goes on for everyone until
bands tended to veer towards the older, clique-y, 80s
it finally starts to resemble a strong foundation for a song.
nostalgia side of things, so to see younger kids playing
I think we’re entering a place trying to find the balance
really fantastic music and talking about real concerns
between melody and dissonance. We’re obsessed with the
really got us excited. This being said, we also thought it’d
screeching chaos of ‘Venus In Furs’ but also how catchy
be incredibly cringey to hop on the same bandwagon and
‘Live Forever’ is.
try to be the American Shame, so we didn’t want to veer off the musical path we were already on. The passion of that scene just solidified that there was still interest in the music we enjoyed.
24
Now there’s a tough one. I’d say that things are going to
Any fans we’ve had in the US have always been so
work out If they’re meant to. If you’re having to give too
lovely and I expect the shows will be unlike anything that
much of your time to someone who’s not reciprocating
we’ve ever played before, so I’m really looking forward
the same level of effort, then it’s probably not worth it.
to it! Texas is obviously very well known for their food,
If you’re spending any time worrying over someone who
particularly the BBQ’s but unfortunately on that note I’m
doesn’t like you, then you have to come to terms with the
a vegan… still I’m sure there’ll be good vegan options
fact that that’s sadly their prerogative and you need to
over there - or at least better than in Galway!
move on. Failing that, the liquid lunch diet it is! Which new Solid advice there, thank you on behalf of any of our
bands will be joining you?
out of love readers. Whilst a mother should not have favourites…is there a track that you most enjoyed
I know there’s a few great Irish artists that have been
making on the record?
added like Smoothboi Ezra. I think Just Mustard are playing there as well, so hopefully we’ll get to catch a few
Probably ‘Banshee’ – we had more time to experiment
of them!
with it in the studio and I love how it turned out. Thankfully for us there’s also a UK tour – are there Speaking of the studio, let’s get into the recording
any new cities you’ll be ticking off the list or places
process. Spending a healthy amount of time creating
that you’re excited to return to?
the EP with producer Chris W Ryan (subsequently the EP was mixed by John Congleton - Lana Del Rey,
I’m really psyched to go back to London! We got through
Phoebe Bridgers) - can you share any of his secrets?
two dates there on the last tour. It’s so different to anywhere else and when we first played in the city we
It was really nice and relaxed in the studio with Chris.
were still just getting a handle on things, so I’m really
Because we had more time to play with for these sessions,
looking forward to going back with our new material.
there was a lot of messing around, but we still got there in
Also, Brighton - it’s so beautiful!
the end. I’m not so sure about secrets, but Chris is an allround technological whizz and the process is so seamless
I for one can’t wait for the London date! Last but not
with him. It was such a fun experience. We also had the
least, All Points East – does this feel like a milestone?
time to sit with the tracks which we didn’t on the last EP, which was – for the most part – a good thing.
Definitely! There’s such a backlog of artists wanting to play festivals from the last few years, so we weren’t even
Exactly, and what a beautiful EP you all produced.
sure that we would get to play any. To be offered a slot at
It’s also great to hear that you’re going to the states
such a good festival, with so many cool artists that we’ve
for your first US headline shows and SXSW! Have you
looked up to for years is just magic.
ever experienced an American crowd before? Any local delicacies you’re looking forward to?
A jam packed year ahead! Now to the all-important question from the Magic 8 Ball – what’s the best track
I’ve been to America in the past, but we’ve barely played
to go out to on your deathbed?
outside of Ireland, so it’ll be very interesting to see what the atmosphere’s like. We’re going to be there for
Pixies – ‘Monkey Gone To Heaven’
St. Paddy’s Day as well which should be an amazing experience.
43
NewDad
Editors Sam Ford
Josh Whettingsteel
Writers Sam Ford
Poppy Richler
Elvis Thirlwell Al Mills
Dan Pare
Josh Whettingsteel Ali Grice
Laura Pegler
Callum Gray
Reuben Cross
Artists
Josh Whettingsteel Pat Thomas
Nando von Arb Ian Moore
Cameron JL West Ramon Keimig REN
Clara Girke
Inkee Wang
Judith Weber
Gabriel Hollington
Cover Photo Maxwell Granger
Rhys Buchanan
Photos for Collage
Printed By
Bart Price
Ex Why Zed
info@soyoungmagazine.com
Website
www.soyoungmagazine.com
News
@soyoungmagazine (Twitter)
SoYoungMagazine (Facebook) soyoungmagazine (Instagram)
Pooneh Ghana
Maxwell Granger Drake Li
Hollie Fernando
Art Direction
www.joshwhettingsteel.com
Special Thanks Al Mills
Jamie Ford
Cameron JL West Jack Reynolds