Life In Ox with Pet Sematary

Life in OX

PET SEMATARY

Photo by Ian Wallman

Get to know the Oxford based ethereal-come-shoegaze four-piece.

Pet Sematary are a moody, soaring goth-pop outfit with an unexpected twist: their latest single Heady features shimmering with jangly guitars that almost launch them into shoegaze territory. We asked Gaby about the Oxford scene and what the band have been up to... How would you describe your music?

“Dreamy gothy oversharing ft. loads of reverb.”

Tell us about the beginning of Pet Sematary?

“Pet Sematary started as an escape really. I’d been playing in a couple bands where the industry side of things really drained the life out of me, when all I wanted to do was to make music purely for the sake of making music, and that’s how PETSEM Vol I was born. Me and my friend Luke (Allmond, bass) recorded the EP in two days at Safehouse in Oxford. We didn’t really expect people to like it but it ended up getting some cool feedback, and so I started playing solo shows. I always plan songs in my head to be larger and heavier, and was lucky enough for my pals Luke, Jack (Kendrew, guitar) and Casper (Miles, drums) to join the project and help shape the songs to be even bigger.”

From your experience, what is the Oxford music scene like?

“Ever since I started playing shows there when I was 18 it felt like home. The whole music scene is so welcoming and all-embracing. I’ve met some of my best friends through the Ox scene and it really is just great.”

What has been one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced since starting the band?

“I can’t imagine any other answer other than COVID-19. It really put a spanner in the works in every single part of being in a band. Not only

Photo by Helen Messenger Photo by Helen Messenger

the recording/rehearsing/performing side, but it really took a toll on my mental health and made it extremely difficult to be creative and write. It’s only been the past few months that I’ve managed to pull myself out of that creative slump, and fuck does it feel good to be making songs again.”

What are your main influences?

“Jeff Buckley is probably my favourite songwriter of all time. I just love everything about him - his voice, his lyrics, the amazing weird voicings and tunings he uses on guitar. He has such an ethereal quality about him that makes his music just endlessly inspiring to me. Aside from that I draw influence from a bunch of artists. I love artists like Alice in Chains, Deerhunter, Elliott Smith, Anna Calvi. Just anything sound-scapey and operatic and amazing. More generally I’m influenced a lot by my friends, relationships and the people around me, cause they are just great creative people who inspire me a lot.”

What’s next for Pet Sematary?

“Writing writing writing. We have a few shows lined up for this year as well as some studio time in the Summer so new tunes galore. Lots to look forward to really and I’m just gassed.”

Take A Sip

Photo by Helen Messenger

with Katie Malco

In June 2020 Singer/Songwriter Katie Malco released her long awaited debut album ‘Failures’, a cathartic yet beautiful collection of songs that embodies a sense of vulnerability across a bed of riffsm gentle guitar picking and keys. Having played with the likes of S.T. Manville, We Were Promised Jetpacks and The Xcerts, in September 2021 she’s off on the road again across the US with pal Julien Baker, as well as a string of shows in the UK. In May, Malco popped by the BSM Social Club and we asked her to pick her favourite three records and pair them with our beer collection.

“Julien Baker’s new record, I’ll choose that cause I’ve got a good story about when we did a tour a few years ago. We were in gridlock on the motorway and I had to shield her while she peed at the side of the road with a fl annel shirt. So that was a bonding moment for us.” she laughs while fl icking through the records. “Quite clearly I’m going to choose Linkin Park, because obviously I’m gonna choose Linkin Park to pair a beer with, and I’m gonna choose Pedro The Lion because it’s also one of my favourite records. For Pedro The Lion I’m going to choose Juice Springsteen (Alphabet Brewing) because I believe David Bazan defi nitely likes Bruce Springsteen and also my favourite music is the music of a husky voiced man. And I’m gonna go for…” she muses while studying a can of 18.05 North Sea Sessions 05 by Northern Monk, “Considering my story about the pee on the M1, I’m gonna go for this, and there is a man surfi ng on it with some splash back, sponsored by fi n ester so you know it just reminds me of the spraying action of...let’s just get that one for Jules.” she laughs. “And then what other record did I choose? Linkin Park? Ok so we need a nu-metal type beer. I’m gonna go for Unfi ltered British Lager (Utopian Brewing) for Linkin Park. And I don’t need to give you a reason for that.”