DIY, September 2020

DIY

FREE • ISSUE 100 • SEPTEMBER 2020 DIYMAG.COM

+ CHVRCHES, THE CRIBS, ALUNA, METRONOMY AND LOADS MORE OF DIY’S FAVOURITES FROM ACROSS THE PAST DECADE.

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Live music will return.

Venues will reopen.

Bands will tour again.

The sun will come out and we’ll stand in fields with our friends, beer in hand, arms around each other, watching the best bands play our favourite songs.

Keep safe. Keep the faith.

And defend live music with everything you’ve got.

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D DIY DI DIY D Y DI DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY Y I Y I D D IY IY Y I Y I D D Y D DIY DI DIY DIY DIY Y I Y I D D Y I Y D DIY DI DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY I DIY DIY D DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY Y Y D DI DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY IY IY D DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY Y I Y Y I D D Y I Y I D DIY D DIY DI DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY Y Y D DI DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY Y Y D DI DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY Y I Y I D D Y I Y D DIY DI DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY IY DIY DIY D DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY Y I Y I D D Y Y D Y I Y I D D DI DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY Y I Y I D D Y Y D Y I Y I D D DI DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY IY IY Y Y I D D Y I D DIY D DIY DI DIY DIY DIY I DIY DIY D DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY DIY Y

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10 10 0 0 0 10 10 10 KATY B 0 0 ON0 0 10 1 A MISSION 10 The South Londoner’s 0 LISA WRIGHT • Features Editor 0 nifty line in club-ready pop was1 0 10 ahead of its time, as it happens: 0 00 0 0 1 10 0 0 on a 2020 lockdown jams list.

0 10 1in0 10 0 May. Truly, it embodies the spirit of DIY: playful, 0 10 0 irreverent and hopelessly addicted to carbs.

ALEX1 TURNER 10 0 SUBMARINE 00 1 10 LOUISE MASON • Art Director 0 0 10 00 reviews way back 1 10 0 0 0 10 10 10 0 instead. I’m also keen on the Maccabees cover 0 10 10 soundtrack ain’t bad either.

0 10 0 00 1 10 THOSE DANCING 0 DAYS 0 10 00 ELLY WATSON • Digital Editor 1 DAYDREAMS & 10 0 0 10 0indie-pop 1NIGHTMARES 00 The joy-fuelled 1 0 of the Swedish troupe’s 10 00 second album is far too 1 0 00 wholesome a prospect for our 10 00 1 0 weathered 0 2020 ears, tbqh.

10 10 00 1 0 0 10 10 00 1 JAMIE MILTON • former Editor 0 0 10 10 0 00 10 00 our ridiculous Wolf Alice cover shoot (Issue editor ’ s letter 1 0 Hello0 there, DIY readers! Welcome to our 100th 0 10 10 issue. Super-sized and jam-packed with loads of our 10 0 0 0needed a bit of sparkle anyway. but the1 place favourites, safe to 0 1 say this one means a lot.

10 0 0 0 1 0 WILL RICHARDS • former Digital Editor 1 0 0 10 00 1 hardest question you could throw at me, but, 10 0 0 0 0 with a week of socially-distanced, sit-down live shows, 1 10 10 0 I probably would’ve politely told you to fuck off. But 0 0 1 now that it’s rolled around, 10we honestly couldn’t be 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 one and only Robyn, one of many literal dreams 1 0 that came true across my time at DIY. Thanks lads. 0 0 0 10 1 10 0 still can’t quite 0 believe how much we’ve achieved over 0 0 1EL HUNT • former Features Editor 0 the past years; and we really couldn’t 1nine-and-a-bit 10 0 0 have done it without you.

0 1 10 0 00 0 0 1 10 0 you to everyone who’s ever worked on, contributed 0 0 0 1 10to, or just supported us in that time. It’s been quite the 10 0 journey so far - this 0 one is for you!

0 0 1 10 Sarah Jamieson, 10 0 0 0 Managing Editor 1 best way possible.

10 and a little bit silly in the 0 0 0 10 0 1 10 0 0 0 10 10 10 0 0 10 10 10 0 5 0 0 1 0 1 0 stories I’ve had up my sleeve.

Founding Editor Emma Swann Managing Editor Sarah Jamieson Features Editor Digital Editor Elly Watson Art Direction & Design Louise Mason Contributors Bella Martin, Ben Tipple,

Shout out to: on this issue, James @ Prescription, Beth and Rob @ Toast, Steve @ Carry On, Livy @ Caroline, Adrian and Tom and Henry @ Satellite 414, Andy Prevezer, Shoreditch you! Then in celebration of the whole hundred, we raise our

helped us in various ways, all the live venues and festivals everywhere that’s ever stocked us; ALL THE BANDS who’ve do what we do. And, of course, you, the readers. THANK YOU.

Rowe, Hannah Diamond, Jack Johnstone Orr, James Balmont, Jenessa Louisa Dixon, Martin Toussaint, Mike Massaro, Patrick Clarke, Patrick Pooneh Ghana, Sam Bond, Sean Kerwick, Sharon Lopez, Timi Sotire, Will Strickson.

Cover photo and this page: Ed Miles For DIY editorial: For DIY sales: For DIY stockist enquiries:

m Drummond Road, London SE16 4DG

FEATURES

NEWS

8 THE CRIBS 1 2 H A L L O F FA M E 14 DISCLOSURE 20 BLACK HONEY 22 CELEBRITY SINGLES WITH MELANIE C 2 6 S C H O O L’ S O U T 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 DIY. 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 DIY holds no responsibility. The opinions of the contributors do not necessarily bear a relation to those of DIY or its staff and we disclaim liability for those impressions. Distributed nationally.

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32 IDLES 3 8 M Y S T E RY J E T S 4 0 NADIA ROSE 4 4 E V E RY T H I N G E V E RY T H I N G 48 CREEPER ALUNA 50 METRONOMY 5 2 R I N A S AWAYA M A 54 WILL BUTLER 56 CHVRCHES REVIEWS

62 ALBUMS DIY LIVE

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The

Renewed Law suits, an enforced hiatus and a host of dodgy dealings behind the scenes nearly spelled the end for The Cribs. But after nearly three years of hell, the Jarmans are back with new album ‘Night Network’ - and you’ve got Dave Grohl to thank.

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“Me and Gary were stranded in

on that record and the band that lay somewhat broken a couple of years later. By all accounts that album - which was only

and there was a commercial park that had a coffee shop on

came out, it was at Number One in the midweeks which was

do. There were so many times

real moral victory and a cool

one person would be like, ‘I’m

end of the week, as the corks

out of the band. I’m out of the

on a job well done, the band were unexpectedly dropped by

this work we’ve done and this is what it comes down to: the fact that someone left in a coffee

endless hurdles, potential

its release and purposefully promoted in a low-key, fanorientated way - surpassed

the band when we were so they knew we weren’t in any way interested in the business people know you’re a principled band and you’re about the music and you’re not one of those rock stars who are all of - they see you as wide-eyed and enthusiastic and that’s how

Now based in Portland, with Ryan out in New York and Gary remembers the time

kind of rollercoaster industry experience that only really tends to happen in cautionary tales. and resolve, the case also meant they couldn’t really do

with their Steve Albini-produced the odds were insurmountable, and there were various times not only was it incredibly stressful but it was so disconnect between the band

we couldn’t release any music, and you don’t wanna tour

been easier for us to cut and that’s owned by someone you’re at odds with. So we couldn’t

in pursuit of their DIYspirited ideals

a cliche and that was also a with our lawyers and started one of those bands where we’ve

T

Then came a period of hope.

story short, The Cribs soon found out they’d been royally fucked by from the early part of their career. Slowly and licenses, different parent

then we had a deal on the table with a major label which was

we found out there were other heard of these people; we had

Fellas I the upshot was that,

case. Then from September

f theirs is a terrible tale to happen to any band, then it seems that it happened to

unbeknownst to them, the band no

phonies of the industry and attempted to carve out a new,

music. band to headline Leeds Arena when we were kids, from

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2011

suspicions may have been proven horribly to this story that comes from an equally

back to

in Spring 2011. Let’s jump in our time machine and see what The Cribs were doing back then...

Leeds’ Town & Country Club (now the O2 over and over to that year’s ‘The Colour and the Shape’ LP beforehand, hyped for

to be musicians rather than amateur

over 20 years later and 45 miles south west, and it would be the same band and another

much time with my head in the books that

save them.

that’s why I’m so proud of this record, because it’s totally unaffected by it. We wanted it to be a positive record, and really

stadium show, we had kind of earmarked so we should just embrace it as much as

of victoriously pure Cribs as they come. out to LA, you’re invited to come and use

“Dave Grohl was a hero to me and my brothers, so to have the offer to go and record out there was the light at the end of the tunnel.” - Gary Jarman

‘Another Number’, ‘Mirror Kissers’, ‘Come On Be A No-One’ - they came out of nowhere so you don’t remember the work process, all of

What springs to mind when you think of 2011?

Gary: end of 2010, so by January 2011 it was a totally transitional phase. We were Bull’ and we really had the bit between our teeth because we felt like, with about what that meant for the band.

Ryan: We were OBSESSED with that that record as a complete obsession.

G: make the record in Switzerland with Dave Richards who was Queen’s producer cos we were totally on a Queen tip. Me and Ross drove over there and we found out about Amy Winehouse’s death on

Were you mates?

R: which I don’t think still exist - I certainly don’t have them. I always really liked her. 2011, I look back on it and my

It was written in the time it takes to Bull’ - the record itself - does a pretty

Johnny had left we had a point to prove.

Any notable highlights from the year?

G:

then the pandemic occurred; it

with The Strokes in Paris which was fun.

R:

his record out on Cult Records and he’s

to allow the Jarmans some truly hard-earned redemption.

faced meant we were basically put on an Dave was a hero to me and my brothers, so we went in to do that show we were in a frame of mind that was so disillusioned with the industry, and we came away from that

been so present ever since we started, but we realised that people did notice we

‘Night Network’ is out 13th November via Sonic Blew / [PIAS]. DIY

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G: R: small it was like a pocket calculator, and no one had my number apart from from Julian and then we sushi. With The Strokes, we’ve always known each other, but 2011 was the only real show we’ve played

DIY x y b a B D C , e v Lo Enter code:

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NE WS

Fame

Wolf Alice - My Love Is Cool Who’d have guessed back in 2015 with the arrival of their much-anticipated debut that Wolf Alice would go on to become bona

If

this issue lands as a somewhat moist-eyed

our Hello 2013 shows as mere babies; we inducted them into our Class of 2014 and whacked them on the cover watched on like proud aunties (and made them cover

‘My Love Is Cool’: a not-so-subtle nod to the record’s

for yonks.

By the arrival of their debut, the band had already

wave of other playful indie types (Peace, Swim Deep et

FACTS THE

Released: 22nd June 2015 Standout tracks: ‘Giant Peach’, ‘You’re A Germ’, ‘Silk’.

Tell Your Mates: would have had a sex band. I would have Theo Ellis told us back then of how much he wanted to join the Wolf pack. Can’t fault him for enthusiasm.

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could do wide-eyed wonder and dead-eyed snarls with equal aplomb.

And so, by the time June 2015 rolled around, no one

haircuts and throw-your-arm-around-your-bezzie chorus Germ’, however, then arrived a week before album time As it turned out, ‘My Love Is Cool’ would deliver on both ends of the spectrum, with all kinds of other diverse treats slotted in between (the stripped-back slow build of ‘Silk’; introversion via the Joel-led ‘Swallowtail’;

Narrowly pipped to the Number One spot, it was an album that immediately cemented the fact that Wolf

sensitive nuance and free-spirited abandon to the table, probably the best indie debut of the last decade: we DIY

“CHARGED WITH GRIEF AND LOSS… A SOOTHING BUT DEVASTATING LISTEN.”

"IT S A BEAUTIFULLY MOVING AND UNDERSTATED RE-INTRODUCTION TO THIS VERY SINGULAR TALENT."

GIGWISE

TOTAL NTERTAINMENT

OUT OCT 23

OUT NOW

GHOSTPOET I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep

DIY

“AN EXCELLENT DEBUT” 8/10 PITCHFORK

THE INDEPENDENT

“SUBLIME” 8/10 UNCUT

Q MAGAZINE

“ONE OF THE YEAR'S MOST BEAUTIFUL ALBUMS” DAZED

“A MASTERFUL SOUNDTRACK TO A FAILING SOCIETY” DIY THE LINE OF BEST FIT LOUD & QUIET

OTH ER LIVES for t hei r l ove

“A BEAUTIFUL ESCALATION” Q MAGAZINE “BACK ON FORM” MOJO ALBUM OF THE DAY BBC 6MUSIC

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World

New

After taking a break and revitalising themselves in the process, Disclosure are back with a new record that hopes to leave a positive mark on the world, in more ways than one. Words: James

Balmont.

T

he meteoric rise of one of the decade’s most successful British dance acts has been well-documented, but if anyone needs to be reminded of how the tale of the Tortoise and the Hare ends, it’s the Lawrence brothers.

With two Grammy-nominated albums released before they even reached their destined for burnout in the world’s most proved that they were wise beyond their years by the end of their last album cycle, they have

end of the years of full-

were just tired,

at the hip by a runaway music career for the best part of a decade, Disclosure’s need for a break is pretty understandable.

the ancient temple complexes of the

basically hadn’t even established

an alien - I just wanted to stay in one

-

ready-busy promo schedule. They’ve just jetted back

the same clothes they performed in. As dance mupost-lockdown, no-club-

realised the ones we liked the best really quickly, in one day or sometimes

can’t afford to skip a beat. tracklist, the album’s theme presented name and nature of the duo’s third album - they

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Energy

New white van crew

That liberation is

remains rooted in the UK dance scene that Disclosure have nurtured for the backbeats and percussion are the cornerstones of a record that’s fuelled by its own relentless zip, but there are, too, R&B

club-focused rhythms and hooks, as always, are a host of well-known names. As a band who have built

percussion, the celebratory chants - that offer the album’s most innovative twists.

-

frankly, be rude of them not to.

-

Cue Blick Bassy, a Cameroonian vocalist who combines -

harbour the other day and said there was just this

-

Jenkins and slowthai on the record are praised to no end by the brothers.

15

says Howard of the former, who ap-

the brothers hope that they can offer

2011 back to

-

decade, and I think everyone likes vational speaker Eric Thomas back into the fold seven years on from

-

Just two years before they took the world by storm with ginormous debut ‘Settle’, what exactly were the Lawrence brothers up to

Can you remember what you were doing in 2011?

Guy:

“WE’RE JUST NORMAL PEOPLE MAYBE THAT SHOWS THAT YOU CAN BE NERDS AND SOMEHOW YOU’LL STILL END UP HEADLINING READING.” - Guy Lawrence

In June 2011, you released the ‘Carnival’ / ‘I Love…

That You Know’ single. How do those songs stand up against the music you’re making now?

Howard:

Twitch chat room. It was a super experimental tune, an environmentally-friendly physical

momentum and liberty that runs and pay a little respect to him on this the brothers wish to be shared, and passed on. As the music world conDisclosure have embraced the need to approach 2020 from a different

in the 2020s, there’s still hope for the

too. And while the album yearns for the community of a packed club, the

normal people - maybe that shows that you can be nerds and somehow

lyrics, and the positivity, is apt for

‘Energy’ is out now via Island. DIY

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What shows do you remember playing in 2011? What were they like?

Guy: set at the Lock Tavern in Camden that year, when we

out, we did not expect it at all. And we still didn’t have a

01.05

EDINBURGH

CORN EXCHANGE

03.05

NOTTINGHAM

ROCK CITY

04.05

BATH

FORUM

06.05

LIVERPOOL

MOUNTFORD HALL

07.05

MANCHESTER

ACADEMY

08.05

MANCHESTER

ACADEMY

10.05

LEICESTER

DE MONTFORT HALL

11.05

LEEDS

O2 ACADEMY

12.05

NEWCASTLE

O2 CITY HALL

14.05

GLASGOW

BARROWLAND

15.05

GLASGOW

BARROWLAND

17.05

CAMBRIDGE

CORN EXCHANGE

18.05

SHEFFIELD

O2 ACADEMY

20.05

BIRMINGHAM

O2 ACADEMY

21.05

CARDIFF

GREAT HALL

22.05

BRISTOL

O2 ACADEMY

24.05

BOURNEMOUTH

O2 ACADEMY

25.05

SOUTHAMPTON

O2 GUILDHALL

27.05

LONDON

ALEXANDRA PALACE

FONTAINESDC.COM METROPOLISMUSIC.COM TICKETMASTER.CO.UK SEETICKETS.COM

THE NEW ALBUM ‘A HERO’S DEATH’ OUT NOW 17

Service Station of the Month Bands love service stations more than music itself.

Snacks, bogs, time to think - it’s all in there. These are miraculous places where festival headliners mingle with lorry drivers. For about 15 issues, we paid respect to the very best.

Get ready to read and weep - even the greasiest of pasties are a hallowed memory this summer.

Tebay, M6

THE BIG MOON MARMOZETS ISSUE 60

ISSUE 72

all the food - is very point to Scotland. expensive, so you can We all sit down and have a nice meal

‘THE ONE NEAR SHEFFIELD’, M1

DEAP VALLY ISSUE 56

Watford Gap, M1

every time. Don’t make me wait to use the disabled bathroom

YAK

ISSUE 53

‘Cumberland Gap’ in Watford Gap, 15 miles Peterborough, A1

INHEAVEN ISSUE 67

a kids’ meal which is about Gloucester Farm, M5

ESTRONS ISSUE 61

Cobham, M25

its outside walls are completely

EAT FAST Fleet, M3

ISSUE 64

SPECTOR

JAWS ISSUE 63

include one of the blokes from Take That who isn’t Gary Barlow, and Hull City

ISSUE 51

whichever band member’s Pease Pottage, M23

THE MAGIC GANG, ISSUE 50 Costa captained by one nonplussed individual and watch the people

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MARSHALL PORTABLE SPEAKERS

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I n The

S tudio with

Black Honey Two years on since the release of their self-titled debut, Black Honey are back and feeling better than ever. Words: Elly Watson.

“It feels like what we’ve made is Black Honey on steroids.” - Izzy B. Phillips 20 DIYMAG.COM

“M

Blood took me for a drive in his car the other day and he loves to play me

bassist Tommy Taylor and recent addition, new drummer Alex Woodward - are all in

had really heavy stuff. And it was like, where do all those

deliberately to curate a narrative which was like,

P think it’s more like the metaphorical voice of

two years after the release of their self-titled debut, ‘Written & Directed’ (a nod to their

called ‘Do It To Myself’ which is all about the confrontation of your demons. I’m proud of that one. It was quite hard to open up so

this now. I think if you feel a bit shy or a bit Inspired by The Beach Boys, Izzy’s love of semi-meltdown and I needed to write loads

‘Sports’ and Shirley Ellis’ equally catchy ‘60s hit ‘The Name Game’, the self-professed

probably loads of shit, I had like 35 demos or

didn’t think Black Honey could sound like

Elsewhere on the record, themes of empowerment and emotional freedom

debut back in January, it’s clear that ‘Written

this one we know a bit more who we are and comes across on this record. It feels really

stressful when we were like, cool so we’ve

whole album back to back when I was

of an acoustic bedroom album and then we also

DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME We’ve all heard mad studio stories, but BH’s producer Dimi might be the one to beat…

Izzy: out this full-on samurai sword to open the box.

Chris: Michael Jackson mask!

have made this apart from us. If no one women and I sent it in this drunk, hysterical state to my friends and they texted me back like,

is a ferocious anthem for women too. That’s important and women

because we really love it and we’ve really DIY

2011 back to

classic rock and roll and

Izzy: I don’t think he’s ever left the studio in his entire life; like, I don’t Chris: He’s like a vampire.

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When it came to deciding which old features we should dust off and bring back to life for this bumper issue, we knew it had to be Celebrity Singles.

And who better to review some of the biggest hits of our time than an Actual Real Life Spice Girl. Yep! Now handing over to Sporty Spice herself...

ARCTIC MONKEYS The video is introduced by Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, which is funny because I know Steve, he actually played on my second solo album.

I saw them when they did Glasto, which I think was

observational lyrics but just make them sound so

DAFT PUNK GET LUCKY it never did, because it’s so mellow -

Celebrity Singles

Punk have mixed perfect DP with perfect Pharrell and

SKEPTA SHUTDOWN did a collaboration with Nadia Rose and I love her. I saw her in a documentary, and

she was a massive Spice Girls fan as a kid. I was about you and now you’re in front of me,’ so I took the opportunity and called her up and asked if she

education on Skepta and this track. In his mind it was

it - and what my boyfriend does - is that it feels like a real true and honest representation of life in Britain

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Of T

e d a c he De

with Melanie C

THE 1975 THE SOUND

you were part of a tribe and you listened to one type of music, but

This is a bit of a weird one for the meteoric rise that they’ve

BILLIE EILISH HAS SO MUCH WISDOM AND SHE’S SO FUCKING GREAT.”

everyone.

BILLIE EILISH BAD GUY so much wisdom and she’s so that electro 80’s sound with a

point that I don’t think that even she realises how special she

but I think lyrically it’s a little bit characters in music. If everyone was really well behaved it would massive at the same time. And who comes out with some of the really a fun track and that was come across as pretentious but hats off to the dude - if he can come out with stuff like that...

Little Mix were out the window and it’s all about Billie Eilish now.

bollocks out there in music -

LORDE GREEN LIGHT

and more aware of the effect that our music had. I feel like and I truly believe that the Spice

What I love about this particular

much more sure of themselves

almost, bile in it. I love the build up, it’s so beautifully produced.

achieve it.

a really sensitive build, with the

where it doesn’t really come back to the exact same place and I just think that works really beautifully with what I think the all about.

LIL NAS X FT. BILLY RAY CYRUS OLD TOWN ROAD I think you can’t not like it. My

CARDI B FT. MEGAN THEE STALLION WAP

I’m really on the fence because and the absolute honesty their sexuality but I also want

love Cardi B, but I think this is the problem as well - both me and fans, so it’s like when a new tune drops we wanna listen to it but...

[So perhaps the verdict there is

she’s all over TikTok, and this is a New album ‘Melanie C’ is out 2nd October via Red Girl Media. DIY impressed with - is the mix of

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LISTEN TO BLACK / CHAMPAGNE / CHAMPAGNE

FREDPERRY.COM

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Every year since time began (well, about 2005), we’ve collected some of the acts we’re tipping for the top in our Class Of… First appearing in print in the Winter 2011 issue, how have some of those oncefresh names fared?

14 2014

SCHOOL’S SCHOOL’S OUT! OUT!

C ClLaAss of

SS O

F

ON THE COVER: CHLÖE HOWL

CClass o

L AS S f OF

ACTS FEATURED: DEATHRAYS, SPECTOR, JESSIE WARE

13 2013

12 2012

Also featured:

Cl a s s o

f

ON THE COVER: PEACE, PALMA VIOLETS AND ALUNAGEORGE Other acts featured: CHVRCHES,

Smith, MØ. Loads.

Issue theme: Red. In any form. And tons of it.

Photoshoot highlights: The state of the studio-slash-murder scene after the Wolf Alice shoot.

One of the stand-outs: Wolf Alice, duh.

What we said then: the band could count hardcore fans on their collective hands. Today they’re on the That’s how it should be in the risky life of What they’ve done since: -

One of the stand-outs: Lana Del Rey What we said then: mystique of the era her voice

Deap Vally, Swim Deep.

One of the stand-outs: Bastille What we said then: a rabid fanbase to sold-out shows, there’s a polish to Dan Smith’s troupe that will have

internet trolls, the rise of a real

What they’ve done since:

at our own Hello 2013 at infamous boozer

dear readers. Dan Smith is

ence + The Machine that debut ‘My Love Is Cool’ lost by just 528 copies (and then,

What she’s done since: While

international pop icon. Given that move she made was documented thrice over, let’s do a quick recap from then to now. Six albums - the

Jack Antonoff. Countless sell-out She’s about to publish a book and spoken word album, ‘Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass’, and produced ‘Hi, How Are You Daniel Johnston’, a 2015 documentary

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was already sold out months in advance, he couldn’t believe the band were about to support indie titans Two Door Cinema Club in academies nationwide

ended up in the top half of artists

in 2015 he was yes, surprised that anyone had turned up. If his head around achievements, by now he must be in a state of permanent bewilderment.

Three records in, they’ve tapped up arenas worldwide - and will headline next year’s Latitude, postponed from this summer.

our back issues, and you’ll be confronted praise for this lot. And yet somehow, it

SS O

16 2016

20 15 2015 C laAss of CL

Class o f

F

ON THE COVER: YEARS & YEARS

ON THE COVER: RAT BOY

Also featured: Marika Hackman, Slaves, Issue theme: Quite literally Xs and Vs (to

Also featured: Japanese House, Creeper, Nao. Issue theme:

One of the stand-outs: Years & Years, ofc.

Photoshoot highlight:

Photoshoot Highlight: The concept

perfect XV nail art.

What we said then: -

What they’ve done since: At the same attention for their polished pop, frontman

Wishaw rolled up in the trio’s video for early

-

One of the stand-outs: What we said then: ly-formed, breathless, playful euphoria

What they’ve done since: It’s doubtful there’s been a band who radiate so much they featured in the Class of 2016, they’d

‘Sucker’. One way to announce you’ve

Olly in West End play Peter and Alice at the time - with Dame Judi Dench, no less. wonder the foursome’s excellent debut ‘Love In The 4th Dimension’ was shortlist-

British debut of the year. Since then, the band have been nominated for Brit Awards

Like We Do’ which reached the Top 20 back in January. Plus, they headed to inastronauts for the cover of issue 61.

27

18 2018

17 2017 Class o f

Class o f

ON THE COVER: LOYLE CARNER

ON THE COVER: PALE WAVES

Also featured: Dream Wife, Jorja Smith,

Also featured: Issue theme: tbh.

Photoshoot highlight: Shame in full Nativity costume, particularly the absolute

Issue theme: Photoshoot highlight: One of the stand-outs: Declan McKenna What we said then: -

One of the stand-outs: Our cover stars, Pale Waves.

What we said then:

What he’s done since: By the time he won tion in 2015, Declan McKenna had already

What they’ve done since: Buzz formed

Produced by labelmates Matty Healy and

set the then-teen out as unafraid to combat

sparkly synth pop about the track, which they quickly followed up with the similarly time for that year’s festival season. At the

switched it up since, at least musically -

- but Declan’s is still a voice he’ll make sure is heard.

they’d be about to share tracks ‘New Year’s Eve’ and ‘My Obsession’ - then in

alumni Our Girl. A slew of massive shows and a debut album later, they were due to headline a handful of city festivals Liverpool Sound City before you-knowwhat scuppered their plans.

HER’S

One of the most obnoxiously fun bands, 2018 saw Her’s follow early compilation ‘Invitation to Her’s’, travel to SXSW (where

friends.

-

a road collision in Arizona. Rest In Power.

28 DIYMAG.COM

Class of

20 2020

19 2019 Class o f

ON THE COVER: SPORTS TEAM, ON THE COVER: DRY CLEANING Other acts featured: Princess, Easy Life, Bakar Issue theme: Sports!

Photoshoot highlight: ‘

One of the stand-outs: What we said then:

Other acts featured: Issue theme: Photoshoot highlight: with 200 cans of beans for the launch party.

One of the stand-outs: Arlo Parks What we said then: ly-focused, sonically-complex body of work that’s wise beyond her ears. Don’t believe

What they’ve done since:

What she’s done since: It’d be a tad harsh to compare this year’s Class Of... to artists

a US radio session after just a handful of

of times, but the past six months have not been anywhere near - and yet the West Londoner’s rise has been meteoric despite, industry. Praise from all quarters and then

before they’d even played Kentish Town Number Nine in the charts. And then was the small matter of their second album ‘A Hero’s Death’ - released this summer Actual Taylor Swift. Sure.

29

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31

LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED With the arrival of ‘Ultra Mono’, IDLES’ message of community and compassion is primed to reach its biggest audience yet. But at the centre of the band’s politicised punk, is a core rooted in more personal mantras than ever. And there’s still no person as thankful for the positive power of the band than Joe Talbot....

Words: Lisa Wright. Photos: Ed Miles.

Art Direction: Louise Mason.

32 DIYMAG.COM

“I wanted to change the narrative and make something vibrant and full of life, and we are exactly that.� - Joe Talbot 33

J

coffee shop around the corner from Bristol’s famous docks.

up and be a horrible person to myself and to other people. And to be held accountable for my actions but also to be allowed back in

he cuts the kind of shape

is supposed to be a picture of me at my worst;

school kids on scooters raise a fraction of an eyebrow anyway, but these days the 36-year-

people to feel like it’s OK to make mistakes but to learn from them. If everyone thinks and acts like that, then in time it’ll spread to a

around his adopted hometown.

and educate each other on a level. The band is

Joe and bassist Adam ‘Dev’ Devonshire would

on at the Academy venue down the road, Joe tends to make it a few hundred metres each time before he’s stopped by a nervous body

occasion partly down to the ‘all is love’ partly down to the fact that these same streets used to house a very different set of scenes

been open for two hours. Bottom of Park

some sort of messiah complex or that I’m

“Utopia is a bus ride away; the Right have bought the bus and the Left are still trying to decide what to call the bus.” - Joe Talbot

picture of my life - not as an example, but as a window to make people feel comfortable about themselves. So if they think, ‘I feel that as well’ or ‘I’ve done that as well, I make those

which has seen them sell out London’s 10,000-capacity Alexandra Palace last year in them in talks for future festival headline slots -

wider exposure to that criticism - some that he accepts, some that seems a harder pill to swallow.

fair. I’m not the oppressed, so I don’t know what it’s like to be in an industry that uses your culture to make billions of pounds and

W

prick up a wider set of ears

debut ‘Brutalism’, they’d already been a band for nearly a decade. The survive racism because we do care and now the other side of their twenties with a record of our band; we are very clear on the fact that

awful but I survived. And that’s because of the left her paralysed down one side, and then the hyperbole - into the media attention that because I was confused, and then on that threaten to come to our show with a bat, but their hearts and their politics on their sleeves - really it’s still this that remains at the core.

‘I’m council house and violent’ in ‘I’m Scum’, The raw, visceral emotion of that record they released second album ‘Joy as an Act of Resistance’ 18 months later, the eyes on

thrown at me. I was called a chav, and the

spawned as a response to the band’s ethos, of playful, joyful moments dotted across the

should be taken seriously. Today, Joe speaks

34 DIYMAG.COM

world to be told what my intentions are by other musicians, but I can’t control what they drummer Jon Beavis - a spot on the Mercury Prize shortlist and headed up end-of-year lists across the board. And yet today, as they prepare to take the next step, Joe seems a

JON BOBO

LEE

JOE

DEV 35

down’. You question yourself and others and that’s why the Left is

romanticised version of what the empire was, not based on mass murder but based on some sort of weird tabloid-preserved idea that never existed. And I wanna burn

of sweaty unity, there are people who eye-roll that IDLES’ lyrics are

convoluted and murky. This isn’t an essay in the Quietus, this Counter-productive as it may seem to pick apart a band who’ve always tried hard to be a force

‘Joy as an Act of Resistance’. watched by so many more people,

It’s to their credit then, that on ‘Ultra Mono’, the band haven’t risen to the bait, but doubled down on their stance. Yes, there are moments when they clock the criticisms with a wink (both ‘The Lover’ and ‘Mr. Motivator’ make reference to their so-called

education, and that’s what we’re about. And I have to start with the millimetre of our album is IDLES, is acceptance, the power of now,

‘D

important word in Helmed by Joe and Bowen

IDLES’ third album.

but even then, there’s a positive times, Joe accepts that that’s just the way it is.

for years and says there’s no time like the present.

mindfulness and understands therapy; I obviously have been

out, but it’s how you process in recent years, and the notion of nationalism and I feel like this patterns, it’s one that builds on the

over there, let’s burn their house

36 DIYMAG.COM

Beats, the distillation came out in two ways. Lyrically, for the most

“I feel like this country’s turning into a racist little village based on some weird tabloidpreserved idea that never existed, and I wanna burn it to the ground.” Joe Talbot booth with a title and a topic but no concrete plan; whatever came out in the heat of the

other than perfect, because it was in the

2011 back to

undoubtedly know that their time IS now, and they’re not about to throw it away.

an eye around the streets he’s roamed for so best live bands on earth, so of course we’re without hesitation. so hard at our live we have for it is so

your laps in Spring 2011.

Let’s jump in our time machine and see what IDLES were doing back then...

IDLES were still in the early stages in 2011 – what do you remember of that time?

Joe: times a week behind a charity shop on Gloucester Road. We to be Jonny Greenwood. I was

in it, cos I wanna

bloated and vapid and shit, just a bunch of

in the band anymore was just

scream at each other at every exactly that. were always terrible, I was always excited. ambition is to be the best live band in the

If you were a big Maccabees fan, it must have been pretty big then going on to support at their farewell tour... was in a really bad place, but moment to really cherish, to be

That’s what you say to your therapist - it’s not could chalk it up as bravado, but with Joe Talbot you can’t help but feel like he’s earned

Was 2011 when you were DJing a lot in Bristol, too?

punk, post-punk, indie, all that shit. And then I’d DJ on

before, sound-wise, probably are lost on the radio - they probably wouldn’t stand up

power ballads, bit of dub-step at the time for all my sins. And loads of M-cat.

Any other landmark moments from then?

We wrote ‘Two Tone’ on [2012 Communities’ before it which sounds like unity. There’s no noise there, it’s just impact. And we wanted to make that on a

about the coalition and how fucked off I was at the Liberal they are. That was when I realised I had purpose as a

With Kindness’ and cacophonous closer ‘Danke’ - already a live favourite - ‘Ultra Mono’ succeeds in their mission to make

is IDLES. And we worked hard, so it’s not

that, it shows a band absolutely ready to step

‘Ultra Mono’ is out 25th September via Partisan. DIY

was the start of my lyrical journey, and ‘Two Tone’ was the start of the musical journey of the band.

37

“ A Decade In...

The Maccabees’ final shows almost felt like an Irish wake. There were a lot of tears.”

- Blaine Harrison

38 DIYMAG.COM

A Decade In...

Indie

With...Mystery Jets’

Blaine Harrison

At DIY, our love of all things indie has long been well-documented. We were there to scream about The Strokes’ comeback, dissect Alex Turner’s questionable facial hair, play ‘Everything Will Not Saved Will Be Lost’ at an ungodly volume (both parts, of course) and shed a small tear when Wolf Al picked up their well deserved Mercury Prize. But between Sports Team nounce Blaenavon correctly, loads of indie bullshit has gone on. So we got Mystery Jets main man Blaine Harrison to take us through some of his indie-based highs and lows… Interview: Elly Watson. Photo: Sharon Lopez.

FAVE SONG

properly look at what they were

most recent record ‘Remind Me Tomorrow’ and it’s one of those

There felt like a real sense of community to those audiences, it felt like their band and that’s what

moment to reconnect with our fans from different eras of the band, and that was one of the

Sharon Van Etten - Seventeen (2019)

skin in a way that only the most

South London scene (2016-)

back. Then by the end it was this

audience of Ally Pally walk down

I felt very humbled by all of that and very fortunate that we’ve

Happiness’ and you could hear it

this club in London that was this

so many years. It was almost like

so inclusive and it really shaped how I experienced London when now all shut down and that’s what and I really relate to that.

FAVE ALBUM

That was a really emotional moment.

LOWLIGHT

David Bowie’s death (2016)

Bowie always felt like someone who was immortal. I felt like he was this family member that would always be there. The way

that created this kind of zodiac of our journey, and in a way it was a map for where we needed to

FROM THE SIDELINES TO THE HEADLINES

fashion, he was just this icon.

Angel Olsen - All Mirrors (2019)

It’s the sound of an artist

between weird, eerie, stylised production and metamorphosis into this new character. That

record; it really walks that

They’re kind of the perfect 21st Century post-pop band. it felt like there was as much art to his death as there was to his arrival. It was like this alien came we see ourselves and listen to

Ten, but we’ll allow him that!

HIGHLIGHT

It was the same year as the Maccabees shows, and when

They’re one of those bands we were incredibly honoured to support on those shows. [It

my perception of reality and

subculture, which in a way feels the bands who came out of Goldsmiths like Wire and stuff.

I love black midi; I feel like they are the epitome of what art rock bands should be. They don’t try to mould or shape their music into any semblance of what the mainstream is and yet they’ll

Carey, they’re just incredible. He’s like this mad professor. It’s no surprise that the South London scene orbits his studio. He has these insane Christmas parties where there’s an MDMA punch and then you spend half your Christmas in bed...

COMEBACK The Strokes (2019)

I always say that The Strokes were our Nirvana; they were the but I don’t know if they still are that. I li ‘The New Abnormal’, but they’re

came out so we had no chance

and freaked out by.

The Maccabees’ farewell shows (2017)

for me anymore, I want bands to tell me about the world.

spaceship. It was the same week

PERSONAL HIGHLIGHT

you want to pull really close and

BIRTH

South London’s always had

almost felt like an Irish wake. I

places, or a moment, and I was

needed to be.

Jetrospective, The Garage (2017)

cold, hard look in the mirror and realised that this was the time to take stock of the journey that we’d had. The opportunity came up to do these shows and

places, it’s such a complex tapestry of an album and talks a lot about the state of the world and what we’re all

HMLTD. They were the band I had all my chips on. There was a time when I went to three or four shows

music like that has found

completely different and new.

39

A Decade In...

40 DIYMAG.COM

“

Stormzy is the black, likable guy from ends that everyone supported and he’s just smashing it.”

A Decade In...

HIP HOP

With...Nadia Rose 100 lands, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion are having a far more X-rated and empowering time with ‘WAP’. In between, meanwhile, hip hop has broadened and broken through to new territories - not least Interview: Nicolas Tyrell.

THE AWARDWINNER

‘WAP’ just went Number One also. Just how

fantastic. His debut album is an extremely

THE CORONATION

and everyone kind of put the UK into this box. If you were a Black artist or ‘urban’,

Dave - Psychodrama (March 2019)

Stormzy, Glastonbury (June 2019)

the skill, the musicality, it was all next to

someone I’ve watched and supported for

and critics alike, he won the Mercury, which fantastic artist - he plays the piano, he can be more conscious and sometimes fun. He’s an all-rounder. I’m a super Dave fan, he’s an inspiration to many of us.

THE BIG ALBUM

Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, M.A.A.d City (2012)

does what it’s there to do and introduces you to an incredible album. He does it perfectly for me. There was obviously controversy at felt like Kendrick Lamar should’ve won Best Rap Album. Macklemore even texted Kendrick afterward, so it was a very controversial moment in history.

THE CHART TOPPER

Hus is an incredible artist and a pioneer for the sound. Even the Afrobeats chart, it can

THE PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT can’t describe it. Then there’s

Writing for Rihanna’s TBC 9th Studio Album (2017)

which is just iconic as hell.

Stormzy is the Black, that everyone supported

and reply and it turned out that it was a

it. It’s a moment that I’m sure none of us will

THE CULTURAL SHIFT

Frank Ocean and Lil Nas X come out (2012, 2019)

As we all know, hip hop and homophobia

THE SOUNDTRACK Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You (June 2020)

I mean, for me this is one of the best TV shows that Britain has offered us to be honest. Michaela is an incredible human

Cardi B - Bodak Yellow (2017)

The fact that a woman hadn’t topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 18 years is just wild already to me. There have been such

artists makes it a stand out moment in

a stripper, then a reality TV star and then

in who you are is what hip hop means to me.

Lauryn Hill [who held the record before

THE GENRE SWITCH-UP

you put your mind to. There’s many more to

includes mainly hip hop acts like Little Simz, Tierra Whack, Hardy Caprio. I just love

super important and she does this so well.

The emergence of afro-swing (2010-2014)

There was one point in

41

INDIE

DREAMBOAT

after its demise, we’re still getting requests for it to return. Here are some of the standout Indie Dreamboats of the Month.

INDIE

INDIE

DREAMBOAT

INDIE

DREAMBOAT

INDIE

DREAMBOAT

DREAMBOAT

HARRY KOISSER PEACE

SIMON NEIL

ISSUE 23

CAV MCCARTHY SWIM DEEP

ISSUE 29

ISSUE 25

ISSUE 41

Nickname: The Atmosphere Drink of choice:

Chat-up line of choice:

Favourite hair product:

Because yodalicious.

Nickname: All my family call me Buster.

kid. The kind of stuff that would make your hair super spiky.

Thoughts on Ryan Gosling: I think he’s just hyped Signature scent: Tom

INDIE

INDIE

DREAMBOAT

JOFF ODDIE Pets: Joel [Amey, Wolf If you weren’t a pop star, what would you be doing? I’d be John Cleese’s body double.

INDIE

ISSUE 42

Nickname: My friends still from Dirty Sanchez, because I used to be really short.

ISSUE 32

ISSUE 34

Favourite scent: Play-Doh. Chat-up line of choice: Baby, if you were a fruit,

name as well, Roch.

INDIE

DREAMBOAT

BRENDON URIE, PANIC! AT THE DISCO ISSUE 48

Signature scent: smells clean and fresh.

OLLY ALEXANDER YEARS & YEARS

Full name: Dominic Charles

INDIE

DREAMBOAT

JACK KAYE THE MAGIC GANG

DREAMBOAT

DOM GANDERTON

ISSUE 31

Pets: called Xander. He plays synth and deals cocaine.

Favourite scent: 50

INDIE

DREAMBOAT

INDIE

DREAMBOAT

DAVE BAYLEY GLASS ANIMALS

ISSUE 26

42 DIYMAG.COM

INDIE

DREAMBOAT

TAREK MUSA SPRING KING

DREAMBOAT

JACK ANTONOFF BLEACHERS

WILL GOULD CREEPER

ISSUE 51

If you weren’t in a band, what would you be doing?

If you weren’t in a band, what would you be doing? musical called ‘Cosmic Love’ before the band. I’d probably

WATC H T H E H YU N DA I M E R C U RY P R I Z E 2020 W E D N E S DAY 23 S E P T E M B E R

# HY U N D A I M E R C U RYP R I Z E UK BROADCAST PARTNER

43

M I N D

44 DIYMAG.COM

G AME S Since 2010 debut ‘Man Alive’, Everything Everything have become masters of the intricate and the odd.

Fifth album ‘Re-Animator’ - a sparkling musing on the dawning of consciousness, Slenderman and fatbergs - is their most uninhibited album yet, explains frontman Jonathan Higgs. Words: Patrick Clarke.

E

Two of his bandmates have started families, and relationships have

cally than most. On the day measures were announced,

to put them out. All of it was insured, but they lost a lot of items of sentimental value - keepsakes sent by fans for -

-

album ‘Re-Animator’, as its title would imply, represents a similarly dramatic end of an era, as well as the start of some-

W

point in our distant past we had a divided brain, the left

we evolved to the point where the two sides joined and it became our own inner voice, and we found our own will, and that was when we became conscious. There’s a point in history where civilisations around the world all collapsed at the same time and nobody knows earlier lyrics were about personal stuff, but they were

it spoke to me very deeply. I’ve talked about dual personalities a

‘Re-Animator’ is full of references to intrusive inner voices,

-

are impaled, snapped and sliced-up bodies all over the record; visions that create

what’s brand new and what’s that stuff is kind of by the by. You could talk to someone from 1582 and have the

coldly on ‘Planets’. theory, however, ‘Re- Animaor aus-

45

-

-

of contradictions, somewhere between mainstream indie pop stars and critically-lauded experimentalists, and that extends to the emotional scope of their -

piece ‘Arch Enemy’, for example, where from this part of our brains’ or ‘We’re the It’s just not true. You do chuckle at a fu-

“Our music is still weird as fuck, don’t get me wrong!” Jonathan Higgs

2011 back to

Spring 2011. Let’s jump in our time machine and see what Everything Everything were doing back then...

In 2011, your debut album ‘Man Alive’ was critically acclaimed and then shortlisted for the Mercury Prize you must have been on a high?

but we didn’t feel any pressure, we just felt all

What were your shows like back then? and yet the music is so sombre; it’s the -

at the time; there was an Italian tour which is my favourite we’ve ever done. At one point

thrown at each other is the ‘sad party’ Enemy’, the listener is then confronted mental underpins what he describes

match very often. It’s not really inten-

mental collapse, imprisonment, the end of the world - works perfectly not only as the album’s closer, but as the realisahave strived for over the last decade: a full-hearted embrace of the weirdness and brilliance that comes when you

When did you start looking back and really noticing how far you’d come?

Probably only just now, on this album. You need to feel a certain distance from stuff before you can really appreciate it for what it was.

It’s nice to be a bit of an elder statesmen in this world, and also to feel like we survived!

Almost all of our contemporaries haven’t for one reason or another, and to feel like we have weathered all these storms, even this one pride and a sense of accomplishment to have

paradoxically the band have found In 2011, were there any musicians or bands you went to for mentorship or advice?

‘Re-Animator’ is out 11th September DIY

and so supportive and interested in us and

We tried to talk to Muse when we were on tour with them but they were always busy.

46 DIYMAG.COM

WE GET MUSIC PPL PAID Congratulations DIY Magazine on your 100th issue.

PPL exist to help ensure performers and recording rightsholders who invest their time, talent and money to make recorded music are fairly paid for their work.

ppluk.com | @ppluk

47

A Decade In...

ROCK With...Creeper’s Will Gould in 2014, it feels like there’s no better artist to quiz on rock’s past decade than Will Gould. Here, the Creeper frontman talks us through some of most memorable moments from over the years.

Interview: Sarah Jamieson. Photo: Richard Kelly

2013: THE REPLACEMENTS PLAY THEIR FIRST SHOWS TOGETHER IN 22 YEARS This is one of those reunions that you just

their two shows at The Roundhouse and they

different artists, and the fact they came out of incredibly impressive. Plus, there was Paul

from Creeper is a massive, massive fan and

2014: AGAINST ME RELEASE ‘TRANSGENDER DYSPHORIA BLUES’

2016: THE ORIGINAL MISFITS REUNITE and now, they’re arena rock stars, these

for years - so for them to come back and do it so well, I think it shows how well reunions

This was such a massive moment, and it’s Madison Square Garden - who would have

a different letter on it, which spelled out the

to come out like that. With the record that

isn’t it!

could become anthems for people who didn’t

2014: PARAMORE HEADLINE READING & LEEDS

There are very few times in history that I think

The scene that Paramore broke out from was such a supremely male dominated scene, now, they’re one of the in the world.

What an incredible watershed moment for them to headline a festival like Hayley’s also a really

48 DIYMAG.COM

2016: DAVID BOWIE PASSES AWAY

2017: MARILYN MANSON GETS KNOCKED OUT BY HIS OWN STAGE PROP

How ironic that the tools he used to shock America - shock-rocker Marilyn Manson, who

because of the impact he had on culture in

everywhere, and for one man to have had such an incredible impact. He wasn’t just

2019: MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE RETURN They ju outsiders that didn’t have a voice before. They’re so creative, and such a one-in-a-million band and a really important band to me - and I’m as they’re back.

A Decade In...

dance With...Aluna Releasing her debut single as one half of AlunaGeorge back in 2011 - and gracing the cover of Issue 14 as part of the Class of 2013 - Aluna has been in the throng of UK dance for the best part of 10 years now. She takes a look back at some of the personal highlights and pivotal moments that shaped her experiences. Interview: Timi Sotire.

2015: ALUNA PERFORMS AT ROCK IN RIO country and felt entirely at home. It was a crazy experience because when I arrived, there was an electrical storm. But 100,000 people still showed, so I was so determined

weather for my performance. I didn’t want to

am the storm’ as if I was Storm from X-Men.

2016: MAJOR LAZER PLAYS TO 400,000 FANS IN CUBA

more unity between Cuba and the US, and I feel like this concert placed the youth at

feels like a moment in time, like a bubble of hope marked by this one show. I know that this only happened a few years back, but it

2016: ANNA LUNOE BECOMES THE FIRST SOLO FEMALE TO PLAY THE MAIN STAGE AT ELECTRIC DAISY CARNIVAL When I heard about this, really hope that this

a Black female DJ headline EDC [America’s

they’re not respected in the same way.

2016/2017: FABRIC CLOSES AND REOPENS closure, so when it shut down I was really

the coolness. I felt like I’d missed my chance

2018: AVICII PASSES AWAY

His death was the second artist’s death that I felt very close towards. Amy Winehouse fact that I’ve made some in favour of my mental health, and that this was OK to do. Someone like into his career, and for him. None of this success is worth it if you feel like you can’t

yourself is all that matters.

better for white female DJs; they’ve been more needs to be done for Black female DJs,

49

ISSUE

1 We’re no mathematicians, but we do know that DIY quite literally couldn’t have reached 100 issues without passing through some landmark hurdles along the way. We caught up with METRONOMY’s Joe Mount - one of the stars of Issue One - to look back at a seminal year for the band.

Hi Joe! What have you been up to during this very odd 2020?

creativity, so I’m impressed by people like make records that seem to be very important and popular.

So we shouldn’t expect a Metronomy pandemic album soon?

I don’t know if you watch Gardener’s World,

involved remotely and everyone remotely that tapped into the emotion of the world. And

on Gardener’s World it’s been a bit like that

50 DIYMAG.COM

- every individual cutaway has been some

“I wasn’t trying to write ‘Sex on Fire’, I just wanted to make my music sound more easy to listen to.” Joe Mount

moment...’. I’m not sure what my point is, but make music that’s too like that.

issue! Talking about ‘The English Riviera’, which was the album that brought the band a lot more attention... different sort of life to what it could have had.

It was a very important year for music!

Were you aware when you were making the album that it could be a big one for you?

I think that was sort of the idea. I think I felt

was 25, 26 and quite a different kind of person - I was probably a bit competitive and felt like

a scrappy bedroom record, so I wanted to

2011 back to

sound more easy to listen to.

And that was the year Metronomy became a four-piece...

Before that, Gabriel had left the band and me and Oscar made a decision that we didn’t just want to swap someone out, we wanted to you see a band just swap a member. So there

We asked Joe to cast his mind back to some of the big tunes that dominated the airwaves and headlines that year...

ISSUE

Lana Del Rey, ‘Video Games’

25

On the cover: Chlöe Howl and DIY’s Class of 2014.

As you’ll have read over on P22, we rather pride ourselves on our Class of... series for

hard.

What do you remember as being particularly gratifying about that time?

The Mercury meant that interest picked up

these three different sections

at Ally Pally. But sometimes, okay, we don’t

suddenly had a new audience. I remember

Tyler, the Creator, ‘Yonkers’

the cover back at the end of December 2013 and she’s still technically yet to release her debut album. But, when that day comes...

previous performances we were this quite

fan, and I remember in those early days that we played at the El Rey Theatre in Los come to a show on Twitter, which he did. He’s a super

doesn’t just do music.

ELSEWHERE IN

ISSUE

1

Azealia Banks, ‘212’ She’s someone who I’d consider a friend from that time - we toured with her and Two Door Cinema Club once and she was super into

Crows, James Cox made

note: there’s always a second career for you here.

• Bright Eyes pretend ‘The People’s Key’ was their last record... and then actually didn’t make a record for nearly ten years.

Patrick Wolf for the last few years.

Patrick Wolf provides

On the cover: Wolf Alice, Swim Deep & more.

Because we just old knees up, we decided to throw a bit of a party for our 50th issue.

Coldplay in America and she claimed it was her that made that happen. I think she’s

with her because she’s vocal about stuff, but compared to a lot of what other people like her and support her.

birthday, we dunno what is.

ISSUE

column. Clearly, they

75

On the cover: The

In what we can only describe as the stars complet-

issue feature the

er... Patrick Wolf of his album ‘Lupercalia’.

• Olly Murs Panic! At The Disco 8

50

or two of warm prosecco, a couple of nifty paper hats, and invaded one of Wolf Alice and Swim Deep’s shows back in early 2016. We

• Before

• DIY’s art director Louise and her then-band The Victorian English Gentlemen’s Club

ISSUE

but its release date just happened to fall perfectly on the band’s hallowed date of 1st June. No one can say we don’t try and make the most of a complete coincidence!

And yes, if you’ve ever wondered, the cover photo is just the band

from the Murs. scanner. Duh.

51

A Decade In...

pop

With...Rina Sawayama while around the turn of the century, the genre was a by-word for teenyboppers and wholesome good times. Not so pop music of the last decade, however. Now, our pop stars are making game-changing moves, challenging the status quo and generally showing that a great pop song can be one of the smartest musical nuggets out there. Rina Sawayama - Issue 94 cover star and 2020’s most exciting pop talent - talks us through the moments that changed everything since 2011. Photo:

BEYONCÉ’S SELFTITLED ALBUM AND THE ART OF THE SURPRISE DROP

couldn’t care less about pop or pop culture would have

for it.

masterminded that release will never be beaten. The

album - let alone a VISUAL album - in secret... ICONIC.

BTS, BLACKPINK AND ASIAN EXCELLENCE to see so many Asian faces in the mainstream media.

it has over the last few years. With Blackpink now

descent to win a Golden Globe, Asian women

LADY GAGA, FROM THE MEAT DRESS TO A STAR IS BORN

RIHANNA NOT RELEASING AN ALBUM BUT BECOMING A BUSINESS MOGUL wants to release that album for all I care. I still listen to ‘Anti’, it still sounds like it could have come out this

you really want to try and succeed in, but in reality most records could. As a Black-owned business it’s so important to support, and how successful that business has been in just three years is

makes everyone else pale in comparison. I recently met her at an event and she is also as jokes as you’d hope, love her.

CARLY RAE JEPSEN’S ‘CALL ME MAYBE’ because I don’t think I listened to much else that year. It could be one of the most perfectly-written pop

even this year with ‘Chromatica’, with all the heartache

impact and then conversation around it was undeniable:

52 DIYMAG.COM

so much. could have been overshadowed by it, but every record she’s released has been a phenomenal body of work.

I’m inspired by Carly for so many reasons.

DIY’s A look back at some of the other perfect pop moments from across our lifetime…

BILLIE EILISH ARRIVES

It seems inconceivable now to think of a world without Billie Eilish, but back in 2015

sad-pop jams that can rouse both tears and

BROCKHAMPTON STEP UP TO THE THRONE Brockhampton landed back in 2014 and they hopped across the pond to play

HARRY STYLES IS ALL GROWN UP Styles stepped away from 1D in the latter

ADELE: CHAMPION OF THE WORLD ultimate heartbreak soundtrack when Adele

were played pretty much non-stop and we loved it. Oh yeah, and it’s the fourth

PC MUSIC REDEFINES POP You can’t mention ‘10s pop without

A Decade In...

Polacheck and basically all your faves.

53

A Decade In...

Live musIc With...Arcade Fire’s Will Butler From Glastonbury headliners to golden ticket secret shows, over the past 100 issues, DIY’s been at the metaphorical (and often literal) barrier for some of the last decade’s most talked about live music moments. Arcade Fire multi-instrumentalist and solo star Will Butler, meanwhile, has spent that time playing just about every massive stage across the world. Who better, then, to help guide us through the shows that made the last 10 years an all-singing, all-moshing, lighters-in-the-air triumph.

54 DIYMAG.COM

A Decade In...

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM’S ‘FINAL’ (AHEM) SHOW

it’s so primeval; that sea of people up the

PRINCE POPS UP IN CAMDEN

Madison Square Garden, April 2011

Will: American Scum’, and it was such an epic

Electric Ballroom, February 2014

What we said:

ARCADE FIRE DEBUT ‘EVERYTHING NOW’ Primavera sound, June 2017

Will: Barcelona is beautiful and you’re by the

Ballroom feels like the centre of the universe. which is hard to do at MSG but it felt like

has decided to come down from his planet to be with his people in Camden and play his

DOLLY PARTON

PULP REUNITE! What we said: so well, that we love so hard, are absolutely colossal. An event, an occasion, a little slice of pop history and one hell of a comeback.

People may ask you if you were there one day.

DRAWS THE BIGGEST CROWD IN GLASTO HISTORY

TUPAC COMES BACK AS A HOLOGRAM

What we said: to herself with the air of a woman with a trick or two up her bedazzled white sleeves, she kicks off the show with a

Primavera Sound, June 2011

Glastonbury, June 2014

Coachella, April 2012

round, and it was the perfect place. What we

BEYONCÉ REVEALS THE STAGE SHOW OF THE DECADE

Coachella, April 2018

Will: herself but is also very consciously to the mainstream. We’re so used to fuse it, but her project of late has just been so powerful and direct. She’s Beyoncé so she’s like, ‘OK here’s my whole history’.

I’m like, ‘Come on children, let’s watch Beyoncé, this is your education!’ Off the top

Will:

KATE BUSH PARKS UP FOR A ONE-OFF RESIDENCY

ARCTIC MONKEYS ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL OF ‘AM’ Glastonbury, June 2013

Hammersmith Apollo, August 2014

What we said:

THE BTS PHENOMENON HITS LONDON The O2, October 2018

What we said:

Will: those shows, he was very excited. There’s

ARCADE FIRE SLAY THE PYRAMID STAGE

seems very relevant these days - like, ‘Oh, travel to another country for a Smiths reunion, but I don’t necessarily even want that to

Glastonbury, June 2014

Will: Radiohead fan and their show there in the

it wasn’t muddy wander around.

Glastonbury is one of the only festivals where you a

KANYE STICKS TWO FINGERS UP TO THE NAYSAYERS Glastonbury, June 2015

What we said: been witnessed on this scale. No overly-

delivers the hits and takes himself to the next

FOALS BECOME FESTIVAL HEADLINERS Reading, August 2016

What we said:

BILLIE EILISH BEGINS HER WORLD DOMINATION

Shepherd’s Bush Empire, March 2019

What we said:

then on the balcony there are chaperoned by their

welly. And that’s the real proof that Billie’s on a to the proper is the future of mainstream pop, then hallelujah.

55

As CHVRCHES get to work on their fourth album, the trio have found themselves in rather different circumstances to what they had planned.

Catching up with Lauren Mayberry, we talk quarantining on the other side of the Atlantic, recording ‘CHV4’ remotely and get a bit emosh over their journey so far. Words: Sarah Jamieson.

Oceans oceans

It

musicians, but while many artists have

saw them take on the classic pop hallmarks of the

-

homes, there’s also been a question mark over how a band can write and record in the middle of a

force to be reckoned with.

in the hours on ‘CHV4’.

same place, then we all went home with a view of, ‘We’ll meet up when this is done’, which was very in March - Iain Cook returned to their native Glas-

between the stuff that’s purely personal, and the

can share it and we all work on the session remotely, and then I’ll have an audio stream, I can listen in, and then I record stuff and send it to them.

kinda weird - it feels like we’re more connected

W

hard, and maybe that stemmed from a discomfort

those balls-out, pop hooks - then can we pull the

some places it worked, and some places it didn’t work out as well, but then, that’s the process! hooks, their last record, 2018’s ‘Love Is Dead’, was a mammoth in its own

of second album ‘Every Open Eye’, it saw the trio push even further past their own

56 DIYMAG.COM

vourite parts of CHVRCHES are on that record, and some of my least favourite parts are part of that era.

“You might as well try something, you’re only gonna be around once!” Lauren Mayberry

A

that ‘CHV4’ will explore, she does let us in on one little

-

They may have decided not to drop their keys in the bowl this time,

they’ve taken part in this summer, or just a selection of old photos

little bit more freely.

apart apart

57

“It’s interesting to go into a room where people know the language of the Top 40, but I don’t think that’s our language.” - Lauren Mayberry Activity 5 with Iain in this cinema useful time to take stock of those

As you may have gathered, DIY have spent rather a lot of time with CHVRCHES over the past decade. And

Iain and I have a tradition of, if there’s a day off, it feels comfortwe’re both wee dorks. When there’s no consistency in what

We’ve seen a lot of crap! But whatever’s next on their schedule, an enforced period of slowness ally messy - horrible but excellent

most un-Miami people! We’re just

trip to London and we did

I think about that, yeah,

snapshot of time. I remember Doc would always be on

didn’t know what we were

what was on there. And honestly, if the music industry

It’s weird because it doesn’t

in a different way, I suppose.

I remember we just used to

ferent forms, and while the band’s

slot at Glastonbury in 2016 and

and people still weren’t so freaked out and confused

wouldn’t have happened.

That’s literally how it [kicked

you don’t plan. The shitty beers in

a fourth round that’ll send them

don’t jinx it!’ But ultimately I feel like we did okay!

Martin recently spoke about how he considers you guys to be one of the last ‘blog bands’, which feels quite strange thinking back, that you literally did launch yourself quite mysteriously online.

talking to the press as a new band?

on what you have, what you’re should appreciate in a career like this. But yeah, we’ve been very

Yeah, so it was weird to think back on that! I think we were really scared a lot of the time, because it just wasn’t

with them was technically 2012 (before we inducted them into our Class of 2013 the following year), but who’s counting?

What do you remember

our experiences, but when people it’s very hard to stay present in the moment when you’re actually

2011 back to

What was going on around the band back then?

MR, and he was like, ‘I’ll just ask her if she’ll put it on the

and he was like, ‘Oh, This Is

we’ll put it on Soundcloud and then Lizzy says she’ll put it out. That’s how it

the world. And if lockdown life life in the band that stand out for bury on your next record would DIY what some of the narrative in kinda mad conspiracy theory that it was some major label

turned down an X million

‘Oh, Brian down the pub’ ‘How the fuck does Brian

58 DIYMAG.COM

So there were no grand plans for future world domination then?

and maybe we’d play a few shows, but probably

2021 MAN OF MOON JANUARY UK TOUR FEBRUARY JORDS 25 COLOURS MARCH HUNTER & THE BEAR UK TOUR 31 MARCH ISAAC DUNBAR THE CAMDEN ASSEMBLY APRIL MARSICANS O3 LAFAYETTE & 16 APRIL BEACHBUNNY 15 THE DOME APRIL LIZ LAWRENCE 21 LAFAYETTE APRIL BIG SOCIETY 22 SEBRIGHT ARMS APRIL AMY WADGE 24 O SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE APRIL BLOXX 27 THE GRACE THE CHATS APRIL UK TOUR 2

59

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

2020 Vision: A look at this year’s Hyundai Mercury Prize shortlist Challenging convention and celebrating innovation, Hyundai strive for progress in everything they create; much like the artists shortlisted for the 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize. That’s why, over the past three years, DIY has been proud to partner with Hyundai in supporting the #HyundaiMercuryPrize.

Now, as we get closer to this year’s event, our 100th issue feels like the perfect opportunity to get a bit more familiar with 2020’s shortlisted albums. Check out our thoughts on each of the creative, innovative records now.

Anna Meredith ‘FIBS’

If everything was already turned up to eleven on Anna Meredith’s ‘Varmints’, consider it cranked to twelve on ‘FIBS’. Her debut was precisely the opposite of minimalist and yet, somehow, she seems to have made this collection an even more vibrant affair, all clattering beats and racing synths held together with production polished enough to see your face in. It’s a frankly overwhelming listen first time around, with everything tearing along at a hundred miles an hour, but its fizzing and crackling is so exhilarating that you’re happy to let her sweep you along. Joyous stuff.

Charli XCX ‘how i’m feeling now’

An album created entirely during lockdown, ‘how i’m feeling now’ finds Charli XCX diving into all the feelings brought on by being confined in your house for the foreseeable. “I just want to feel in different ways / every single night kind of feels the same,” she laments on dark electro-infused opener ‘pink diamond’, before lead single ‘forever’, a fizzing melodic number, muses “I’ll love you forever / even when we’re not together”. But, ‘how i’m feeling now’ is not a doom and gloom record, and it has Charli proving why she’s one of pop’s leading figures.

Full of anthemic and euphoric beats, the album flits through pop and electronic influences, with the work of 100 gecs’ Dylan Brady resulting in some of the album’s most weird and wonderful moments. Yes, lockdown is naff, yes, these are “strange and unprecedented times,” and yes, Charli has made the perfect banger-filled album to get us through it.

Dua Lipa ‘Future Nostalgia’

A sassy and euphoric offering, ‘Future Nostalgia’ sees the superstar embracing her position among pop greats. Across its 11-track run, it’s a non-stop party, from the punchy titular opener that channels Prince grooves, to the dancefloor-ready ‘Levitating’, to the goosebump-inducing sample of White Town’s ‘Your Woman’ on ‘Love Again’, and the penultimate ‘Good In Bed’ with the kind of lyrics Lily Allen is going to wish she thought of first.

By the time closer ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ hits, Dua’s already smashed it out the park, and the euphoric ballad cutting down inequality with her impassioned chorus of “boys will be boys but girls will be women” only further cements what this album has proved: Dua will be going down in pop history as one of the best.

60 DIYMAG.COM

Georgia ‘Seeking Thrills’

While 2015’s self-titled debut laid quiet foundations, ‘Seeking Thrills’ sees Georgia lean in much more eagerly on the late-night grooves that have been supporting her breakthrough. ’Started Out’ and ‘About Work The Dancefloor’ make for solid, established openers, but there’s no shortage of other ideas that make complete sense in the soundtrack of modern lives - ‘I Can’t Wait’ zooms along the rainbow road of a particularly jubilant round of Mario Kart, ‘Feel It’ and ‘Mellow’ blast comfortably out of the stereo before a naughty night out, and ‘Never Let You Go’ has the same modular, kawaii drive that made a star out of Grimes, full of the energy captured in the album’s art. As an embodiment of where one of the UK’s most exciting voices is currently at, you couldn’t ask for much more...

Kano ‘Hoodies All Summer’

While the six-year gap between Kano’s last album and its predecessor cast a melancholy and reflective tone over his previously-shortlisted ‘Made In The Manor’, ‘Hoodies All Summer’ is fixed more in the present, and naturally comes from an angrier space loaded with scrutiny aimed at the country’s issues with race, politics and crime. His sixth LP employs a rich palate in its production seamlessly blending trap beats with soul samples and orchestral flourishes. And although there are fun throwback moments - on ‘Class of Deja’ he exercises some old-school bravado - the true powers of this album shine through as he examines our current splintered society; Kano holds the rhyme and reason to encapsulate it and possesses the angst to make it hit home. .

Lanterns On The Lake ‘Spook the Herd’

Ever since they swapped hushed folk for panoramic indie rock with ‘Until the Colours Run’ in 2013, Lanterns on the Lake have been eloquently intertwining the personal and political, setting Hazel Wilde’s nuanced observational lyricism against the sweeping, quietly epic musical backdrops. Their first album since 2015’s ‘Beings’ - and therefore the first since Brexit and the Western world’s dark rightwards lurch - should be an exercise in righteous fury.

Instead, it showcases Newcastle five-piece at their most nuanced and emotionally literate. A soundtrack for the moment just before light breaks through the clouds.

Laura Marling ‘Song for Our Daughter’

A snapshot of womanhood in today’s society, ‘Song for Our Daughter’ sees Laura returning to her stripped-back folk following time embracing other facets of her creativity. Gone are raspier moments of predecessor ‘Semper Femina’, instead seeing a confident return to the ‘70s psychedelics of lead single ‘Held Down’ and the Dylan-esque ‘Strange Girl’. Written as a series of learnings for an imaginary child, ‘Song for Our Daughter’ embraces realism above all else. “Lately I’ve been thinking about our daughter getting old,” she sings with her distinctive soft vocals void of melodrama, “all of the bulls**t that she might be told”. Yet far from definitive, a subtly empowering positivity underpins the record, a notion that the future can be changed.

Michael Kiwanuka ‘KIWANUKA’

‘KIWANUKA’ -Michael’s third album shortlisted for the Hyundai Mercury Prize is a reclaiming of identity with all the soul-searching, struggle and joy that comes with it. A true ‘blowing away the cobwebs’ affair. From the buoyant arrangement of ‘You Ain’t The Problem’ to the triumphant bombast of ‘Hard To Say Goodbye’ and the rumination on race and police brutality chronicled on centrepiece ‘Hero’. A truly accomplished work where the personal and universal intertwine oozing with an urgent and essential message.

Moses Boyd ‘Dark Matter’

Moses Boyd is at the forefront of a jazz revolution, one finding new roots in the sounds of London: dub, UK garage, even Theo Parrish-influenced house. His debut ‘Dark Matter’ is, then, as diverse, exciting and, perhaps most importantly, as danceable as you might expect.

Built more for booming club soundsystems than it is the cliched idea of a smoky jazz club, there’s a mournfulness that runs throughout, of a lost generation, but ‘Dark Matter’ constantly searches for the hope.

This, at its heart, is the mission statement of a ridiculously talented drummer and producer. A magical alchemy of styles and feeling built to shake the rafters and your entire body.

Porridge Radio ‘Every Bad’

“Thank you for making me happy”, repeats Porridge Radio’s Dana Margolin on ‘Every Bad’ opener ‘Born Confused’, a sentiment which unsettlingly spirals from its initial whimsical delivery into a pained, otherworldly caterwaul. It sets the tone for a record that never really presents itself as either fully happy or miserable, treading the dense grey area that floats between the two. Dana’s vocal snarls jar against the startling music, itself conjuring a nightmarish atmosphere that plays with both the record’s raw feel and its many dramatic climaxes. The often-ominous soundscapes that accompany each word are as surreal as they are mesmerising. In its outpouring of emotion, ‘Every Bad’ plays with its own intensity. Each individual moment offers a new tone, a new feeling, but carries the distinct sound that Porridge Radio have made their own.

Sports Team ‘Deep Down Happy’

Having caused a stir up and down the country with their chaotic live shows, semi-ironic jollies to the seaside and a certain penchant for shooting their mouths off in interviews, Sports Team feel like the sort of band British indie has been holding its breath for. And their debut ‘Deep Down Happy’ manages to do what all good music should - it makes being in a band sound like the absolute best thing in the world.

Their success is all in the alchemy. Rob’s wordplay is deserving of its own plaudits, but in Alex Rice, they possess a frontman willing to work overtime. Smart, engaged, and willing to crack a joke with the faith that their musical dexterity will speak for itself, love Sports Team or hate them, dismiss them at your peril.

Stormzy ‘Heavy is the Head’

Brought to you as part of our media partnership with Hyundai.

Watch performances from the shortlisted artists on BBC Four at 10pm on 23rd September.

Title Sponsor

#HyundaiMercuryPrize 61

Illustration: Gabriella Shery

REVIEWS

IT’S A HOME RUN. ANGEL OLSEN Whole New Mess

been transformed from cinematic epic to an intimate Polaroid; somewhere between

(

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year

band. The result is an adeptly minimalist album that swaps orchestration for a more direct approach. We are taken away from the

Mirrors’. A masterpiece of modern baroque pop, the album’s combination of intricate

Sonically, it’s now been afforded the space

it necessary to remodel these tracks with also clear why she needed to release this

fresh. Nearly twelve dystopian months later,

acceptance.

One the face you show to the world, full of

for ‘All Mirrors’. And crucially, it’s not a mess. Where ‘All Mirrors’ utilised expansive soundscapes, its follow-up instead creates a

candidly examines how newfound love ensnares both our emotions and ability to

more private affair. That’s what makes this album so successful, it’s a record of personal

LISTEN: ‘Tonight (Without You)’, ‘Too Easy (Bigger Than Us)’

62 DIYMAG.COM

IDLES

Ultra Mono

of expectation quite as heavily eclipsed even the dizziest daydreams of its members, they’ve come to be synonymous

their thread of astute political observation is still present, it’s sometimes stretched lyricism of ‘War’ could pass as ironic if ‘Kill ‘Em With Kindness’ didn’t follow the same approach, and despite their track record of articulate mental health discussion, ‘Anxiety’

Meanwhile ‘Ne Touche Pas Moi’, an ode to respectful moshpit etiquette, is wellintentioned but dissolves into a half-hearted chant of ‘Consent! Consent!’, never really

- the destruction of toxic masculinity, the across needless boundaries of race, class

A deep (and sometimes utterly shallow) dive into the archives for precisely one hundred of the album-based highlights from throughout our physical centenary.

for spontaneity.

The rod that’s been built for their back is

GIRLS

situation to be in, and one they seem all-tooaware of - as ‘Lover’ not-so-subtly puts it,

that will be pushed up those ceaseless end of year lists, you can be sure Girls will be the proud parents

they falter, there’s a hell of a lot of people If ‘Joy as An Act of Resistance’ was all

offbeat, wryly-humorous take on small-

100 BIG ONES

the answers, but in a year where there is

Father, Son, Holy Ghost

PERFUME GENIUS

Put Your Back N 2 It

the record’s lyrics were constructed on the spot in the vocal booth, a risky move for a band that have found their work tattooed on

positivity does serve to take some of the wind out of IDLES’ sails. If ‘Ultra Mono’ is their attempt to critique their own pedestal, it LISTEN: ‘Model Village’

Hadreas makes is

GRAHAM COXON A+E

accomplished solo

“I suppose I’m known for being a bit more post-punk sounding and whining about girls. But there isn’t a lot of that [here], which is a relief.”

- Graham Coxon

JAPANDROIDS Celebration Rock

rambunctious and

63

100BIGONES

LANA DEL REY

Violet Bent Backwards Over The Grass

PURITY RING

100BIGONES VAMPIRE WEEKEND

Modern Vampires of the City

Shrines

Vampire Weekend, and perfect example of her sharp and sentimental way with words. So, expectations

and heartfelt since

The Grass’. Accompanied by frequent collaborator, producer Jack Antonoff,

TAME IMPALA Lonerism

strive to trust in herself more. Elsewhere, however, are less poetically-romantic

prowess, quotes primed for Tumblr captions, most of the time it’s more sixth

BIFFY CLYRO

LISTEN: ‘Sportcruiser’

Opposites

DEFTONES Ohms

Deftones’ vocal force Chino Moreno has a habit of 2016’s ‘Gore’ - the predecessor to this ninth studio release - he accepted a lack of shared direction

production duties to Terry Date - the man behind their widely-celebrated initial

Why not aim high?! Best rock album of the decade!

Let’s go at that.” - Simon Neil

Payola

appreciate just how important

LAURA MARLING

Once I Was An Eagle

the band. ‘Genesis’ jumps from atmospheric synth to dense riffs, while ‘This Link

31

THE CRIBS

‘Mature’ just makes me think of softcore porn, or something like that!” - Ezra Koenig

KANYE WEST Yeezus LISTEN: ‘This Link Is Dead’

WILL BUTLER Generations

always noticeable; even when he’s trapped behind a

wonderfully eye-

ARCTIC MONKEYS AM

who’ve found their

levels constantly up to 11. It’s an attitude that distills itself in the rambunctious

FIDLAR Fidlar

PEACE

debut ‘Policy’, ‘Generations’’ best trick is in its variety: if Will is undoubtedly a curious, enthusiastic sort, then that curiosity stretches across propulsive,

The Bones Of What You Believe matched moments of varied tone but

Randy Newman-esque piano send-offs

In Love enthralled to the

CHVRCHES

ARCADE FIRE to study public policy, the fallout of that

Reflektor

most ambitious written all over Will’s second in a lyrical for

PARQUET COURTS Light Up Gold

both structurally

‘Generations’ a tension that feels timely, with the palpable, musical joy that’s LISTEN: ‘Bethlehem’

64 DIYMAG.COM

WARPAINT Warpaint

ethereal, shadowy, heavenly, dreamy,

100BIGONES

RÓISÍN MURPHY Róisín Machine

ANGEL OLSEN

Dead

CHARLI XCX Sucker

Burn Your Fire For No Witness

YOUNG FATHERS

100BIGONES

date. Where ‘Overpowered’ or ‘Take Her Up To Monto’

percussion, a hypnotic rhythm. It’s a lose-yourself-in the smoke machine kind of

ST VINCENT

synonymous with the

SLEATER-KINNEY No Cities To Love

MENACE BEACH

St Vincent

Ratworld LISTEN: ‘Incapable’

GUS DAPPERTON Orca

COURTNEY BARNETT

Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit

Go To Read’, NYC’s Gus Dapperton established himself

DRENGE

[Pop] is about living in that place where accessibility and weirdo meet.

That’s where all my heroes have lived.” - St Vincent

Undertow

SPEEDY ORTIZ Foil Deer

SKY FERREIRA

Night Time, My Time

different in tone to his debut, ‘Orca’ remains inherently ‘Gus Dapperton’ with

LISTEN: ‘Post Humorous’

GENGAHR

A Dream Outside

THE HORRORS

EVERYTHING EVERYTHING

Luminous

Re-Animator

WOLF ALICE

My Love Is Cool

GERARD WAY

31

Hesitant Alien

BULLY

Feels Like dreamlike chorus of ‘Lord of the Trapdoor’ - it pushes what they’ve achieved

and menace. A supremely intricate record which unfolds further with every

From shoegaze to Britpop, from fuzz rock to noise rock - I went deep into

FOALS

What Went Down

LISTEN: ‘Arch Enemy’

- Gerard Way

SBTRKT

Wonder Where We Land

I’m more violent.

I’m more spontaneous. It’s more aggressive.”

- Yannis Philippakis 65

100BIGONES

100BIGONES

CHVRCHES

ALUNA Renaissance

Chvrches still haven’t

I

Every Open Eye

IDLES

Brutalism

how under appreciated Aluna has been.

While always the more visible half of

CREEPER

Eternity, In Your Arms

SWIM DEEP Mothers

hit to date. Solo debut ‘Renaissance’ has

of ‘Envious’ via the low-key Kaytranada-

WAVVES V

BLAENAVON

That’s Your Lot documentation of

ease. And while the styles vary

GRIMES

emo-pop in its delivery, while closer ‘Whistle’ is lackadaisical

Art Angels

vision is never in doubt. (Louisa LISTEN: ‘Envious’

YAK

have succeeded in

No Shape

far, make no

Drowning In Blessings

RADIOHEAD

Carey to produce one of the most unique releases this year. Sinead has a

A Moon Shaped Pool

Love In The 4th Dimension

PERFUME GENIUS

SINEAD O’BRIEN

Alas Salvation

THE BIG MOON

record from a once-in-

MARIKA HACKMAN I’m Not Your Man

own idiosyncrasies

PARAMORE

BEYONCÉ

the ashes and in turn produced their most

WALT DISCO

Konnichiwa

Atrocity Exhibition

While the transformative nature of narcotics is a familiar - and often

venue - Walt Disco’s debut EP lands

records, ‘American Head’ is more concerned with the comedown.

‘Cut Your Hair’ are both

Danny Brown

RUN THE JEWELS

playfully with the less-mined end of the ‘80s, all Adam Ant stomps and

this summer, they’ve served up intimate for album number 16.

Lyrically, it’s Wayne Coyne’s most personal and earnest yet. Most

If we’re all faking it or being phoney, when do we get to connect? I don’t want to live in that mindset.”

- Hayley Williams

SHEER MAG

Need To Feel Your Love

individual - on two occasions, The Way of Control’ and sends it down the catwalk, while ‘Heather’ for a moment of end-of-the-

absolutely shreds, but the second his own near-death encounter with armed robbers.

Musically, it’s the ‘Lips at their

LORDE

Melodrama

understand them, your homophobic

pop records of

Run The Jewels

LISTEN: ‘I’m What You Want’

66 DIYMAG.COM

American Head (Bella

Helmed by James Potter’s operatic, theatrical trills - those more suited to a turn in Phantom of the Opera

tribe of acolytes in no time. Previous

At the end of the day, it’s like progression.

Pushing rap as far as possible.” -

THE FLAMING LIPS

Young Hard and Handsome

SKEPTA

DANNY BROWN

After Laughter

LISTEN: ‘Roman Ruins’

Lemonade

LISTEN: ‘Watching The

Lightbugs Grow’

100BIGONES

100BIGONES QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

AG COOK Apple

(PC Music

THE MAGIC GANG The Magic Gang

Villains

month after. And as the mastermind and founder of PC Music - the label

instrumental ‘Xxoplex’, ‘Apple’ shows off AG’s chameleon-like composition sizzler, while ‘Jumper’ almost calls back to 00s pop-punk classics (with an sprinkled with bops, ‘Apple’ doesn’t pack the expected punch. Perhaps on his LISTEN: ‘Oh Yeah’

talented musicians and one musical fucking monster in Josh Homme, so there’s no way that one bad production job is gonna be able to fuck that up.” - Mark Ronson

SYLVAN ESSO Free Love

DEMOB HAPPY Holy Doom

YES, WE REALLY DID THAT

ARCTIC MONKEYS

Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino that could still yet

The combination of Amelia Meath’s vocals, with layers of and emotions, and Nick Sanborn’s experimental mix

WOLF ALICE

PARQUET COURTS Wide Awake

Visions Of A Life

JANELLE MONÁE Dirty Computer

SLØTFACE

Try Not To Freak Out LISTEN: ‘Train’

MATT MALTESE Bad Contestant

ALVVAYS

SVALBARD

Antisocialites

When I Die, Will I Get Better? ‘ Bristolian post-metal quartet Svalbard, is an album

SUPERFOOD

YEARS & YEARS Palo Santo

Bambino

niche to stupidly I

don’t know what kind of music fans wouldn’t want their favourite bands to change.” - Dom Ganderton

a sonically beautiful record, but one that’s also often structurally overly LISTEN: ‘Click Bait’

A SWAYZE & THE GHOSTS Paid Salvation

It’d be easy, half a world away and especially in a time

ST VINCENT

Masseduction

I didn’t know what [Palo Santo] translated to, and when I found out, ‘holy wood’, I was literally like ‘Oh my god, this could not be more perfect’. I’ve met so many guys who think their wood is holy.” - Olly Alexander

absurd as the current

SHAME

decidedly passe territory, the chorus of ‘Connect To Consume’ does remain a LISTEN: ‘Connect To Consume’

BODEGA

Endless Scroll

Songs Of Praise live show transferred

IDLES SUNFLOWER BEAN

Joy As An Act Of Resistance

Twentytwo In Blue

67

100BIGONES

100BIGONES FENNE LILY

CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS

JENNY LEWIS On The Line

Breach (Dead

Chris

thrives in the realm

FONTAINES DC

BROCKHAMPTON

Dogrel

Iridescence

‘Breach’ sees her unleashed. She’s

THE 1975

A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships immaculately-put-

BILLIE EILISH

YELLOW DAYS

A Day In A Yellow Beat

someone comes

the beauty in the delicate interludes

seems to represent a

the title of ‘I Used to Hate My Body But Now I Just Hate You’, to name only a fraction, show how she’s

levels she could reach, on a similar path to star labelmates Phoebe

the Canadian troublemaker does, in fact, make an appearance on the

SLOWTHAI

Nothing Great About Britain UK trumpeter Nick Walters and And while it does quickly blend

FIDLAR

LISTEN:

Almost Free

‘Treat You Right’

PILLOW QUEENS

SAD13

In Waiting

FOALS

Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1

Haunted Painting (Wax

Dublin four-piece Pillow Queens have found themselves bundled in of late with contemporary compatriots

captured hearts in Speedy Ortiz,

emotions head-on in order to create

KAREN O & DANGER MOUSE Lux Prima

Psychodrama

Beat’: it’s a jazz deep-dive. There are sampled, spoken-word interludes

This is a really important time for The 1975…

What a wanker.

But I have to be that wanker for now.” - Matty Healy

times with a massive

DAVE

darkness, in its razor-sharp lyricism

LISTEN: ‘Alapathy’

When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?

Why would l rap about anything else? So long as I can be the King of Northampton, that’s all that matters.” - slowthai

Pillow Queens approach issues queer and female representation,

clear, never hidden under a wave of

for surpri Grief’ pairs witty mediations on eyesurf-rock melody, while ‘Ghost (of a

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB False Alarm

to harness their mainstream power while unpalatable traits for a kitsch churchy hitters. This isn’t punk, but it carries the same unrepentant attitude that are outwardly frustrated but comfortable in themselves, and

There was such chemistry between Brian and I.” - Karen O

THE MURDER CAPITAL When I Have Fears

the two. In a world that often paints

JAY SOM LISTEN: ‘Handsome Wife’

68 DIYMAG.COM

Much more Disney mansion than true horror story, even the record’s darkest moments hold a thread of

power of divine survival witchcraft, LISTEN: ‘Ghost (of a Good Time)’

Anak Ko

Deftones _Ohms

The Stunning New Album CD | LP | Digital Limited Edition Gold Vinyl Available From HMV and Independent Stores

25.09.20

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69

100BIGONES MYSTERY JETS

PAUL EPWORTH

CULTS Host

A Billion Heartbeats undoubtedly

BRITTANY HOWARD Jaime

Voyager ‘Host’ is an album packed simultaneously with realisation and

to love and a more transparent approach of self expression. Opener ‘Trials’ tethers with a previouslyunheard melancholy from the NYC

100BIGONES THE STROKES

The New Abnormal

Renowned producer Paul Epworth,

DUA LIPA concept about space in the vein West End musicals are made of,

melodies and Superfood-esque

well, not much; a studio folly of sorts,

isn’t quite themself. ‘A Low’ talks of bittersweet self reconstruction,

for the most part. And where, say,

Future Nostalgia down in pop history

HAYLEY WILLIAMS Petals For Armor

success, often the turns here feel like painfully relatable to the point of

into each other. The Lianne La Havashowever, an earworm, and ‘Cosmos’

the record is without the pair’s usual

Brittany Howard

after a winter full of rain. (Martin LISTEN: ‘Trials’

i, i

space crafted between

‘Space Oddity’ in its intro for comfort LISTEN: ‘Twenty Second Century’

INTO IT. OVER IT.

HAIKU HANDS

Figure

Haiku Hands (Mad

PERFUME GENIUS

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately

PHOEBE BRIDGERS Punisher

‘

LANA DEL REY

Norman Fucking Rockwell!

Because we all need a bit of a cathartic dance break while the

album as Into It. Over It displays a heavier sound than his previous output. With his layered vocals still at

world, we’re just

us, Australia’s Haiku Hands have

introspective tenderness with a vast

his pained lyrics - from heartbreak

SOCCER MOMMY color theory

græ

unconventional and

I just wanted to do everything and have no boundaries.” -

BON IVER

MOSES SUMNEY

Art’, via club-ready ‘Super Villain’

I know then I’m stuck to what I’ve Patterns’, with an ever-present understated drive to move forward.

the three-piece also have some

SORRY

provides the blueprint to do so.

Both lyrically and musically it looks backwards to move forwards, in

925

‘Car Crash’ is a delicate ode-to-

PORRIDGE RADIO Every Bad

Hands can pretty much do it all.

LISTEN: ‘Fashion Model Art’

of the tunnel, he certainly knows it’s been switched LISTEN: ‘Breathing Patterns’

[As a kid] I like, LOVED attention.

I say loved, as if it’s past tense…”

- Phoebe Bridgers

LADY GAGA Chromatica

RUN THE JEWELS We’ve always been quite chaotic in everything we do.” - Dana Margolin

70 DIYMAG.COM

RTJ4

injected with a humour and wisdom that offers

71

20 13

SISTERS JUNE 2013

WOLF ALICE HELLO 2013

HONEYBLOOD HELLO 2014

20 15

BLOODY KNEES HELLO 2015

20 14

THE BIG M NEU TOUR GIRL BAND HELLO 2014

SUPERFOOD LONDON TOUR SUMMER 2014

THE BIG MOON NEU TOUR 2015

DIYLIVE OUR GIRL LAUNCH

DREAM WIFE

GOAT GIRL

72 DIYMAG.COM

20 17

HER’S

FISH HELLO 2016

THE MAGIC GANG

50TH ISSUE PARTY, APRIL 2016

20 16 DECLAN MCKENNA

SHAME

RAT BOY

HELLO 2016

LAUNCH

MOON R 2015

LOYLE CARNER

CROWS HELLO 2015

LAUNCH

FRIGHTENED RABBIT DIY DEN, LATITUDE 2016

We’ve been taking over infamous London boozer The Old Blue Last every January since 2013, celebrating the next year’s Class Of… each December since 2015, and a lot more besides. Here’s a look back at just some of the action.

404

ANTEROS LAUNCH

20 18 PALE WAVES

SPORTS TEAM

20 19 TALK SHOW

LAUNCH 73

IT’S YOUR ROUND Since early 2017 we’ve been holding a big inter-band pub quiz of sorts, grilling a new fave each issue on both a subject of their choosing and what they in the quizzing world like to call ‘general knowledge’. Who’d be headed to the podium? Who’s heading home empty-handed? So far, it looks like this...

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS BODY TYPE 9/10

LIFE 9/10

Issue 84.

Location: SXSW Austin, TX Specialist Subject: • If an Aussie was to say ‘Accadacca’ to who or what would they be referring?

JOINT FIRST PLACE

Location: Specialist Subject: Steve Lamacq and • What speed does the bus in Speed have to stay above otherwise it’ll blow up?

Stew: No! Why did you shout that out, where’s the

EAT FAST 8/10 Issue 65

Location: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds Specialist Subject: • Name the three drinks that make up a Ladyboy.

Disgusting, but yes, correct .

JUSTIN YOUNG, THE VACCINES 8/10 Location: At home in London Specialist Subject: The OC • Which of these bands did not play in The Bait Shop: The Killers, The Subways or The Postal Service?

The Postal Service didn’t play. The Killers’ one was classic, but I know The Subways played because when I was 16, my sixth form band supported them in Bournemouth and they’d just been on The OC and we were in awe. They told to drive around all day.

WHENYOUNG 7.5/10 Issue 83

Location: Dean St Studios, Soho Specialist Subject: • Which gold and led to the crash of a national economy?

It’s not sadly - it was the tulip!

BEN HOZIE, BODEGA 7/10 Issue 85

Location: Specialist Subject: Pickpocket, directed by Robert Bresson • Bresson making Pickpocket - name two.

Diary of a Country Priest and A Man Escaped.

You could’ve also had Angels of Sin and The Ladies of the Bois de Boulogne.

74 DIYMAG.COM

RUNNERS UP Swim Deep 6.5/10 Glass Animals 6/10 Django Django 6/10 Fur 6/10 Spector 6/10 Willie J Healey 6/10 Creeper 6/11* (bonus point included)

The Ninth Wave 5.5/10 Rae Morris 5/10 Sports Team 5/10 The Magic Gang 5/10 Squid 5/10 Diet Cig 4.5/10 Talk Show 4.5/10 Childhood 4/10 Demob Happy 4/10 Dream Wife 4/10 Marika Hackman 4/10 (accidental repeated contender)

Metronomy 4/10 The Xcerts 4/10 Another Sky 3.5/10 Slaves 3.5/10 SWMRS 3.5/10 Bastille 3/10 Gengahr 3/10 Sløtface 3/10 Yowl 3/10 Walt Disco 2/10 Lady Bird 1.5/10 Matt Maltese 1/10

NICOLA LEEL, DOE 7/10 Issue 60

Location: Shillibeers, London Specialist Subject: • What’s the tagline of the We’ll have to rush you…

KING NUN 6.5/10 Location: Specialist Subject: • Which fashion designer had a t-shirt with the design ‘I’m yours for a tenner, Kylie Jenner’?

Theo: There’s actually a little-known fact about that, which is that in the 18th Century there was a painter called Kylie Jenner. There was also an James:

GARETH, LOS CAMPESINOS! 6.5/10 Issue 61

Location: Specialist Subject: The Beautiful South • From lyric: “Diary entry ’62 end of May, it looks as if the nose and [BLANK] are here to stay”.

MARIKA HACKMAN 6.5/10 Issue 86

Location: Specialist Subject: • What type of root vegetable is wasabi the…

Horseradish! the question!

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UK & IRELAND TOUR 2021 FRI 07 MAY - GLASGOW BARROWLAND SAT 08 MAY - GLASGOW BARROWLAND MON 10 MAY - NEWCASTLE O2 CITY HALL WED 12 MAY - CARDIFF MOTORPOINT ARENA THU 13 MAY - BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY FRI 14 MAY - SHEFFIELD O2 ACADEMY SUN 16 MAY - DUBLIN VICAR STREET MON 17 MAY - DUBLIN VICAR STREET THU 20 MAY - MANCHESTER O2 VICTORIA WAREHOUSE EXTRA DATE ADDED DUE TO DEMAND

FRI 21 MAY - MANCHESTER O2 VICTORIA WAREHOUSE FRI 18 JUNE - LONDON O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON SAT 19 JUNE - LONDON O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON EXTRA DATE ADDED DUE TO DEMAND

SUN 20 JUNE - LONDON O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON

IDLESBAND.COM | GIGSANDTOURS.COM | LIVENATION.CO.UK | TICKETMASTER.CO.UK NEW ALBUM ‘ULTRA MONO” OUT 25 SEPTEMBER. PRE-ORDER NOW AT IDLESBAND.COM @IDLESBAND AN SJM CONCERTS, LIVE NATION, PCL, SSD, CROSSTOWN, DF CONCERTS, AIKEN PROMOTIONS & FOGGY NATIONS PRESENTATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH PARADIGM TALENT

76 DIYMAG.COM