INTERVIEW
PEANESS
BEN LOWES-SMITH CHATS WITH BASSIST AND VOCALIST JESS BRANNEY FROM CHESTER INDIE POP TRIO PEANESS
Image by Derek Bremner
FOR US IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP IT LOCAL AND KEEP CHIPPING AWAY In what seems like a microcosm, and as a testament to the graft pop trio Peaness have put in over the last couple of years, their energetic, melodic indie pop has captured the imaginations and hearts of many over the last few years, including BBC 6Music DJ Marc Riley. Peaness themselves (up until very recently) have operated out of Chester. “It’s quite nice being in a small town, I don’t think it isolates you from the industry in the way that it may have done in the past, we’ve always been a band who have kept doing something anyway.” Says bassist and vocalist Jess Branney. She speaks highly of DIY festivals and we touch on representation on festival bills and Jess very diplomatically muses “it’s down to the bookers really isn’t it? In the sense that everyone’s got their own personal taste and perhaps the bookers of bigger festivals just have more trad. rock tastes. For me, it’s important that people are just aware of DIY artists, female and non-binary artists, and that their art can be cultivated and supported. I don’t think anyone should be chosen just because they are female, it should be about talent and quality.” Recent release Kaizen (Japanese for ‘change for the good’) is a sugary
24
rush of positivity; while 2017 single Ugly Veg is an endearingly simplistic call to look to the greater good and collectively work towards a better future. Unafraid to shy away from the big subjects, the band’s track Breakfast was a playful if dejected take on the implications of Brexit. Jess is concerned about the impact visas are going to have on bands of Peaness’ level. “It’s just going to completely suffocate growth, when you’ve already got this circuit of heritage rock acts taking up space. I think the MU should be more pragmatic about it all too.” In spite of these potential obstacles, Peaness hope to embark on the second leg of their first major headline tour and “maybe get round to releasing an album! Who knows!” A testament to their band’s success is their emphasis on the importance of community, and Jess iterates how their work couldn’t exist outside of a community context. She has some sage advice to impart to young DIY artists: “Go out of your way to interact with other people who are in your scene or local area. With Peaness it’s always been a case of friends first rather than using anything high budget. There is trust in these relationships too. For us it’s really important to keep it local and keep chipping away.” Kaizen is out now, and Peaness have lots of great merch on their web store www.peanessband.com
