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EVIE LAKE TALKS TO THE NORTH EAST FIVE-PIECE ABOUT EMBRACING THEIR LOUD, PROUD, NORTHERN IDENTITIES AND KICKING AGAINST EXPECTATIONS ON THEIR DEBUT EP IMAGE BY AMELIA READ Komparrison seek to represent the experiences of Northern women. What started out as a two-piece using their music as therapy has developed into a quintet of high energy, poppy indie that seeks to relate and rile you up. Made up of Elise Harrison, Kaitlyn Kempen, Jessica Chilton, Ellie Neill and Elliot Smith, I spoke to them just after their soundcheck outside Newcastle’s Head of Steam, amidst the crowds of people kick-starting their Saturday nights. “When we first started writing songs they were more just therapy for Elise’s tragic love life,” Kaitlyn quips against the backdrop of Elise’s laughter, “but now we’re moving in the direction of writing about important things, issues young women face.”
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They do so in a way that is uplifting and fun. Even in the lyrically negative moments you never want to sit and ponder, instead the feeling dictates that these thoughts should be celebrated: “Women can relate to the things we sing about, all women go through the same trials and tribulations,” laments Elise, with Ellie adding “we want to write about situations people can relate to but, also, can boogie to.” The band’s latest release was a much-anticipated EP, You Say She’s Satisfied, and the tunes encapsulate the collective feelings that come with relationships, anger and desire. And Again sees Elise and Kaitlyn repetitively harmonise over the line “you’re only in love with yourself ”, and the double vocal comes into its own.
