Issue Twelve
Goat Girl Cabbage
Sleaford Mods Neon Waltz
Dead Pretties
Lice
The Big Moon
Insecure Men
Dream Wife
Our first magazine of 2017 and a new era for So Young. Issue 12 brings us face to face with ‘The Scene’ as well as the exciting sounds from outside of the capital. Goat Girl grace our cover as we unlock their dissatisfaction with being labelled ‘leaders of scene’. Cabbage stumble in from Moseley near Manchester and we talk about Trump’s likely assassination amongst other things. Jason of Sleaford Mods talks to us about being an ageist target, whilst The Big Moon inform us of fans with lyric tattoos! Keep digging and you’ll find chats with Bristol noise makers LICE and we re-ignite our love for Neon Waltz with a conversation that brings John O’Groats a little closer to home. Who Are You? returns with another round of fresh sounds. Hear from Hotel Lux, And Yet It Moves and Yowl to name a few...
4 Neon Waltz
25 Instant Hit
8 Goat Girl
29 Dead Pretties
9 Cabbage
37 Sleaford Mods
14 Who Are You?
39 Lice
16 Insecure Men
42 Dream Wife
Land’s End to John O’Groats
It’s a Community Thing
Children of The Fall
Get to Know
All Time Classics
The Scene is a Socialist
Social Experiment
A Sad Old Mod
Little John Waynes
Spice Girls
17 The Great Escape The New Breed
19 The Big Moon I’ll Be Formidable
Illustration by Laura Rose Wade
Neon Waltz It doesn’t feel quite right to describe Scottish six-piece
The Libertines, The Coral, The La’s, we’d play occasional
Neon Waltz as a British band. They hail from the area of
Beatles songs - that whole kind of vibe. It was great fun,
John O’Groats, as in ‘Land’s End to John O’Groats’, the
we were able to get into pubs at that age and have a drink,
route that spans the length of Great Britain. Yet, rather than
that was brilliant. About four of five years ago we started
isolate the band their origins have created a charm, not
writing our own music, taking it more seriously.
only through the tone of their songs, but their democratic approach to songwriting, recording, artwork and of course,
Mostly bands from the North then?
playing live. With three singles already under their belts and numerous beady eyes ready to watch them flourish, 2017
Yeah but I don’t think we associate ourselves with bands
promises to be a fruitful and prolific year for the Scots.
from the North. When people say the North in England, that’s still a days worth of travel away from us. We honestly
Just before they set out on a UK tour, we spoke to singer
just feel completely foreign to everyone. I think when we’ve
Jordan Shearer about how you create a band with a crisp
been with labels and stuff we have to be sort of treated like
clear voice, in a seemingly silent area.
a band they’ve signed from Norway.
Where you’re from immediately intrigues people, could
How did you find music in the middle of nowhere?
you explain your origins? When I started getting into music, I was really into football. The drummer and I are from John O’Groats, the other
I was watching some highlights show, it must have been
boys are from around our area, about ten to fifteen miles.
Soccer Am. Up The Bracket by The Libertines came on.
There’s two towns up where we are from, Wick and Thurso.
I was watching it with a mate and we started a band just
I see Wick as a smaller scale Edinburgh or Glasgow, you’ll
because of that song. I thought they were called The
probably have a better laugh in Wick, but there’s also more
Libertynes as well, not knowing any different. From that,
chance of you getting your head kicked in as well. Each
whenever I had money I’d just go and buy albums that were
town has about 6,000 people, the county is about the same
recommended in the NME. Everyone in the band would
size as London. Literally everyone knows everyone. There’s
swap albums with each other, we didn’t really use the
six of us and we all write, there isn’t one leader so it’s not
internet much back then.
contrived. I don’t think I could pinpoint what we sound like, But now you’re off on tour of the UK, what else can we
but that’s a good thing.
expect in 2017? It must be quite easy to identify people who are into music where you live?
Yeah a headline tour that starts in Dundee, across England and ends in Edinburgh. We’re actually filming a music
Definitely, there’s not many of us up here! There’s a good
video ourselves this weekend to come out a few weeks
core of people who like good music, but you have to
before. We’ve taken care of all that stuff artwork wise, it’s
dwindle it down to everyone who actually plays music,
become a direct representation of the band. We’ve been
then dwindle it even further to those who write music. It
stockpiling songs and we’re finally in a position to get them
leaves us six I suppose. We started at the age of fourteen,
out there. All we really care about is music anyway, we’re
playing in cover bands together. It was around the time of
just making sure we’ve got that covered at our end.
Words by Lucy Bourton, illustration by Marcus Oakley
4
Bill Callahan by Wilfrid Wood
Goat Girl Goat Girl are on a roll. One single in, the Rough Trade
A lot of bands who are talked about as part of that
signed four-piece are packing out venues and riding a
scene, say Shame, are loudly political. Do you feel a
wave of press that has seen The Guardian hail them as the
responsibility to take a political stance?
saviours of the “London Scene”; an epithet they’re far from happy with. We caught up with the band the night before
We don’t set out to be political. I think it’s just important
their tour with Girl Band to talk Trashmouth, debut albums
to be aware of your surroundings. It’s not like we plan to
and “that” interview.
do it – we’re commenting on what we see around us. We can’t not talk about politics, especially with where The
You guys seem pretty pissed off with that Guardian
Windmill’s situated. The heart of gentrification…
piece. Are you in the studio, or is it still early doors? The thing that we were actually saying in that interview, was that the scene’s great because no one’s better than
We’re still trying to find a producer that can get the sound
anyone. It’s a community thing. And The Guardian just
of an album, so the album just flows. You don’t want it to
changed it. They wouldn’t write about it if it wasn’t
be jittery and jolt around. You have to have a producer that
grandiose, do you know what I mean? So they try to make
you feel so comfortable with that you can tell them to do
it seem bigger than it is. They haven’t experienced it at all.
anything, and not feel like it’s a hassle. You have to feel
They just have an idea about it, or have read about it. For
comfortable to make mistakes. Because I think mistakes are
you guys at So Young, like you’ve been there for it. But
often the most interesting part of a song.
people at The Guardian just haven’t… they need a story, Would you consider finding a space and just doing it
that’s all.
yourself? It is a scene. No doubt. But I think the hype it’s given is a bit much. It’s not a movement. It’s just a group of people
We’d love to do that. You need money and space. I think it’s
that happen to be making music and playing in the same
important to have a space that you can live in and go crazy.
venue. People have only heard of us because we’re signed
I don’t know if we have a clear idea of what we want yet,
to Rough Trade. It’s not because we’re any better.
and I think doing it ourselves would make it a lot clearer for us. Because you can actually see the process, and like not
So what, if anything. Is the “South London Scene”?
just have it given to you.
It’s basically just The Windmill. It all revolves around
How about festivals, anything you can announce?
the one venue. We used to go to the Windmill to see the Trashmouth bands like Meatraffle, Warmduscher – I always
Yeah. We’re doing like eleven. We’re doing Latitude. We’re
thought that was the “South London Scene”. And we’re
doing Glastonbury. We found out today. [NO WAY WE’RE
kind of the young generation of that. It’s not just bands
DOING GLASTONBURY!?] They’re not announced, sorry.
though. It’s photographers, like our friend Holly Whitaker.
There’s nothing set in stone. There’s one in Amsterdam.
She’s a big part of it. She takes the pictures for all of us. It’s
There’s one in France. Basically we love doing ones in
promoters. It’s artists. It’s everyone.
Europe because you get given so much food, wine, they give you a massive meal.
Words by Rob Knaggs, illustration by Josh Whettingsteel
8
Cabbage are dividers of opinion, northern flag bearers
Where did politics start for you? Do you think there are
and political provocateurs. More than agitators, beyond
more younger people engaging in politics than before?
pub rock comedians, Cabbage are establishing the balance between pogoing punk euphoria and political tears. Here’s
I suppose we were quite numb to it early on. I mean I
what they had to say on getting bigger and political affairs,
wasn’t aware of the magnitude of the effect Tony Blair
home and away.
had politically. We are from a cotton town, so Margaret Thatcher’s name around here is on par with Satan. But when
You’ve had a bit of a clear month, what have you been
the Tories got the coalition, I think that’s when we had a
up to? Are you managing to keep control of everything
political wake up. All of a sudden I saw the rise of the anti
as things get bigger?
conservatives. I think a lot of it (young interest in politics) is down to the alternative social media. Don’t get me wrong,
Well we’ve not really had time off to be fair, we’ve been in
in no way will I support social media. I find it insidious,
the studio with James Skelly. I think we have pretty much
the fact that we have to use it drives me up the wall really.
sealed the deal that he’s going to record the debut album.
But, it’s the modern day and it’s our technique of finding a
To be honest, we’ve been in rehearsals a lot, changing the
way for all of our art. There is a lot of crap on there don’t
set for the whole of 2017 and then in any spare time we’ve
get me wrong, 80% of it is crap but people are being able to
got we have been demoing away. Yeah I suppose it’s harder
see things they couldn’t see in the 80s or the 90s. I mean the
to keep to a schedule, we aren’t in the position where we’re
Trump marches, I can’t really figure out what the march was
getting paid yet. At the moment we are making all of our
for? Was it banning him? Was it just rejecting him?
mothers and fathers suffer by living in their attics like cretins.
Do you have any predictions for the Trump Era?
Do you think the routes you’ve taken might have
I don’t know whether we are just becoming too narcissistic
confused your conventional audience? Bursting onto the
to deal with problems? We do a lot of describing the
scene as a live act to compete with Fat Whites and Yak
problem as opposed to finding the solution. Urm…he could
but then touring with Blossoms?
get murdered? He could go to war? Russia could start using him as their puppet as we are finding out it could be
Well with Blossoms, they’re a northern band and there’s a
possible that he got him into power. I think we might just
northern coalition going on. We’ve always felt like over the
trod along in this cold war for another 20-30 years.
last ten years, heads have turned away from Manchester. We are two completely different bands but we are from the
Are we too sensitive on the left to be able to make real
same place and we have got history together. We took that
change?
tour because we knew there was going to be thousands of people there who didn’t have a clue who we are.
At the start of our career, we set out with some shock tactics and we’ve stopped that now because we realise that
How do you gauge success? Bodies in venues?
it was more of an introduction to us, we don’t want to be this shock artist. But the sensitivity is rife and it’s so easy
No, I mean me personally? I gauge success by the end
to offend people these days. Even making that statement
product. We’ve been together 15 months and have released
you’re almost sounding like you adhere to the alt right like
17 songs. I know it’s a weird comparison but you know
“we never used to get offended” do you know what I mean?
like Ronaldo and Messi score more goals than games, that’s
But yeah I do think it needs to change. The left, me as well,
success and to me it feels like that. If we can keep releasing
need to grab it by the balls.
music more than months we’ve been together then that’s how I’d gauge success. We are children of The Fall so
When can we expect an album?
there’s no excuses. If things go to plan and we all stay healthy, then hopefully it’ll be Autumn/Winter 2017.
9
Words by Sam Ford, illustration by Sac Magique
Kingsley Ifill
Glass Eyed Dream two by Danny Fox
And Yet It Moves
Sports Team
And Yet It Moves are a truck stop whore hell bent on
We just moved to London where we’re living way out west, 6
revenge. No limits. And Yet It Moves are from what’s the
Second Avenue. Influence wise, it’s all over the shop. A lot of it
news on Neptune Neptune.
just comes from growing up in the commuter belt; Wheatsheaf carveries, mock Tudor semis and the thrill of a Dyson Airblade.
We have no influences. We create in a vacuum. That’s a lie
Ricey wants me to point out AC/DC.
and you know it cunt. Sleep well sleep well sleep well. Get it while it’s going. Mamma gone home. The Britanys Girl Ray
The music is really in the songs, guess if there’s anything that we’re really about is the songs - living in songs.
Poppy, Iris and Sophie. Music to cry or cartwheel to. Aiming high with Beach Boys, Beatles, Bowie and ABBA.
We really don’t leave our apartment or neighbourhood much. Easy to get stuck in a bubble. Our days usually consist of
Aims and plans for 2017?
playing music or playing soccer and there’s a bar with a pool table around the corner from us.
Release an album, tour big, Olympic hurdles. YOWL
Hotel Lux
We’re YOWL (Gabriel, Mike, Ivor, Tom and Jake). We’re from We are Hotel Lux - Lewis, Sam, Jake, Craig and Cam.
all over the place, but we’ve currently set up our soiled nests in
Originally from Portsmouth, now occupants of London.
South East London.
The puke on your shoes, the piss on your bed sheets and the
If you could change one thing, be it personal or global what
frequency of car horns on the Mile End Road.
would it be? We talked at length and decided that it’d be nice for everyone if
IDLES
free range eggs were cheaper.
The best show we’ve played, for me was at The Bristol County Sports Club for Simple Things festival. It was carnage. We came
Matt Maltese
on after Shame who killed it. What came next was nothing short of a perfect gig, the room was full of love and I’ll never forget it.
I’m a piano guy from Reading who likes to think he’s making sleazy Tom Waits music, but maybe sometimes sounds like an
If you could change one thing, be it personal or global what
emo Robbie Williams. I’m also Adam Sandler’s biological son.
would it be? What can we expect from you as we go deeper into 2017? Reverse Global Warming completely, I guess. That or have two worlds, one for us and one for them.
More emotional piano songs and a high profile scandal.
Illustration by Josh Whettingsteel
14
If you follow any of Saul Adamczewski’s online escapades
Is this a way for you to revisit some of your earlier
you’ll be well aware that a new project of his has come
influences?
to fruition in the shape of a covers album with new band, ‘Insecure Men’. Just about as DIY as you can get, the
Yeah I guess so. Pre Country Teasers and The Fall and The
album was swiftly recorded and put online for all to enjoy,
Make Up being the only bands I listened to. Yes. I’m 28 but
not too dissimilar from the way he put out the Fat Whites’
I feel like I’m 40, I’m too frail for rock n roll. I want to sit
Champagne Holocaust in 2013 on bandcamp… and we all
down and play.
know how that ended up… We caught up with Saul to see where the idea came from.
What does Insecure Men look like live? Is it just you or is it a full band?
Your first release as Insecure Men is a covers album, will there be any original songs in the future?
There’s a 10 piece band and then there’s me.. I can play solo or with 2 of them or all of them. It’s good. It’s me and Ben
I have this keyboard I’m in love with. It’s called a Yamaha
from Childhood really and then whoever else is available.
pss-560 and it makes good sounds. So I thought I’d play
Have a different band in America too. A cool dude called
some all time classics on it. Wicked Games was alright.
Jon catfish de Lorene. He’s cool.
And Sail Away to the Sea that was alright to. And yes I have made an album of original songs. This project actually goes
When can we expect more releases?
back to before the Fat Whites. I’ve always wanted to make music that’s a little bit more sad I guess. It’s part lift music,
The album will be mixed in March and then released and
part exotica and part penge (best part of London)
toured. Wanna tour sit down working men’s clubs. We’ll see how it goes.
Words and illustration by Josh Whettingsteel, opposite Lansbury (Smiley Face) by Michael Cox
16
Our feeds are becoming difficult places, I’m not talking
We can’t tell you who, or where, but join us on the Friday
about which petition to sign next or unfollowing ‘that’
for a very special night.
uncle, I’m talking about which festivals you’re going to attend this year as they all announce killer line ups. The
So who else should you see? For those of you that follow
summer provides a tricky decision, but before then, we
‘the scene’ and those linked to it, you will find HMLTD,
have a very easy one to make. The Great Escape returns
Dead Pretties and Yowl in attendance. Expect guitars,
this year, delivering your favourite artists and an array of
social unrest and make up. Lots of make up. The Magic
eclectic sounds in one city. The festival takes over Brighton
Gang return home to Brighton as they begin their first
on May 18th until the 20th. The Great Escape is yours, and
festival season under a major label. So far it’s delivering
we mean that because your Great Escape will be completely
only hits with ‘How Can I Compete’ fighting for pop song
different to somebody elses. It doesn’t place itself within
of the year already. For those of you on an adventure to
one genre, it specialises in them all. Attracting the best of
find your next favourite noise makers, you should look no
the best. But more importantly, from our point of view, it
further than Cabbage. The northern boys bring their national
introduces us to the new breed. Our next favourite bands.
dissatisfaction, sung with a smile to the south coast, expect
Slaves top the bill this year with Rag ‘n’ Bone man adding
queues! If it’s headliners that sell the festival to you, then
to a radio dominant year. Try and avoid that song.
2015 saw Slaves walking upon shoulders, armed with their instruments and still managing to keep a song together.
The Great Escape 2017 is that little bit more special for us
Their second album ‘Take Control’ was released last year
this year because we are proud to announce that we will be
and there’s no doubt a fresh set will satisfy your need to
hosting our very own stage.
pogo for an hour.
17
Words by Sam Ford, illustration by Josh Whettingsteel
The Big Moon I’ll Be Formidable
The Big Moon understand fun. Fun is food fights, ribbon
Tell us about Love in the 4th Dimension.
twirling and Hawaiian shirts; it’s capes, glitter, and playing music with your best mates. For the last two years their
Jules - It’s about being so in love that you’re on another
infectious spirit and gleeful guitar-pop has besotted crowds
level. I thought it would be a good name for the album
and is ingrained into every groove of their upcoming album
because when you’re listening to music you’re kind of in
Love in the 4th Dimension.
another world and you’re escaping reality. It just felt really appropriate.
We caught up with singer, Jules Jackson and bassist, Celia Archer ahead of their return to The Windmill, the first
Celia - We don’t want to prescribe it. We don’t want say
venue they ever played, and guaranteed to be the last time
this is what it is because you’ll spoil it for people. As soon
they squeeze onto such a small stage.
as you release that song, it’s not yours anymore. The most exciting thing is that lots of people are going to hear them
Jules imagines it’ll feel like a school reunion, “but instead
well, hopefully. I’m really proud of them and the way that
of going back losers we can be like ‘ha hi! I’m a rockstar
Jules wrote them.
now. Yeah, I’m an astronaut!” After an intense year of touring behind them, their debut album finished, and their biggest headline tour in April, it must feel like floating around their namesake; little less space suits and a little more sparkles and scrunchies but just as out of this world…
19
Words by Sophie Diver
What are the perfect conditions to play the album?
We’re not a particularly political band but it’s nice to be doing something positive even though it wasn’t really
J - I think people should definitely listen to it when they’re
intentional.
in a car, with their mates driving late at night. That’s when people should listen to all music really. I once went to the
You did 738 gigs last year, how was that?
cinema to watch a really scary film, I was too young for it, so I took a Robbie Williams cassette tape with me and
C - It was really good, even though we did lots, with each
every time I thought there was going to be a scary moment,
tour it was a step up from the last one. The Scala show was
I would press play and close my eyes. Maybe there’ll be
pretty amazing. I’ve never felt like that onstage before, it
someone who’ll listen to our album in the same way and try
felt like I was in a film and I was looking at myself from
to escape a scary moment.
behind, looking at the lights and the smoke and all the people. It felt like I was in a dream.
I saw a fan got a Big Moon tattoo. That’s big! How’d that feel?
J - Oh man I was so nervous about that show beforehand that I spent maybe about two
C - He’s not even heard the
hours walking around St
album yet, he might really
Pancras station trying to
hate it! Jules had a dream
buy a tiara. For some reason I thought ‘I
that he hated the album.
want to wear a tiara J - Oh my god I forgot
on stage tonight, and
about that. I did. That was
I’m going to have to buy it in the station
a weird anxiety dream about people not liking the
because that’s where all
album.
the shops are’. I couldn’t find a tiara anywhere but
C - I saw recently
later I realised it was
someone else has a
some kind of coping
Big Moon tattoo now.
mechanism.
Someone sent us a Now the album’s
picture of one that says
sorted, what’s next for
‘I’ll be formidable’ which
The Big Moon?
is so cool. J - It’s really amazing. I don’t know what it means to her
J - We’re going on our headline tour in April. It’s our
but it’s probably quite different to what it means to me, but
biggest tour ever and some of the shows have already sold
just the fact that we’ve created a song that’s had that effect
out which is crazy. I just want to know what the fuck I
on someone’s life; I think that’s amazing.
normally do when I’m not on tour. Now I’m struggling, like hobbies? What are my hobbies? I mean it used to be playing
Formidable sounds very empowering was it intentional,
the guitar and now that’s my whole life. I feel I need to get
in light of all the recent events and uncertainty, to
really good at gardening; I could start cutting those bushes
release it now?
into shapes.
C - It wasn’t really; we had it planned for a while. When we first started playing it it meant something completely different to me, but now it feels different because of everything else that is going on in the world.
Illustration by Tom Scotcher
20
Travelling by Stevie Dix, opposite The Big Moon by Josh Whettingsteel
Instant Hit is meant to be READ to be FELT. Not scanned, not skimmed- that would be a sin. This is Full Fat Fuckery. If too much TV makes your eyes go square then too much AppleMac makes you go blind. If kids used to read about Rock ‘n’ Roll and Cadillacs, our kids will be reading about cataracts. But enough of that. We’re bored of that old song, aren’t we? Are we? Anyway. We may be going blind but at least we’re not going deaf. In fact, there’s a soggy saliva-sodden fat little finger being stuck stiff into our delicate little earholes. Feels good, doesn’t it? Those bigger mags, they’ll tell you something’s ‘brewing’, something’s ‘bubbling’, ‘brimming’ beneath the surface, but you know and I know that this isn’t just beginning- it’s HAPPENING, its been happening and now it’s here. Now. And so are we. There’s no hierarchy in new music cos there’s no fucking money in new music. (The scene is a socialist?! Who knew!) She’s part of the cycle of nature and we’re sucking on her life-giving tit and it tastes clean and sweet but it can also taste sour. We need these bands and they need us. No band is the same, no fan is the same, but we are all part of the bigger picture. Independent in thought but Mutual in support. ‘That’s my spiel.’
Shame are the youthful veterans of the new music world. Baby boys in daddy’s old suits. Shame are the ambassadors. The go-to. But the best part is that they’re a stinging slap in the face to those who try and capitalize and simplify the goings on down in the South-London-Styx. Satire that runs so deep you don’t know what’s what, but at the same time, an honesty that’s coming in so hot and raw it’s bleeding with feeling. But they don’t hide behind this irony they embrace it, poking fun at you at me but most of all at themselves. At the ridiculousness of the whole charade that Responsibility in the irresponsible medium of music is a fundamental but infuriating paradox. This human desire to compartmentalize, to find a linear pattern in each and every little aspect of each and every little thing- even as deviant a thing as rock music- so that we have this glittering constellation of dot-to-dot, naughty-but-neat artists, each channeling a different myth, mystery and history. Tornados tightly wound then bound in music boxes, we try and create a comfort out of the chaos. But then this is no longer chaos. This is comfort disguised as chaos, and it is a dangerous sedative. To call HMLTD ‘glam-rock’, to call Shame ‘punk’ and FISH ‘grunge’ is only just scraping the scum off the top of the pot. Now, especially now, it is no bands responsibility to sit and fit snug and sound, no genre is safe, and this is the stuff that makes the NME weep, that’ll make a Vice writer squirm in his seat searching for a definition. But these bands challenge us and we accept. They are born into and out of this movement that grows, evolves, transcends, but always comes back, seeps into the background and spills over into another. It is about movement, solidarity, but it isn’t a singular one-track movement, it waxes and wanes, giving, taking, stealing. It’s glorious.
is the music scene. And then you compare them to FISH and your just faced with the other side of the spectrum. But this is a different kind of darkness. Fish are internal, brooding, a screaming underneath the skin. Lashing out and bringing it back in. They are scheming, they’ve got it under control and it’s mesmerizing. But its all coming from the same place because the music is fresh faced and reactionary and refuses to bow down to it’s ancient grunge ancestors. There’s real feeling, reaction not reenactment, they’ll walk on the same stage as Shame and sting completely different senses but it feels strikingly similar, and the heart’s racing in a new but familiar way. And then there’s HMLTD. The so-called ‘glam-rockrevivalists’. This injustice served goes beyond painful, its numbing, lifeless, the complete opposite of HMLTD. When you blur the lines as much as they do, music is no longer this candle-lit, vinyl-spinning, life affirming thing- its life threatening. To tell you what they sound like, look like, is futile, you can’t describe an experience, a feeling, you might as well be describing a dream. And this is what makes them even more incredible- delectable- the most modern, challenging, forward-looking band is actually bringing it back to the old school. To hear them is not enough, to simply hear these bands, is no longer ever enough. Though individual, they share the same stage, they are all connected and we are connected to them, and we welcome them with open arms and lust after them with open legs.
Words by Georgie Jesson, illustration by Josh Whettingsteel
Sing to me, through the Trees by Ed Burkes, opposite Ham Sandwich by Grace Wilson
Bill Callahan by Wilfrid Wood
Dead Pretties Oscar, Jacob and Ben are Dead Pretties and ever since they
It’s great that there’s loads of young bands putting on
played our festival last year we’ve been eagerly awaiting
exciting shows but I seriously doubt that anyone’s looking
their first release. That release came early this year in the
for safety, we all happen to be from the same city which
form of ‘Social Experiment’. The song shouting aloud what
has no doubt helped the ‘hype’ (whatever that means) but
everyone in the room is thinking about everyone else. We
all the bands would stand up by themselves regardless of
caught up with the boys from Seven Sisters to learn more
geographic location. All the music is good, it needs no
about the band keeping ‘The Scene’ on its toes...
group. If the safety you refer to is the kind implied in our release then I don’t think that is present in London’s music
How did the band form?
scene at all. That kind of safety can make you feel too comfortable and then the whole scene would stagnate and
Oscar and Jacob had a shared hatred of music college and
begin to lack the quality of creative output we have seen
after dropping out decided to recruit Ben and we started
thus far, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
making music on our own terms. Jacob had previously met Ben at Reading Festival, Ben recalls that at the time Jacob
Are there any groups you’re fond of that you see as a
was without a pair of shoes or a pot to piss in. Jacob says it
blueprint for Dead Pretties? Any meaningful milestones
wasn’t his fault that he forgot to bring a tent.
you’d like to reach?
‘Social Experiment’ has a really refreshing feel and got
Maybe when we started out we tried (probably a bit too
a great response online. Is that sound a sign of things to
hard) to be like bands we were listening to at that time, but
come?
I think that limited us in the sense that we thought we had to write in a certain style. Our best songs have come about
Its one thing we do but we don’t want to limit ourselves to
when we haven’t given much thought to what they sound
one thing, we write in different styles too and lyrically it
like or what they should sound like. No blueprints. All we
always differs, social commentary seems to be a running
want to do is continue to build a fan base of people who
theme, although not intentionally, its just happened that
are purely interested in the songs, what we’re playing and
way. We’re not a strictly political band or anything like that.
saying/singing, nothing else. If you have that behind you, you’ve won as far as we’re concerned, fuck milestones or
What inspired the lyrics for ‘Social Experiment’?
any other means to gauge ones success. If something great comes along to boost our popularity we’re not going to turn
I was disillusioned with the general fakery present in
our nose up at that but that’s not the reason why we play
social circles/situations that I’d found myself in, people
music.
compromising their true self to suit whoever they’re talking to, switching colours like cowardly chameleons. This seems
What can we expect as far as releases and festivals this
to be a common trait with our generation – it’s dull and it’s
year?
pointless. We’re going to be playing as many shows as possible How do you feel about the South London scene you’ve
especially in summer so I’m sure you’ll see us at a fair few
come out of? Is there safety in the group?
festivals, as far as releases are concerned; WATCH THIS SPACE.
29
Words and illustration by Josh Whettingsteel
Sexy Results 2 by Benjamin Rawson, opposite photo by Adam Brown
Holly Whitaker
Why I Smell Good by Dave Singley
Sleaford Mods A Sad Old Mod
There aren’t many bands that divide opinion as much
To me it seems there are people that love you and people
as Nottingham duo Sleaford Mods. For some, they are
that hate you for the same reasons...
the most important in decades; angry and outspoken, with frontman Jason Williamson’s lyrics delivered with
Yeah it’s fucking weird isn’t it? I think it’s firstly because
gut-punching ferocity. Iggy Pop recently hailed them the
we’re older. There’s a lot of ageism that goes on with us. If
‘world’s greatest rock and roll band’ on his 6 Music radio
I ever have anything to say about another band, they won’t
show, where they are on constant rotation. Contrastingly,
try and defend their music they’ll just call me an old cunt.
Noel Gallagher had earlier described Williamson and band
It’s the easier way out but they kind of win all the time,
mate Andrew Fearn as two men shouting about ‘fucking
because when I was younger if some older geezer said
cider and fucking shit chicken’.
something I’d be like ‘fuck off you old cunt’. Ageism is a big problem, especially in industries like this. Well, in most
Their tenth album, English Tapas, is a brazen societal
industries.
commentary, which truly takes no prisoners. As wry and comedic as it is bleak, arrays of modern troubles are
Were there any events in particular that shaped English
shrewdly covered - including social media, keyboard
Tapas?
warriors, Butlin’s, Brexit and billionaires. There was a timeline of behaviour that dictated it. I had With their first US tour on the horizon, the message of
been going out drinking too much and getting fucked up,
Sleaford Mods is clearly spreading. Whilst songs about BHS
but that was coming to an end, as I knew I had to tackle it.
may not appear to communicate with a stateside market,
So some of it’s quite introspective. We discuss this issue
it’s the deep-set frustration and alienation conveyed in
of substance abuse and alcoholism that just keeps going
Williamson’s lyrics that undoubtedly resonate with listeners
throughout the ages. I’m 46 and most of my mates are still
outside the titular nation of their new album.
acting like they’re 23, and so was I. It’s accepted. That’s been a strain throughout all of the albums, but I gave it
It’s your first full-length release since signing to iconic
a little bit more of a personal take on this one. ‘Army
label Rough Trade, what does the label mean to you?
Nights’ discusses these gym guys that go out to Butlins on a weekend dressed as Rambo. There’s a bit of Brexit in there,
I’m not the greatest about going on about old bands. I’m
the effect of the on-going Tory government, which has also
pretty single-minded, a sad old mod really. I’m steeped in
been a major thread throughout our albums.
the work of Paul Weller and Wu-Tang Clan, a bit of soul and that’s it really. Andrew has more experience with those
How do you think that will carry over to the US, given
kinds of bands, The Smiths and all the other great acts that
their recent political events?
have been signed to them. What got us is that although they’ve got that financial clout behind them, they’re still
Tickets have been going well there and we’ve had a lot of
‘feet on the ground’.
feedback from people on social media. People there are relating to the alienation that some of the songs possess,
Did you ever really think success was attainable given
you know?
you are quite niche? Are there any bands out there that served as a blueprint No, absolutely not. It is niche, I was saying the other night
as to what you wanted to achieve with Sleaford Mods?
that I really did wish I was part of the classic rock and roll band genre or classic pop band genre, but we’re not.
I still stick by Wu-Tang and stuff like that. They give me
Whatever we are, it’s working. I didn’t think in a million
an idea of what to do with regards to structure away from
years we’d get to a point where I’d walk out to a sold out
guitar music. I’m still a big fan. Rap in general, but also a
crowd at the Roundhouse.
complete disdain for the contemporary techniques that were going on five or six years ago - just fucking lad bands and X Factor bullshit. It’s pretty much still the same really.
Words by Matthew Fogg, illustration by Jean Jullien
38
LICE are amongst the most uncompromising artists to have
How did you get involved as singer then Alastair?
hit the Bristol scene in recent years. For established labels and dedicated gig-goers in the city, they’ve seemingly
They needed a man to talk over the top and I was their
arrived from the middle of nowhere.
man. They posted on the university live music society page, saying, “Looking for a singer willing to do and say
In many ways that’s kind of true. At their first ever gig
horrible shit.” I was like, that’s me. There was a list of
they shared the bill with stand-up comedians, the university
bands underneath the post and I’d only heard The Fat White
pole dancing society and a band doing Jamiroquai covers.
Family.
The bunch are currently completing their studies in Bristol, in fact vocalist Alastair only has four essays left to hand
Had you sang before then?
in before the band can go forth and take over the world. They’re working on a mixture of English Literature,
I still don’t sing now. When I was fourteen, I was in a band
Aerospace Engineering, Maths and Physics, intelligence
at my school and none of them wanted to sing because they
levels which also transpire in their nicely varied music
were all too shy so they got me to do it. We had to perform
tastes.
in front of teachers to get on this talent show. One teacher started to laugh so much that she had to leave the room
It’s their live shows that have really grabbed us by
and calm down at how funny she found it. She put us on,
the scruff of the neck though. Marrying drooling and
we were terrible and I can still hear her laughing. I haven’t
progressive instrumentation like The Fat Whites before
sang since then until I joined these guys. I didn’t have any
unloading a shitstorm of thrashing guitars. Their shows with
lyrics or anything, they literally gave me a book to read
the likes of The Fall, Spectres and more have simply left
shit out of. It was either a physics text book or a Nick Cave
us with a burning excitement. I fittingly met the band in a
autobiography. It was pretty funny.
Wetherspoons at the top of Bristol’s Park Street. The six of us cram into a tiny little booth away from the sunny winter
You’ve done a lot of huge support slots now – do you
day outside, it’s a liquid breakfast for all involved.
have a favourite?
What’s going on in the world of LICE?
The Fat Whites was a good one because we had no idea we were going to play it. Basically Alastair harassed their tour
At the moment we’re trying to take a little break from
manager and eventually he was just like fine. We weren’t on
Bristol because we went through a phase of massively
the Facebook event or anything so it was all up in the air.
playing it. When we first started getting offered gigs we just
We were waiting outside the loading bay expecting to be
agreed to everything but it’s nice to have the choice now.
told to fuck off. Then we saw the set times inside and it was
We’re going to come back with a vengeance. It probably
the first time we knew.
won’t happen though. What’s the plans for future releases then? How did you find your sound? Well first of all thanks to Charlie Williams who put out our We were really into Psychic TV’s live albums which are just
first tape, it was through a total labour of love. He sent us
industrial noise with loads of feedback, we tried to do that
eighty and the others he kept. They’re actually sold out at
and it didn’t happen so then we wanted to jokingly sound
Rise in Bristol but we only put around two in there in the
like Rage Against The Machine. It’s hard to start being a
first place. We’re trying to get a new single out in the next
band when you’re just doing jams in a room or something,
few months though. We’re holding off from playing Bristol
it just feels fucking ridiculous, you can’t do that. Otherwise
for now, then we’re going to come back and launch this
you naturally try to make assumptions and put bridges in.
single hopefully. There’s always a few London dates on the
Then suddenly you end up with a song and you’re like for
horizon as well. We wanted to do a US tour but Slaves took
fuck sake, why isn’t this a twenty minute long prog epic.
all the money.
39
Words by Rhys Buchanan, illustration by Josh Whettingsteel
Lice
Little John Waynes
39
Dream Wife In the South London flat she shares with her Dream Wife
We were in the studio recording onto tape, over four days
bandmate Bella Podpadec, Alice Go has just restrung all of
I think, and we got the majority of the album down then.
her guitars ready for tour. “The axes are ready to roll!” she
Recording onto tape, we’ve never done that before, and I
laughs. A self-confessed hoarder of vintage electronics,
think - the way you have to really lock it in before you get
she is squeezed between old keyboards and guitars in her
to pressing record - it was vital for us to do it that way to
bedroom. Her most recent possession and obsession is a
get the live feel of it. It’s gonna be a banger I think!
Flying V. “I tidied my room for the first time in a long time yesterday and it’s just weird throwing all these keyboards
I read that the album was written in a “windowless
out of the way to clear the path,” she confesses.
practise room” in Peckham!
Dream Wife - the trio completed by Rakel Mjöll - have an
It’s funny because we were writing all summer long, we
action-packed 2017 ahead. Their debut album is almost
were really pale, we didn’t see the sun! Then the other day,
finished, gigs are lined up in California with The Kills,
the other side of recording, we were finally in the room at
supporting Sleigh Bells also awaits them, as does travelling
the top that had the window and it was dark outside! Our
to Texas for SXSW. They’ll also no doubt be bringing the
timing was so out of whack with the seasons. We used to
full force of their exhilarating live show to more rammed
fantasise about that room at the top with the window in it
venues up and down the UK.
but now we’re there it’s just the cold, dark winter!
You’re based in London now but you were originally
What’s the story behind ‘FUU’?
formed at uni in Brighton. There’s such a strong crop of bands coming out of Brighton right now like The Magic
Rakel was jamming out with the Fresh Prince rap and I
Gang, Black Honey (who you toured with last year), Our
was playing this riff, so for a while we played this song
Girl, Abattoir Blues to name a few…
and it was like our version of the rap from Fresh Prince! I think all of our songs have been on these massive journeys.
Yes! And do you know Realms as well? They’re really
Things that we say to each other when we’re together, they
good. I’m actually releasing one of their singles soon. We
work their way into songs. I think like, “gonna fuck you
always say we actually felt quite dislocated from any sort of
up, gonna cut you up,” it’s like the way we play around
scene in Brighton but I think going back we’ve rediscovered
with each other. It’s not a threat, it’s very, very cheeky, and
through people we’ve met since this sort of scene that does
I think there’s a lot of our chemistry together in that song.
exist there. It’s this bizarre nostalgia going back to a place
And it’s ended up with Spice Girls in the mix!
that you completely know yet there’s this whole side of it that you’re sort of exploring for the first time. It’s a really
What are your hopes for Dream Wife this year?
exciting time there. It’s hard to explain exactly what I’m hoping but I hope I What can be expected from the debut album?
still feel this excited - and we all still feel as excited - about this project this time next year, ‘cause yeah it’s blowing my
We want it to sound like the live show. That’s what the
mind right now.
album had to capture but also ultimately it is a pop album.
Words by Emma Snook, illustration by REN
42
Artists
Josh Whettingsteel Marcus Oakley
Editors Sam Ford
Josh Whettingsteel
Writers
Lucy Bourton Rob Knaggs Sam Ford
Josh Whettingsteel Sophie Diver
Georgie Jesson Matthew Fogg
Rhys Buchanan Emma Snook
Printed By Ex Why Zed
info@soyoungmagazine.com
Wilfrid Wood Sac Magique
Kingsley Ifill Danny Fox
Michael Cox
Tom Scotcher Stevie Dix Ed Burkes
Grace Wilson Adam Brown
Benjamin Rawson Holly Whitaker Dave Singley Jean Jullien REN
Billy Childish
Photos for Collage Holly Whitaker Adam Brown Rhi Harper
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