From West Sussex
If you enjoy bands such as Hole, the White Stripes, and the Breeders, this is a great recommendation for you.
Next on the schedule: First album release and a tour in the United Kingdom.
The members of the rock band HotWax describe their experience in 2023 as “insane”. They had never been on tour before the year began, but when I spoke with them, they had just finished a month-long tour in the US. Lead singer and guitarist, Tallulah Sim-Savage, expresses her excitement, saying, “It was mind-blowing. Despite the long drives, it felt like watching a 12-hour movie of beautiful landscapes.”
During the summer, they attended various festivals. One of the festivals they played at was Away from Home, organized by One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, in Italy. They also performed at Reading and Leeds, and unexpectedly, they were invited to support Yeah Yeah Yeahs at All Points East, which was a dream come true for HotWax. Sim-Savage expresses her admiration for Yeah Yeah Yeahs and shares her initial fear of performing with them, but ultimately, she let go and relished the experience. The feeling seemed to be reciprocated, as Karen O dedicated their song “Maps” to them during their performance.
They have put out two well-received EPs and have been recognized as part of a fresh movement of fiery guitar bands, such as Spiritual Cramp, Lambrini Girls, and Duvet. If you’re seeking a general indication of their intense sound, Sim-Savage has attributed her mom playing Hole’s Live Through This as the pivotal moment that altered everything.
According to bassist Lola Sam, things have been progressing quickly, but it has been a long time in the making. She and Sim-Savage have been playing in bands together since they were 13 and formed HotWax two years later in 2019. They initially performed improvised and instrumental sets of what Sam describes as “wishy-washy psychedelia,” which Sim-Savage suggests is similar to music that one might create while being 15, in lockdown due to Covid, and smoking a lot of weed. However, their style has since evolved to become more structured and organized. Sam explains that their music has become heavier and more pop-influenced.
While attending Bimm music college in Brighton, the band found their drummer, Alfie Sayer. Despite this addition, their time at the college was not particularly successful. Sam only stayed for one term, as the majority of students were focused on playing jazz. The band then chose to leave and independently released singles, performing at any venue that would have them. However, according to Sim-Savage, they were unsure of their direction until they met their now-manager. She suggested they pursue music more seriously, which initially surprised the band and caused Sim-Savage to reject the idea. “We never intended to achieve great success,” she explains. “It was simply something we loved doing.”
However, they are clearly thriving and challenging the commonly held belief that loud guitar-based rock music is no longer relevant. Sam believes that this resurgence may be attributed to the impact of Covid. Many bands were gaining popularity, but then had to put their plans on hold. After being confined for so long, people are now determined to pursue their passions and do what they want when given the opportunity.
Source: theguardian.com
