Cucamaras are an indie/post-punk band from Nottingham whose latest single, ‘Death of the Social’, was released on 16 April, featuring an interesting sound and thought-provoking lyrics.
Platform’s Lilia Hadj Said recently had the pleasure to talk with three of the band’s members, Josh Hart (vocals/guitar), Joe Newton (drums), and Dan McGrath (bass), about their new single and an exciting year ahead.
Lilia: How was your band formed? What brought you together?
Josh: Ollie [Bowley, fourth member of the band] is my best friend since primary school, we grew up together. With Joe, I became friends a few years ago and we always thought about forming a band, but every time something would get in the way. We started writing music in the first year of uni, but in year two things picked up pace and Dan joined a year ago.
L: Where did the idea for the name Cucamaras come from?
Joe: We were really struggling for the name before we found this one. We booked a bunch of shows and the organizers would ask us: ‘What do we call you?’, and we had absolutely no idea.
Josh: Then on a night out we saw a street called Hurts Yard and I thought that it was a sick name for our band. I think two days after that, we went to this bar, Cucamaras, on the Hurts Yard and we thought that it was so much better and we prefer that name.
L: Lockdown has made it difficult for many upcoming bands to perform. What was the experience like for you, did it support your creative process or vice versa?
Dan: There are two sides to it. Because on one hand, it’s been horrendous, we couldn’t do any gigs [or] events, but in terms of creativity, it was quite good [and] full of changes. When I joined the band, there was a lot of stuff in the making, but we discovered our new style during the lockdown and in what direction we wanted to go. Actually, it was quite nice to step up a little bit and work ourselves out.
L: Your new single ‘Death of the Social’ focuses on judgment and division. Where did the inspiration for the song come from?
Josh: It was definitely an experiment. We wanted to try something different rather than writing about fancying a girl.
Dan: It’s the most aggressive song that we wrote. We were really afraid that people wouldn’t back it up but they actually enjoyed it and it brought such relief and comfort when it comes to putting out new songs that are more experimental.
L: You all love The Bodega; did you have the opportunity to play there?
Josh: Actually, Ollie now works in The Bodega so that’s great, but as a band, we never had a gig in there – although Joe and I played once with our old band. We have a gig booked in October and we are really excited about it.
L: The Bodega has discovered many bands and musicians, so it’s a really good place for upcoming performers.
Josh: Yeah, it’s amazing how many iconic bands have played there, for example, The Strokes. Anyone who [has] made it has walked in that door at some point.
L: During the summer, you will participate in Y Not Festival. It’s a big achievement, how do you feel about performing with bands like Bombay Bicycle Club and how did you get this opportunity?
Joe: We can’t wait for it! It was quite surreal to see our band in posters shared on social media by those big, amazing singers and bands. Of course, it was written in a very small font, but it felt quite cool. We got an invitation through Dean Jackson from BBC. He offered us a spot a year ago, but because of the virus, it couldn’t happen.
⚡ Y Not Festival is back for 2021! @stereophonics, @BombayBicycle, @BlossomsBand, Thursday Headliner's @CircaWaves, and SO much more! ⚡
LIMITED Tier 4 tickets are still available at the super low price of £114.50 + BF https://t.co/9n5NRPffJu ?️ pic.twitter.com/L6UckrVKvx
— Y Not Festival (@ynotfestival) April 29, 2021
Josh: Actually, I am dead nervous. We booked a gig a week before the Festival, just to get drunk [and] blow off some steam, but I think five minutes before our performance I’ll be zen about it, ‘cause that’s usually what happens.
L: Is making music with friends easier, or more challenging?
Joe: I think it’s a lot easier to make music with friends because you are so much comfortable. If one of us comes in with an idea that is shit, the rest of us just go: ‘that is shit’. But with strangers, it is more difficult to be straightforward.
Josh: Every time me and Ollie mix a song, it’s like we have this telepathic communication. I want to explain to him my idea and he interrupts me and finishes [with] what I had in mind.
L: Are there any bands that you admire and that inspire you?
Dan: During the lockdown, we were listening to so many bands, looking for a new sound and sending each other songs in a band chat. IDLES, Fontaines D.C., Yard Act are the big three for us, but of course, [there’s] many more.
Josh: Car Seat Headrest is one for me. Their lyrics changed the way that I perceive feelings, just because they are so mind-blowing with how open-minded they are. I wanted to try a 13-minute-long song just like they did, to see if I can, and yeah… I couldn’t [chuckles].
L: Do you have any advice for people thinking of starting a band?
Dan: Save money.
Josh: Yes, it’s definitely money-consuming. But just get out there as much as you can, take any opportunity – even gigs that you might play in front of five people – ‘cause you never know who’s gonna sit in the audience, and just have [the] balls to book gigs. When it comes to songwriting, don’t stay in your comfort zone, try new things. It’s a slog, but you have to be prepared to do it.
‘Death of the Social’ is available on streaming platforms now, along with the rest of Cucamaras’ growing discography.
By Lilia Hadj Said
Feature Image Credit: Cucamaras Band Facebook