Curdle
Curdle is a 4 piece Glasgow-based band playing their unique blend of riot grrl infused goth horror punk with lashings of 1960s trippy pop psychedelia for good meassure.
The band consists of:
Wiggy – Guitar, Bass, Theremin, Vocals
Sarah – Guitar, Bass, Synth, Vocals
Clare – Drums
Lucy – Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals
Their mesmerising debut album is receiving a vinyl release later in the year on the wonderful Double A Side records. (I recently revisited this for a review on the site). The band kindly took some time out of their busy schedule to speak to the Ginger Quiff.
Sound
I first saw you supporting Dead Hope at their album launch gig in the Old Hairdressers and was pretty much addicted to your sound straight away, confirming my mantra about always trying to see support bands…so, that intriguing addictive sound, with some awesome bass which I love, and unusual instruments (theremin) – how would you describe your sound?
Hoggers: That’s so nice of you to say! That was such a special gig too – we feel so lucky to have played with Dead Hope.
Wiggy: Well we’ve been described as ‘trippy riot pop’ and I think that comes pretty close to describing our sound! It’s hard to pin it down to one thing because we have so many different influences and our songs are pretty varied in style.
Hoggers: I liked when you called us a gothic Mamas and Papas, Wiggy! When we write a song, we often say, “Ooh, let’s make this one sound like the Shangri-La’s,” or the Misfits, or Spinal Tap!!! And most songs feature blood, guts and severed heads.
Gigs, gigs, gigs
GQ: You play live regularly and always seem to manage to get to play gigs with some great line-ups. (Which I always manage to miss…). Three parts to this next question. Who is your favourite local band to play with, what is your favourite gig you have played to date, and who would you love to play a gig with?
Wiggy: I think our favourite local band to play with is Woodwife, we met them at the excellent Flying Moon Festival and we really love it when we have a chance to both play on the same bill, they’re really brilliant and good friends of ours. It was one of the best gigs of our lives supporting the Thurston Moore group and it meant the absolute world to me to support Brix and the Extricated twice because Brix Smith is such a big hero of mine. I would love the support the Damned, that would be a dream come true.
Hoggers: It was a dream come true to play with the Thurston Moore Group for me – it still doesn’t feel real! I love playing in the Spite House collective too – you always end up on a bill with so many other great bands. I’d like to play a gig with Bikini Kill please. Or Tina Turner!
Clare: we always love playing with Woodwife. I jump at any oportunity to watch them play. I really love our friends’ band Kasper Hauser and Current Affairs. There are so many incredible bands in Glasgow, I would struggle to name them all. Spite House is one of my favourite gig nights in Glasgow, always championing new alternative acts. My dream would be for Curdle to support PJ Harvey. She is a musical I genius and I can’t help but be in awe of her.
Influences
GQ: Some great names there and ones to watch…Talking of names, you mention a few “influences” in your songs, Dave Vanian for example, (and Dave Gahan – though maybe not in a positive way) and I know you have a love of Sonic Youth. How did you decide to start a band – What was the catalyst/influences?
Wiggy: Me and Hoggers first decided to start a band when we were pretty drunk at our friend’s wedding! I think our big first influences were The Misfits and Hole but we love 60’s girl bands too, especially the Shangri-La’s and the Ronettes.
Hoggers: The first few ‘practices’ we had were round Wiggy’s house and involved us both playing the same chords, covering Hole and L7 songs! And drinking lots of wine.
Clare: I’ve known Wiggy since we were 5 and when she told me that her and Hoggers were starting a band I said “I want to be the drummer!” Even though I had never touched an instrument or drum kit in my life.
Lucy: We’re all good pals. I’ve known Wiggy and Hoggers since art school. I had them round to mine one night and, over some drinks, they convinced me to go join the three of them at the studio. I had only played guitar a bit when I was younger so I took some cajoling, but of course I obviously joined the band. It would have been crazy not to!
Double A Side
GQ: I for one am glad you got drunk at a friends wedding! You contributed a track to the excellent Play it Like a Woman compilation on Double A Side Records (who are also releasing the vinyl version of your album). Tell us more about that project and how you got involved with Double A Side?
Hoggers: I believe that Angus and Alicjia from Double A Side saw us play at the Flying Moon Festival at the Flying Duck in 2018 and they liked our style, so asked us to contribute a track to the compilation. Given the female focus of the album, ‘Give Me Your Phone Number’ seemed like a good choice, being about torturing impatient men who try to shove in to our practice room before we’re finished leaving. Haha!
New songs and gigs
GQ; Talking of albums, I believe you are “in the studio” recording for your next album. How are things sounding? Anything you can reveal about the new songs?
Wiggy: We have a couple of new ideas! We’re going to work on a Misfits style dreamy 60’s song which of course is about blood and guts and we’re also going to work on a really loud, really disgusting song that we hope will make everyone sick!
GQ: Finally, what is next for you gig wise (so I can try not to miss another one…)
Wiggy: As far as we know our next gig will be our album launch at the Flying Duck on Friday 1st of November but we’ll keep you posted if we plan any gigs before then!
Hoggers: Yeah, you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest Curdle news!
Thanks a million to Curdle. If you haven’t already done so, go check out their music and treat yourself to the vinyl when it is launched.