In Print: So Young Issue Fifty-Eight
Issue Fifty-Eight documents the Autumn of 2025, but the band on the cover have dominated much of ‘new band’ conversation for the last twelve months or so. Manchester’s Westside Cowboy find themselves in that middle ground where promise meets pressure and hype demands further substance. Now signed to Island Records imprint Adventure Recordings, the young, excitable four-piece are gearing up to share their second EP and play their biggest headline shows to date. In our interview, we go into the depths of their formation, grappling with scary major label stories and how they’re sonically aiming for something closer to power pop than anything country.
London’s Sorry have been longtime favourites, a group who have consistently delivered their art with growth but without compromise. At the band’s heart is songwriting pair, Asha Lorenz and Louis O’Bryen, and for what may be the sixth or seventh time, and ahead of new album, ‘COSPLAY’, we chat with them on the new album.
They Are Gutting a Body of Water made the trip from adopted home, Philadelphia to The George Tavern, London in June and since then have shared a string of tracks which led towards new album ‘LOTTO’ which is out now. Led by Doug Dulgarian, who’s also the founder of label, Julia’s War, we hopped on a call to discuss their UK experience of playing a ‘500 year old pub’ and how their preference of playing in the round removes the hierarchy between artist and audience, and dispels any demand for performative entertainment.
Another group who have occupied a noisier space are Just Mustard. The Dundalk band have taken their time, with last record ‘Heart Under’ being released in 2022, and on ‘WE WERE JUST HERE’ the Partisan Records signed band have tried to focus on structure and bring forward more traditional ‘rock song’ traits vs what’s come before. Telling us more about the new record, we interview Katie and Shane.
In London, BLACK FONDU is preparing to share his debut EP via Scenic Route. On ‘BLACK FONDUISM’, self taught producer Reggie aims to not only introduce his music but also a brighter outlook on life. Described by Reggie as ‘bibilical’ and by us, a spectacle. You’ll be hard pressed to disagree with either side. In our conversation we discuss the new EP, switching up the set mid-set and how performing to those with crossed arms is like being in a gallery. Staying in the capital, Lawrence of Mozart Estate (amongst many others) welcomes us to his favourite cafe. Armed with his own teabag and low appetite for both food and interviews with ‘blogs’, Lawrence welcomes us into his world and story ahead of new album ‘Tower Block In A Jam Jar’ which is out now.
Atlanta, Georgia is home to recent Domino Recordings signing, Upchuck. The band recently let loose for us at The Elephants Head, Camden, and have since released their new album ‘I’m Nice Now’. Discussing the title almost as a mantra and a way to preserve our hope in a difficult time, we interview KT and Chris of the band.
Olan Monk is a musician from the west coast of Ireland, brought up by their piano teaching mother, educated within an Irish language school and learning the Irish tin whistle, the identity realised within the music will come as no surprise. signed to prolific label, AD93, the new album ‘Songs for Nothing’ is out in November. Taking our call mid-holiday, they tell us more about those formative years and the impact of location. Staying in Ireland, but heading to Belfast, we speak with Makeshift Art Bar, one of our favourite artists from a summer full of festival performances. Ahead of impending new music, we make an overdue call to the band to discuss the impact of acts like Swans, their search for the ‘big pay off’ and what we can expect next.
To finish us off, we chat with Lifeguard’s Kai Slater about his 60’s psych inspired side project Sharp Pins, discuss the rise and connection coming from the alternative singer-songwriters such as Cameron Winter and Dove Ellis, and introduce six brand new artists in this issues edition of Who Are You? This time we ask the basics to Bleech 9:3, SILVERWINGKILLER, Madra Salach, Spawner, Leatherette and Jeanie and The White Boys.
The new issue of So Young is out now. Buy in print here. Read the digital edition below. Subscribe to receive every issue here.