Having been massive fans of Alien Chicks since first hearing funk-fuelled single ’27 Stitches’ last summer, our love of the South London trio has continued to grow since having them blow us away playing live for us at Shacklewell Arms in December, and they have continued to showcase their unique creativity and unrelenting energy with each new release.
Now, fresh from selling out a headline show at The Lexington – with acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson – and with frenzied new single ‘Candlestick Maker‘ out now, we decided to catch up with Alien Chicks to find out more…
Hi Alien Chicks! Welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourselves, and how you started making music together?
We are a Brixton based post punk trio. I’m Stefan – I play bass and sing. I’m Josef I play guitar and sing. I’m Martha – I play drums. Stef and Josef met in tap class, and then we started playing guitar together when we were about 17. We moved to Brixton to try pursuing music and met Martha in a practice room in Peckham.
We love your frenzied funk-fuelled sounds , but who would you say are your main musical influences?
We are really into a range of stuff, from black midi to Abba, and I think this comes through in our songs. There’s also a lot of rap influence in the vocals – Josef is really into rappers like Ocean wisdom and Denzel Curry.
You’ve recently released your new single ‘Candlestick Maker’, which is very exciting! Are you able to tell us a bit about it? And how would you say it differs from your previous releases?
‘Candlestick Maker’ is a fun song with some pretty dark themes. I think it’s different to our other stuff because it’s more dancey!
You’ve just headlined an epic sold out show at The Lexington – a fantastic night (and the biggest mosh pit I’ve seen for a while)! How was that for you? And, for those who missed it, what can fans expect from your live shows?
The Lexington was incredible! We expected it to be great, but it blew away out expectations! The crowd were wild from start to finish and it really felt like a momentous occasion – one we have been working towards since we started a band. Fans can expect high energy, erratic songs and an atmosphere like no other!
Is there a particular live show you’ve played that stands out as a highlight?
The Lexington defo stands out – it was awesome! The Windmill gigs in general are also always amazing, full of energy and excitement!
And, when out on tour, are there any particular essentials that you like to take with you to keep you going when away from home?
Idiocy, Martha’s laptop so she can “work”, game… and Josef’s bandana.
How do you feel the industry is for new artists at the moment? And do you feel much has changed over the last few years in its treatment of female and queer/LGBTQ+ artists?
I feel like there’s more representation of oppressed genders and minority groups, but there’s definitely still more work to be done. We think Get In Her Ears is a great movement and really helps to promote marginalised and underrepresented groups.
As we’re a new music focused site, are there any other upcoming bands you’re loving right now that you’d recommend we check out?
House Arrest, Man/Woman/Chainsaw…
Finally, what does the rest of 2023 have in store for Alien Chicks?
We will hopefully be releasing an EP, and will be playing in The Hundred Club in November! COME ON DOWN!!!
Massive thanks to Alien Chicks for answering our questions! Watch the new video for ‘Candlestick Maker’ now:
‘Candlestick Maker’ is out now via Hideous Mink Records. Catch them live at The 100 Club on 2nd November – tickets here.
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