It's a dynamic combination: Tallulah Sim-Savage's explosive howls and fierce guitar paired with Lola Sam's lively stage presence and rhythm-driven bass lines. The two, having first crossed paths at school, now don sharp '80s outfits featuring bold colors and textures, while drummer Alfie Sayers adds to the electrifying atmosphere. This description fits a HotWax performance, the Hastings-via-Brighton trio that debuted their EP in 2023, blending '90s grunge with psychedelic rock influences, thriving on intensity in both their music and their vibrant touring lifestyle.
Over the span of two years and more than 150 performances, this loud alt-rock group has graced various major festivals like Reading and Leeds and All Points East, toured with Royal Blood and Frank Carter, and earned endorsements from notable figures such as Wolf Alice, Elton John, and their idol, Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Their first album, 'Hot Shock', captures their experiences on the road.
“In the last few years, we've truly been present in the moment. It's been a whirlwind of excitement emotionally and physically. We've lived in this crazy bubble filled with chaos and fun, discovering new things—which greatly impacted the record. That's why we named it 'Hot Shock', as it reflects the heightened feelings we've experienced over these two years,” vocalist and guitarist Sim-Savage explains when discussing the album's exploration of identity. Other tracks delve into themes of anxiety and intrusive thoughts.
Prior to our meeting, the trio went through a demanding press day, punctuated by a wholesome visit to a stationery store for pens and glue sticks. Thus, 'Hot Shock' provides a chance to move beyond school highlighters: “This album is a snapshot of transitioning from teenage years into your twenties. I aimed for the lyrics to reflect my experiences and emotions, both for the songs and for my own growth.” Lyrically, the band draws inspiration from Fontaines D.C., Autolux, and Sonic Youth.
For 'Hot Shock', the trio collaborated with an all-female production team, including Catherine Marks (Boygenius, Wolf Alice), Steph Marziano (Hayley Williams, Let’s Eat Grandma), and Warpaint's Stella Mozgawa. The producers helped them strike a unique balance of melody, groove, and raw energy, avoiding suffocating click tracks. Instead, the band chose to record live in front of an audience at RAK Studios in London.
The result is an album brimming with intensity and a sense of freedom. “People often come to our shows saying they enjoy our Spotify tracks, but experiencing us live feels so right!” Sim-Savage recalls. Catherine Marks, after witnessing their energetic performance at a sweaty Third Man Records gig in 2023, expressed her desire to record their album. “I want it to capture the energy in this room. It needs to feel like a party,” she stated.
Over ten days, considering the busy schedules of Catherine Marks and Steph Marziano, a first take often perfectly encapsulated the band's energy and eccentricities. This was further supported by the producers' enthusiasm and their understanding of HotWax's desired sound.
“We found a week in July to experiment and aimed to capture that live, raw feel,” Sam explains. “Meeting our producers was pivotal to how the whole album came together.” While crafting two acoustic tracks, 'Pharmacy' and 'Lights On', with Stella Mozgawa in Joshua Tree, the groundwork was laid for what would become the single 'One More Reason'. A spontaneous jam session with Mozgawa led to a punchy bass line idea that HotWax would revisit after returning to the UK.
“We envisioned the song with a drum machine, but once Steph and Catherine came on board, it transformed to be live, raucous, and in-your-face rather than electronic,” Sim-Savage reflects on the song's development. The single 'Wanna Be A Doll' also underwent several iterations, with Catherine guiding its pre-production, refining it into “one of the best.” “We despised it because we kept rewriting it,” Sim-Savage recalls, “but once we finally completed it, everything else just fell into place.”
Another standout track, 'In Her Bedroom', nearly didn’t make it onto the album, distinguished by its dynamic shifts, a common technique in psychedelic rock to generate tension and release. This push-and-pull energy is a valuable addition, enhancing the album's overall blend of grit and groove. Occasionally, this intensity is turned inward; 'Wanna Be A Doll' depicts self-destructive behaviors while 'Dress Our Love' addresses an unhealthy relationship, with Sim-Savage singing, “dress our love into a wonderful gift,” her lyrics reflecting both self-sabotage and self-awareness.
'Hot Shock' is now available.
Words: Emma Way
Photo Credit: Jude Harrison
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It's a powerful combination; Tallulah Sim-Savage’s wild vocalizations and fierce guitar paired with Lola Sam’s quick stage presence and rhythm-driven bass lines. At first,