Next Wave #1152: WOOM

      Alice Barlow, Lara Laeverenz, Gray Rimmer, and Isobel Risk never set out to form a band. Although they had a mutual awareness and respect for one another within the London music scene, they never consciously decided to come together as a group. Yet, WOOM emerged.

      What sets WOOM apart and enables their success is their emphasis on the voice as the central instrument, along with their commitment to exploring and experimenting with layered harmonies. Barlow characterizes the efforts of bands in their genre, including themselves, as “expanding the definition of singing.”

      Approximately five years ago, WOOM released their first creatively reimagined cover—a mash-up of Frank Ocean’s ‘Siegfried’, ‘Self Control’, and ‘White Ferrari’ from his album ‘Blonde’, quickly followed by a cover of Angel Olsen’s ‘Unfucktheworld’. Since then, they have produced several additional covers, blended with some original tracks. However, their latest release, the EP ‘To Slow You’, consists entirely of original songs that delve into a deeper level of vulnerability for the band. They have shifted from manipulating the lyrics of others to crafting entirely their own arrangements and tempos.

      “We really developed an environment to make that feel safe, but it was something we had to learn to do. It didn’t happen immediately, and we’re really proud of what we managed to create and endure through that process,” Barlow explains.

      The band had grown accustomed to working in isolation, and the production of ‘To Slow You’ was no exception. WOOM asserts that their surroundings are essential to the music that can be created within that space.

      “I think a lot of that stems from the fact that we live in cities or have various day jobs, so finding consistent quality time together is quite challenging. When we dedicate an entire week and go somewhere to escape distractions, everything becomes part of our practice. You’re cooking together and having conversations that might spark inspiration, remaining in a constant state of creativity—even if you aren’t physically recording or singing,” Laevernz adds.

      Drawing inspiration from cinema, landscapes, and those everyday conversations, it's often the seemingly mundane moments that later have the greatest impact during writing sessions. Their collaborative hours spent writing, producing, and revising songs culminate in a public release, marking an end that brings bittersweet emotions for the group. “I will miss working on these songs,” Lara expresses. “It’s never about ‘oh, look how many streams we got’ or ‘the release was so successful’; it’s something deeply intimate that might not resonate with others,” she shares, conveying that it's those private moments that truly highlight their progress and evoke pride.

      WOOM's success is not gauged by charts, audience numbers, or other metrics—something they insist is not a priority—but rather by their genuine enjoyment of the project itself. “It’s not only the effort we’ve invested that shapes the final sound, but so much of it is fueled by our love for what we do. When we step back, we see we’ve actually created something quite good, and that feels really rewarding.”

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      WOOM’s ‘To Slow You’ EP is available now.

      Words: Maya Fettes

      Photo Credit: Alexandra Cepeda