Hello and welcome back to DIY's feature, Get To Know… which seeks to bring you closer to the most talked-about acts we've been noticing lately, and exploring what inspires them. This time, we reconnect with the Leeds-based band Bug Teeth, who have recently released their much-anticipated debut album ‘Micrographia’: a record that hovers in the dreamy space between ’90s dream-pop, psychedelia, and ambient electronica, using this in-between zone to explore life’s essential truths. To celebrate its launch, we spoke with frontperson PJ Johnson to delve into their early experiences and unexpected literary influences.
What’s your earliest musical memory?
During most half terms, my sibling and I would be packed into the car to visit my mum’s best friend in Manchester. For a child from Essex, it was quite a long drive—about 4 hours—filled with the albums my parents preferred. I often pretended to be asleep to get my mum to turn off the music and switch to an unsuitable audiobook that had swearing. Nevertheless, the music we played on those trips left a lasting impression. Simon & Garfunkel, Kraftwerk, and Björk were particularly memorable, and I knew those CDs quite well.
Growing up, what was your musical education like? Were your preferences influenced by your family, friends, or a local venue/record shop/band? Share some insights into those early days.
Much of my musical taste came from those long car rides, with various influences from friends as well. I went through a phase as a teenager where I only wanted to listen to ‘cool music,’ which is how I discovered Brian Eno and Cocteau Twins. My parents had very diverse music tastes—my mum loved hip-hop and rap, while my dad leaned towards folk and krautrock. I’d like to think I pulled the best elements from it all. At the time, Chelmsford had almost no music scene, so I ended up taking the train to London several times a week for gigs. This led to many friendships, and I drank way too much wine in parks.
‘Micrographia’ is named after a 17th-century scientific paper and draws inspiration from surrealist and dystopian literature, among other sources. Can you elaborate on these non-musical influences? How do you believe they shape your sound?
A lot of my influences come from literature. I am both a writer and an avid reader, always on the lookout for anything transgressive to add to my collection. During my undergraduate studies, I took a course on Literature and Science in the 17th century, which introduced me to Micrographia. I became fascinated with this text and wrote extensively about eschatology during that time period, which ultimately led to the creation of our ‘Lucky Me, Lucky Mud’ EP. In the end, everything I read shapes my music, whether lyrically or thematically—and I tend to read a considerable amount.
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