INTERVIEW: Electric Pets

INTERVIEW:

Electric Pets

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ONE of the finest rising bands around…

Electric Pets hail from Derby and consist of Emma Buckley, Phil Wagg, Pete Darrington and Adam Grace. The band burst on to the U.K. music scene in the spring of 2022, releasing four singles and two E.P.s via the Reckless Yes label. In a very brief time, they have become firm favourites of BBC Introducing, having just recorded a live session for them, as well receiving airplay from the legendary John Kennedy on his Radio X show, Xposure. Their amazing new single, Elephant Can Swim, is out in the world, and I was keen to know more about it, in addition to how the band formed and what comes next. Guitarist Phil Wagg reveals more about a wonderful new cut, how the quartet found one another, and what the future holds for the sensational band. They mix darker Pop elements with a hypotonic and swaggering Garage Rock sound. I know Emma Buckley through her previous solo work, but Electric Pets are an exciting new band to my ears that I instantly connected with. Wagg discusses the music scene in Derby, why they are releasing a string of singles before the summer, and how it feels to have captured such a loyal and loving fanbase. If you have not discovered Electric Pets yet, then rectify that right away. They are a sensational band that are going to go…

A mighty long way.

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Hi Electric Pets. How are you? How has your week been?

Phil Wagg: Incredibly hectic, but in a good way, you know?

For those new to your music, can you explain how the group got together? Did you all have shared tastes in music?

Ha! Quite the opposite - and that’s what makes us work. Pete and Phil (Bass and Guitar/BVs) have been in bands together for a long time, try as they might to become the new Queens of the Stone Age. Emma (Vocals and Guitar) has been on a kinda solo Acoustic singer-songwriter trip since time memorial. And Adam (our superb drummer) is essentially Death Metal incarnate. But, of course, we all like all sorts of things. None of us limit our listening tastes or writing habits to one genre anymore. Completely sick of that nonsense.

If we have an idea, and it seems to want to point in certain direction, we don’t limit ourselves to say: “We can’t do that, that’s not us, what will ‘people’ think”. That way ruin lies. It’ll either be the making or the breaking of us, i.e. this wonderful industry very much likes to pigeonhole acts into one or (max) two swim lanes. If the sum of your whole creativity can’t be described in one tiny soundbite, then ‘you don’t stand a chance’. We say, “fuck that”. The song is king, and we’ll let each song go where it needs to.

“But we have a wonderfully diverse, burgeoning, and fascinating music scene regardless of the fact that we are now sorely lacking in decent music venues locally”

You hail from Derby. It is an area of the world that is not spotlighted because of its music. Do you think more eyes should be on Derby’s music and live scene?

More eyes should be open to the fact that quality music, or art, or anything creative, doesn’t just come from the biggest (in terms of populace) two or three cities in any given country, i.e. the cities where the relevant industries seem to lazily base themselves (very) traditionally. It’s 2023. It’s a work from home, Internet culture now. Get with the programme, peeps. Does it really matter where anyone actually comes from or lives? Does that dictate whether or not they have a right to be successful or at least make a reasonable living from what they love to do and what they are good at?

But, to answer your question specifically, you’re right. Few ‘hits’ have come from good old Derbados. But we have a wonderfully diverse, burgeoning, and fascinating music scene regardless of the fact that we are now sorely lacking in decent music venues locally. But adversity just makes you stronger, doesn’t it?

Tell me about your new single, Elephants Can Swim. What is the inspiration behind the track?

I was going through a particularly tough few weeks, and I had a chat with myself to lift me up out of my torpor. It’s essentially a conversation with myself; a kick up the arse so to speak. It’s a massive reminder to myself to just shake myself down and get on with it, when that kind of moment is needed. I.e. if elephants can swim, surely anything is possible, right?

How does the new single differ in terms of sound and direction comparted to your previous work?

Elephants Can Swim is different, but we hope each of our songs if different from the next. It’s certainly more bombastic, in your face, and rawer than much of our other material. No room for subtlety, as such. But that’s exactly what was needed in the moment it was conceived? So in other words, it’s differences are what make it perfect for us.

I understand you are releasing a string of singles from now to the end of summer. What brought that about, and can you give us a sneak peek regarding what future singles might be about?

Surprise, surprise: we don’t have lots of money, limitless studio time or a marketing budget ending in five zeros. So, whilst we actually have around two albums worth of material ready, we need to make every release count this year. Hence, the idea of drip-feeding singles out rather than gong whole hog into our first album, though that is on the cards for 2024 (exclusive!!! 😊). We’ll have another single out in June and the next in August. With another three ‘in the can’ between now and the end of 2023. The June single is one we are all very excited about…but more on that later.

It will lead to your debut album next year. Are you looking forward to people hearing that?

So, so much. I know new artists like us seem to have to focus on singles in this day and age, but we are very much cut from old cloth in that albums are God.

As Emma Buckley is your lead, it gets me to thinking about gender equality at festivals. There are still few booking female acts/female-led bands to headline. Do you think this will change, and have you faced any of this so far?

We truly hope it will change, and soon. The majority of the most exciting, challenging, and creative music released in recent months/years has been produced by female artists; surely, it’s only a matter of time? Fortunately, as Emma (as a solo artist) had already created a bit of a name for herself in certain circles, we have not yet personally experienced any prejudice - though we are no doubt that it exists out there.

“And with expectation comes great responsibility, and it is our plan to live up to that responsibility”

Are there going to be live gigs coming? Where can we see you play?

As I (Phil) type this, Emma is now eight months pregnant. So our last show for a little while was at the Bodega in Notts at the end of March '23. Our next two shows are in late-July at the Splendour and Y-Not festivals. Both of which we are super excited about.

You burst through about a year ago. In that time, you have racked up an army of fans, big streaming numbers, and attention from major radio stations. How does this make you feel?!

Oooof. Surprised, pleasantly? Grateful. Excited. Validated. But we are under no illusions. This is just the start. And with expectation comes great responsibility, and it is our plan to live up to that responsibility.

To finish, and for being a good sport, you can choose any song you like (other than your own) and I will include it here.

One of my favourite songs from the last few years is Shut Up Kiss Me by Angel Olsen. So that one please.