motel void

MOTEL VOID: You’ve just released your new (amazing, by the way!) single ‘I Went Swimming’. Will it be part of your new album? What was the writing and recording process behind this track?

SOOT SPRITE: Thank you so much! It’s actually one side of a 7” we’ll be releasing with Specialist Subject Records with another much poppier and sparkly track called ‘Home Among Your Bones’ that’s releasing on July 23rd! I originally wrote this around the time I was writing Poltergeists, and as it felt a little similar to ‘Alone Not Lonely’ it was left out of the mix at that point, but Sean our bassist was vehement that we put it out, and when we introduced it to new guitarist Abi Crisp and new drummer Sam Cother they absolutely transformed it. We took it to Tom Hill at The Bookhouse studio to work his usual magic and here we are.

MOTEL VOID: Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your debut EP Comfort In Concrete (2018)? How has your sound evolved from your debut EP in 2018 to your more recent releases?

SOOT SPRITE: That EP was the first body of music I wrote and recorded myself, I had gone through a really rough breakup from a very toxic relationship and was really starting out on my own, no other band members. It was a solo project! But that’s quite a lonely experience, and playing with a band is a wonderful experience that I really missed, I’ve only ever grown and flourished in collaborative environments so naturally things swayed back that way. With our current lineup (Sean Mariner, Abi Crisp and Sam Cother) things definitely sound more evolved, having a fourth member is new to us but has only served to elevate the sound. A little bigger, more polished in some places, more heavy in others.

MOTEL VOID: You’re from Exeter, UK. How would you describe the current music scene there? Do you have any favorite local venues and artists?

SOOT SPRITE: There always seems to a rotating life cycle of young punks coming out of Exeter! Obviously at the heart of that is The Cavern, a DIY venue in the heart of the City that’s been platforming new and large bands since the early 90’s, you also have The Phoenix practically next door which is larger, and serves as a more rounded artistic hub with cinema and theatre too. In terms of artists there’s Lande Hekt who I usually play bass for live, she’s a powerhouse of a songwriter and someone I feel a real kinship with. Also The Maisonettes, incredible riot grrl punk rock who are at the heart of that scene right now, and also Southwest Hotel, gorgeous shoegaze who have been outshining us since they were half our age. For a small city it’s very vibrant, and I do miss it. Late last year I moved to a seaside town further down the train line due to the rising costs of living there and one of my parents becoming unwell, none of us live there anymore, but we cut our teeth there and it’ll always feel like our home.

MOTEL VOID: Your music has been described as a blend of shoegaze, emo. dream pop… Could you name a few of your biggest inspirations from these genres?

SOOT SPRITE: We got really into Alvvays’ Blue Rev record when that came out, such a luscious shoegaze sound with a fresh twist! Early on I was very fixated on Soccer Mommy’s record Clean; and Hovvdy’s record, Cranberry. In more recent years have been obsessed with Japanese Breakfast and some lighter poppier sounds, but also really back into that hardcore sound from bands like Gel, Gouge Away and Pest Control. I wonder if we sound like any of this, but I have been told we don’t sound like anything at all, which I’m okay with. Even if it makes us hard to place.

MOTEL VOID: What are your other plans for the rest of 2024

SOOT SPRITE: Once we’ve finished up these dates with Sweet Pill and Suds, we’re heading out on tour with our friends in Regal Cheer, those dates are:

July 25th -The Cavern / Exeter
July 26th – The Lanes/ Bristol
July 27th – Washed Out Fest / Brighton
July 28th – Jaguar Shoes, Dream Bags / London

We’re making plans to release a collab EP with our friends in Muttering sometime soon, and are also going into the studio this September to record our debut album. We’ve never been busier!