Words: Freya Waters
Photography: Callum Spicer
South-West based indie rock band Bottlemoth have a discography that will leave you feeling simultaneously nostalgic and existential. Drawing inspiration from guitar music of the 90’s and early 2000’s, their new single Suki is an exciting bridge into their upcoming album.
After listening to their first album Even Us Ghosts, the sound immediately transported me into a world of youthful whimsy and freedom. The album serves as a perfect coming of age album/ode to the sea, which was particularly poignant for a coastal dweller like myself.
Suki (lovingly named after Ethan and Chessa’s cat) is where Bottlemoth’s sound has taken a turn into something more gritty. The single, which will be released on 20 February, is a heavier track than their previous work, with elements of reflection present in both lyricism and sound.
I spoke to Ethan Proctor, a member of the band, who shared with me the process of their shift into a change of territory within their music: “Suki is a joyful song, which bridges into stuff to come which is more existential. We’re all getting older, life is getting real.”
The two albums will sit aside each other representing a bittersweet duality of perspectives. An album about enjoying youth, and an album more centred around what life is really all about.
When listening to Suki’ I identified a real sense of what I can only really describe as a yearning for simplicity (which we can all relate to) in a world where age comes with complexity.
With lyrics like: “I hope our world stays small, now I know. I’m over it all” and: “I’m just a drop in a waste paper cup”, in partnership with slow yet joyful guitar, I was left feeling understood, uplifted and very… human.
Ethan added: “Last year I’d been listening to lots of the bands that got me into music in the first place. They all have distinctive sounds that really make me feel alive. As we build towards our sophomore album, I wanted our music to give me that feeling. I’ve never felt more sure about a collection of songs.”
Ethan told me that as the band progresses, their attitude and expectations have shifted.
“We’re doing stuff for us now, not what we think we should do. We have the attitude of: let’s just make something great.
“I know I’ll be making albums till I die.”
The new album, like the previous one, will be produced by the group themselves. They’re aiming to release another single soon and hope to do more touring in the future. I will certainly be very excited to follow their journey, and hear the new album.