Anyone who says guitar music is dead clearly hasn’t been listening to Sløtface, FKA Slutface, AKA the band who felt the wrath of social media censorship.
Despite a spelling change (fret not, the pronunciation remains the same), the Norwegian rebels are ready to storm London with their contemporary strain of riotous punk-pop. We grabbed an e-beer with the Scandi bunch ahead of their 4-night stand, to talk censorship, unusual gigs and Riot Grrrl ideals.
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Your debut EP Sponge State grabbed the attention of major media outlets (from Annie Mac and Radio 1, to the echoing heights of Billboard); what made it stand out from the crowd?
It’s always nice when the media choose to grab rock music and push it on people. We think people that keep saying “rock is dead” and “mainstream music today is shit” are wrong. You listen to what you want to listen to and what you like. You go to the shows you want to go to. Nothing is “dead”, great bands still do awesome tours all around the globe.
The world needs more of that attitude. For those unfamiliar with your latest track “Bright Lights”, how would you describe it?
It’s a bit more ‘chilly’. Better for autumn.
Nice and brisk then! Your music certainly has plenty of outspoken lyrics and punk-rock attitude, are you like that in person or do you save it for the studio?
Well, we believe in speaking up for the causes we think need to be spoken about – both in person and in our music. We’re probably not super punk in the cliché way of it, none of us has dyed our hair or are anarchists for example. We’re pretty chill.
No risk of burning down the building then? So looking back, is there anything you wish you’d have done differently on the Sponge State EP?
We’re really happy with the way it turned out, but probably like every musician after a studio session, we would have enjoyed a couple more days of just trying out different stuff. The thing is, at some point you’ve just got to settle with where the songs are and be happy with it.
You’ve got an upcoming UK tour; Are you a band that enjoys playing live? What’s been your favourite location to play so far?
For us live shows are the most important thing. That’s where you establish a real connection with people and where the “action” is. We once played in a chapel in a prison in Norway for the inmates. We got a sneak-peak into a completely different world and we got to talk to the inmates – who were actually very polite and attentive. That was something really something else.
Have there been any live performances over the course of your career that particularly stand out for you for being crazy/eventful?
The show we did for environmental activists chained to machines for the “Sponge State” video was pretty special and epic. Right on the side of a mountain in the middle of a snow storm. Other than that, our first house parties before we were of legal drinking age were really fun – and opening for a-ha (Norwegian legends) on their last Norwegian tour was just insane – especially for Lasse’s mom!
We have to ask about the name. Where did it come from?
It started as a kind of joke – we thought it was hilarious! But it also fits in with the whole anti-slut shaming movement and Riot Grrrl ideals. It’s memorable and gives us a platform to talk about issues regarding feminism and gender roles.
We also remember there were issues with censorship and social media? What happened there?
It was just a small and stupid issue. Apparently a lot of people think the word “slut” is too hard core and decided to make it impossible to advertise on Facebook. We had to trick the internet by changing the letter u to an ø, but don’t worry, it’s still pronounced the same way.
It’s time to confess, what are your guilty pleasure tracks?
We don’t have any guilty pleasures, only pleasures. Why be embarrassed about music you like?
Can you guys please run for president already? Anyhow, arrogant US politicians aside, we love new music; what three acts would you recommend to look out for at the moment?
Right now we’re really in to Weaves, Ratboys (not Ratboy, even though he is cool too) and this new young Norwegian kid called Killer Kid Mozart; awesome band name, awesome music.
If you had to name a song you wished you’d written, what would it be?
Anything by LCD Soundsystem. We wish we were that cool and clever and could keep a party going the way they can.
Finally, in a theoretical world, you have three legendary musicians standing in front of you and you had to pick a song from your back catalogue to collaborate with each on. Who would you pick and which track would you rerecord?
We would re-record “Take Me Dancing” with Marvin Gaye to make the disco vibe of it really stand out, Jay Z, Kanye West and us on “Kill Em’ With Kindness” would probably be kick ass, and a duet with Billie Joe Armstrong is a life goal, so re-doing “Bad Party” with Green Day should happen.
Be sure to grab yourself some tickets and catch Sløtface at one of the below gigs:
Thurs, Oct 27 | The Islington, London
Fri, Oct 28 | The Finsbury, London
Sat, Oct 29 | The Lock Tavern, London
Tues, Nov 01 | The Victoria, London
