CUSK
Photo Credit: Sophie Vroom
Early praise for Cusk:
“A haunting yet evocative introduction to the band born out of E8’s Shacklewell Arms. Together, their husky vocals swirl and echo over a slow-perusing jingle, capturing the harmony in the sinister.” – Wonderland
“”Blu tac piano” is a very impressive debut single. It’s a heady churn with smoky, intense vocals that can’t help but recall Courtney Love. But this isn’t a retro-grungegaze situation. The vocals are scratchy, and the guitars are heavy, but the violins and pianos conjure a stormy Stevie Nicks-esque atmosphere.” – Stereogum
“Musically fascinating, it remains perpetually surprising, veering from idea to idea. Cusk hinge on the creative chemistry between duo Esmé Creed-Miles and Evie Hilyer-Ziegler, and ‘Blu tac piano’ feels highly intriguing.” – CLASH
Earlier this year, London’s Cusk shared a much-anticipated debut single “Blu tac piano” to international press acclaim, announcing the arrival of a major new talent.
Today the duo return with its follow-up, the emotive “Dooms banjo”, a direct and captivating song that suggests Cusk will continue on the same ascent that “Blu tac piano” has started them on. The band also announce their self-titled debut EP available both digitally and on limited vinyl formats (pre-order), landing August 14th, and a release show on August 27th at The Shacklewell Arms in East London with tickets on sale now.
This will be the band’s first ever headline show and will feature a full-band set-up.
LISTEN TO “DOOMS BANJO” HERE | YOUTUBE
LISTEN TO “BLU TAC PIANO” HERE | YOUTUBE
Cusk is the alt-rock group fronted by duo Esmé Creed-Miles and Evie Hilyer-Ziegler. The pair met at an improvisation night at the Shacklewell Arms and soon became close friends and collaborators, drawn together by a shared instinct for making music that is raw, exploratory, and emotionally direct.
Since their first show a couple of years back at The Windmill, Brixton, Cusk have quickly become a presence on the London music scene. In that time, alongside select headline performances, they have supported the likes of DIIV, Geordie Greep and Tiberius B.
The upcoming Cusk EP will be the second extended play release, after Ninush’s “The Flowers I See You In”, on The Bird Records, the new tastemaker label from Charlie Wayne (Black Country, New Road) and Mita De (ex-Ninja Tune, ex-Brownswood).
Cusk live:
Aug 27th – The Shacklewell Arms, London
Further shows will be announced soon.
Cusk
Cusk EP
Out August 14th on The Bird Records
12″ vinyl and digital
Pre-Order
Blu tac piano
Did it make you cry feat. jennylee
Beauty queen
Don’t change I love you
Dooms banjo
More information about Cusk:
Their process is intuitive. Songs begin as fragments: voice notes, poems and melodies caught in passing, with full songs taking shape through a process of playing together. Evie and Esmé’s musical chemistry is characterized by their juxtaposing playing styles. In the space between Hilyer-Ziegler’s precise, melodic string work, her sirenesque vocals and Creed-Miles’ slackened rhythm guitar and androgynous lyrics, there exists a spectrum of character and femininity. Their songwriting dances along this spectrum, playfully contrasting impulse and control, quiet intimacy and sudden intensity.
At the core of this project is friendship and trust. Writing and performing together allows Creed-Miles and Hilyer-Ziegler to reach something neither could alone. That connection translates into music that draws you into their mood – hood up, inward facing – completely absorbing.
