CUSK
RELEASE DEBUT EP TODAY ON
THE BIRD RECORDSLISTEN / BUY HERE
Photo Credit: Sophie Vroom
Early praise for Cusk:
““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
“”Dooms banjo” continues their spiral into heavy, atmospheric gloom.”
Track Of The Day – Loud Women
“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
“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.
With its follow-up, the emotive “Dooms banjo”, the band showed that there was far more still to come. Today the band release the “Cusk” EP both digitally and on limited vinyl formats (remaining copies here), which alongside its singles, also features the widescreen “Did it make you cry” featuring jennylee (Jenny Lee Lindberg from Warpaint), the rawness of “Beauty Queen” and the grungy, sticky hooks of “Don’t change I love you”.
To celebrate its release, the band will play a special show on August 27th at The Shacklewell Arms in East London with tickets on sale now.
This will be the band’s first ever headliner and will feature a full-band set-up.
BUY / LISTEN TO “CUSK” HERE
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. This year, they have performed further afield at Motel Mozaïque and Sounds of the City.
Today’s five-song debut from Cusk 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 EP
Out now on The Bird Records
12″ vinyl and digital
Listen / Buy
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.
