Most of our demos sound like Nirvana songs, it’s only when we go to the studio that they turn into Crawlers songs.
Liverpool’s Crawlers opened Sunday’s TRNSMT with a dark, raw burst of grunge-infused rock laced with melodic melancholy, shaking off the remnants of the night before. Scurrying rather than crawling their way to success with a support slot for My Chemical Romance under their belts as well as their own sell-out tour, reSound caught up with Holly Minto (vocals and guitar), Amy Woodall (guitar), Liv Kettle (bass) and Harry Breen (drums) to chat through how it felt to be first up on stage, the influence Nirvana’s had on their sound and how writing music aids the struggles of mental health.
So, you were first band up of the day. How did you find it?
Holly: It was gorgeous, we just love Glasgow. We did a show here on our first tour and it was mental! I feel a real connection with my Scottish roots (her dad is from Dumfries).
Harry: The Glasgow crowd was definitely the maddest on our tour (in the best way, Holly adds) and they’ve done it again today!
Holly: It’s so nice to play an early slot and have so many people come out and see you, have a boogie and still be proper into it like they were today.
Liv: I remember watching the festival on TV years ago and thinking OMG this looks sick, imagine being able to play at that. And I think that the opening slot is the hardest one, especially on the last day when most people are probably really hungover and just thinking ‘I really don’t want to get up this early’.
Harry: Yes, it makes it more gratifying, it’s definitely the most challenging slot of the weekend and then to see people showing up, you’re like ah yes!
Festival gigs expose you to new listeners. Is that more nerve-racking?
Harry: Yes but it’s a lot more gratifying when people who don’t know you turn up and cheer because when you do your own tour even if you f*** up, people are going to cheer. Whereas at a festival you have to play on point. Also it’s sunny, that always gets the best out of you!
You’ve cited many influences but who would you say Crawlers are most influenced by?
Holly: Probably Nirvana overall. We’re all so inspired by completely different things. Amy’s really into Charlie XCX and Abba, I’m really into The Strokes and more songwriter stuff like Phoebe Bridgers, Liv’s the biggest Tool fan (which could account for her five string bass…) and Harry’s really into The Chats and stuff. But when you bring us all together, the one thing in the middle is Nirvana. It’s the one common ground we can all agree on.
Harry: Most of our demos sound like Nirvana songs, it’s only when we go to the studio that they turn into Crawlers songs.
So do you think fans of Nirvana are picking up on that?
Holly: Yes, I think so. There are a lot of people who hear the influence which is great because grunge is almost having a come back like in the early 2000s, it’s like we’re bringing that ‘90s edge back into our songs.
Amy: I think in songs like F*ck Me (I Didn’t Know How To Say), like Harry said, originally (before they got into the studio) it was really grungy, and just sounded like a knockoff Nirvana really!
Holly, your vocals have got a real depth and, for me, I hear you channeling bit of Chrissie Hyde. Do you have to work at that or does it come naturally?
Yes, I mean I have a naturally deep voice but have to work hard at taking care of it. I had classical training and was more of an orchestra and opera kid before the rock band happened, which is hilarious really! I grew up listening to people like Adele and Amy Winehouse so at first I was trying to get those vocal tones then when I went to college and got into music a bit more, I got into rockier sounds like Joan Jet and stuff and kind of embraced my lower voice. But I also played around with my range, just having fun and trying out different styles but still keeping that Crawlers sound, just to keep things alive.
On our first tour I didn’t really have a ‘voice’ before it started and had even less of one when the tour ended! Then we went to American and did a whole American tour driving around in a Chevy. I obviously had no time to rest my voice and just, I guess, had to grow up and get over it. Normally after doing gigs like today I’d be like (she squeaks “I sound like this”) but now I feel like I’ve got more routine and vocal strength. When you’re singing songs which are quite strenuous on your voice, taking care of it is key. So now I do warm ups, cool downs, steaming and drink up to 4 litres of water a day.
You sing a lot about anxiety and depression. Have you suffered and does performing help your mental health?
Holly: I think music for me, especially when I’m writing it, is like a form of journalling and getting those feelings out there that I don’t always think I can say out loud. Obviously working though mental health is so hard and sometimes it isn’t just about anxiety and depression. I suffer a lot from depersonalisation which is what a lot of our earlier songs are about such as Come Over (Again) and I Can’t Drive. And I think that surrounding yourself with people who are completely understanding of your needs and boundaries, like in our touring party, has helped me so much because on those lower days it really helps me feel less anxious.
Finally, have you got an album in the pipeline?
Harry: No we’ve not got one yet but it will happen.
Holly: But we have got some really good stuff on the go. Check out the F*ck Me (I Didn’t Know How To Say) video. We worked really hard on that and we got to use our old drama skills. We’re so proud of that video.
You can check it out here:
Crawlers are heading to Chicago for two dates including Lollapalooza at the end of the month before hitting the Reading & Leeds Festival in August and touring the UK in the autumn: https://www.crawlersband.com/live/.
Watch this space for any album news but in the meantime check out their latest EP: https://labrecords.bandcamp.com/album/crawlers-ep.
Interview and Words: Marie Miller @musingsbymarie
Pictures: Calum Mackintosh @ayecandyphotography