Honeyblood
Honeyblood | |
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![]() Honeyblood performing at May 2015 Dot to Dot Festival. | |
Background information | |
Origin | Glasgow, Scotland |
Genres | Indie rock, lo-fi, Garage rock, Punk, Noise rock |
Years active | 2012–present |
Labels | FatCat Records[1] |
Members | Stina Tweeddale Cat Myers |
Past members | Shona McVicar |
Website | honeyblood |
Honeyblood are a Scottish musical duo formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 2012.[2] The band is composed of Stina Tweeddale (vocals and guitar) and Cat Myers (vocals and drums).[3]
History and formation
Shona McVicar from Cumbernauld (drums/vocals) and Edinburgh-born Stina Marie Claire Tweeddale met when the bands they were playing in (Partwindpartwolf and Boycotts, respectively) were playing the same concert. Tweeddale, who wanted to write and play her own music, approached McVicar about playing together. They formed Honeyblood in 2012.[4] Originally, they intended to add other band members to fill out their sound, but they were asked to play gigs as a duo. It was here they realised they "weren’t missing anything musically."[4] After just their second concert at Wide Days music conference in Edinburgh, Honeyblood drew the attention of FatCat Records, who eventually signed them.
Early on the band’s career McVicar was forced to take a break in order to complete her Dentistry degree. During this time, replacement drummer Rah Morriss worked to sustain the band’s growing career.[5] In September 2014 McVicar left the band to pursue other endeavours and was replaced by Cat Myers.[6]
In November 2013 the band travelled to Connecticut, USA to work with producer Peter Katis on their self-titled album.[7] The album was recorded in just ten days. In the winter of 2015, Stina and Cat were joined by acclaimed producer James Dring, who had previously worked with the likes of Jamie T and Gorillaz, at London’s Fish Factory studio to work on their second album Babes Never Die. The album was released by Fat Cat records on 4 November in the UK/EU and 28 October in the US.[8]
They have supported several acts including Foo Fighters, Palma Violets, Sleigh Bells, Deap Vally, Courtney Barnett, We Were Promised Jetpacks and Superfood. They have played showcases for the likes of The Skinny and Vice and festivals including the Great Escape, Wide Days in Edinburgh, T in The Park and SXSW.[9][10][11] They played Belladrum in 2017, televised on BBC Alba.[12]
Speaking about the band’s lo-fi style on Thrift Shop, Paul Lester of The Guardian wrote that "The lead track, 'No Spare Key', sounds like Taylor Swift's 'We're Never Getting Back Together' performed by two Scottish goth-girls doing an impression of the Jesus and Mary Chain in a tomb, or an enervated, dejected Haim in need of a square meal."[9]
Origin of name
The name comes from a Halloween concert that Tweeddale played. She states: "Honeyblood is actually a mixture of water, honey, cornflour and red food dye." She continues: "It comes from a lazy Hallowe’en costume I once made for a gig. I swirled it round in my mouth on-stage. And then I spat it over the audience."[13]
Discography
Albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCO [14] |
UK [15] | ||||||||||||||||
Honeyblood |
|
47 | 99 | ||||||||||||||
Babes Never Die |
|
16 | 50 | ||||||||||||||
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released |
Singles
- "Thrift Shop" (2012, self-released)
- "Bud" (2013)
- "Killer Bangs" (2014)
- "Super Rat" (2014)
- "Black Cloud"/"No Big Deal" (2015)
- "Ready for the Magic" (2016)
- "Sea Hearts" (2016)
- "Babes Never Die" (2017)
- “Walking At Midnight” (2017)
References
- ^ "FatCat Records". FatCat Records: Artists. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "Honeyblood | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ "Honeyblood: About". Honeyblood. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Honeyblood on forming and breaking through". The Scotsman. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ "Interview: Honeyblood | Nicola Meighan". Nicolameighan.wordpress.com. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ Renshaw, David (17 September 2014). "Honeyblood drummer Shona McVicar leaves group". NME. NME. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "Shona McVicar of Honeyblood | Modern Drummer MagazineModern Drummer Magazine". Moderndrummer.com. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ Mumford, Gwilym (3 November 2016). "Honeyblood: Babes Never Die review – catchy fuzz-rock with personality". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
- ^ a b Lester, Paul (31 October 2013). "Honeyblood (New band of the day No 1,630)". The Guardian. The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ Furniss, Olaf; MacKinnon, Derick (9 October 2013). "Under the Radar: Honeyblood at Pleasance Sessions". The Scotsman. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "Shona McVicar of Honeyblood". Modern Drummer. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
- ^ "BBC iPlayer - Belladrum - 2017 Highlights: 21. Honeyblood". 7 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ^ Meighan, Nicola (5 September 2014). "Interview: Honeyblood".
- ^ Peaks in Scotland:
- Honeyblood: "2014-07-20 Top 100 Scottish Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. officialcharts.com/.
- Babes Never Die: "2016-11-11 Top 100 Scottish Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. officialcharts.com/.
- ^ "Official Charts - Honeyblood".