Introducing Get To Know… Jockstrap

Meet the student duo making delightfully disorientating pop.

8th January 2019

Hello and welcome to DIY’s introducing feature, Get To Know… With two new acts a week, the feature pretty much does what it says on the tin: getting you a little bit closer to the buzziest new acts that have been catching our eye as of late, and working out what makes them tick.

We’ve recently introduced you to South London indie rock project HUSSY as well as brilliant Stockholm-based newcomers Viagra Boys. We’ve also chatted to Lala Lala, the Chicago-based project of Lillie West, Paris post-punks Rendez Vous, Brisbane’s Hatchie, Oslo’s Girl In Red and Cannibal Hymns-signed Brighton newcomer NANCY. Today, we’re talking to Jockstrap.

Led by Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye, the band formed at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama last year, where they recorded their debut mini-album ‘Love Is the Key to the City’ alongside a 21-piece string orchestra. On the duo’s new track ‘Charlotte’, the band continue their trademark love of the eclectic, mixing soft vocals and lush jazz elements that expands into a sprawling, jarring experimentation with synths.

Speaking about the track, Georgia explains: “The track is an account of intimacy and infatuation. It’s a 6/8 ballad; yet it’s erratic, it’s in several tenses, and it fragments and explodes frequently. It’s all over the place emotionally, but structurally - it’s pretty solid. I think it’s my favourite track we’ve written.”

Listen to the track and get to know the band better in our interview below.

Describe your music to us in the form of a Tinder bio…

Georgia: Well we both don’t believe in Tinder bios because they always turn out lame. So if we had to, probably something brief and to the point. ‘Alternative pop music’ would do.

What’s your earliest musical memory?

Georgia: mine was my first violin lesson when I was 5. I remember being taught how a beginner holds a bow and whipping it about as part of a fun exercise.

Taylor: mine is playing ‘We’re Walking In The Air’ on the piano at my auntie’s birthday.

Who were some artists that inspired you when you were just starting out (and why)?

Georgia: Our friends who were making amazing music around us inspired us. Our friend Ethan P Flynn was (and is) writing amazing electronic music. I remember going into his room in halls and playing violin or singing on his track and just thinking, wow I wanna be making the sort of music I’d want to listen to. I was in a post-punk band called Nervous Conditions, and I was in awe at the writing, and at all the musicians in the band who made It such a musically rich and exiting show. Other than friends, I was listening to a lot of Paul Simon and The Lemon Twigs when I began writing. I was inspired a lot by their compositional techniques and harmonic structure.

Taylor: Yeah same as Georgia friends-wise - we’re surrounded by some really talented people. When I was starting out my main inspirations were Stevie Wonder, Flux Pavilion, James Morrison, Muse and Bach.

You’re based in London - what’s the music scene like there at the moment? Are there other artists breaking through at the same time that you take inspiration from?

Georgia: The music scene in London is always vibrant. Right now, artist doing really great things on the scene that I admire are Great Dad, Taylor Skye (Taylor’s solo project), Black Country New Road, Squid, Ethan P Flynn.

Taylor: Yeah, loads of amazing stuff - Black Country New Road, Ethan P Flynn, Otta, Ersatz (and everyone from Gaez).

Who would be your dream collaborator?

Georgia: Oooh, right now it would be Oneohtrix Point Never or Scott Walker.

Taylor: I’ve just got fully back in to James Blake to it would be him.

Musically or otherwise, what are you most looking forward to going into 2019?

Georgia: I’m looking forward to having some down time. 2018 was really busy and I’m looking forward to getting my dissertation out the way, starting new projects I’ve been meaning to start for ages, and hopefully collaborating with other musicians. Fingers crossed its the year for Jockstrap.

Taylor: I’m releasing loads of solo music this year so I’m just looking forward to gigging and releasing that. There’s some new Jockstrap stuff coming too which I’m really excited about.

If people could take away one thing from your music, what would it be?

Georgia: I think we just want people to enjoy listening and watching our music. It’s a bonus if they appreciate the work we put into the tracks and the live show!

Taylor: Agreed. I hope people can just crack open a cold beer and smoke something naughty and just enjoy the music.

Tags: Jockstrap, Features, Interviews, Neu, Get to Know