Man/Woman/Chainsaw talk underage gigs, signing to Fiction, and latest single 'Only Girl' for DIY's Class of 2026 • Neu • DIY Magazine

Man/Woman/Chainsaw’s latest single ‘Only Girl’ feels like a true battlecry heading into the new year. As shimmering violins collide with jaunty keys and direct lyricism, the romantic anthem is a clear signpost to where this talented six-piece are heading with their sound.

“It’s really great to have it out and it is a preamble to what’s coming next year,” says vocalist and guitarist Billy Ward as he absently fiddles with the equipment around him, deep within London’s legendary RAK Studios - a recent base for the band as they pull together a bigger body of work. “We’ve got a lot of material coming and it’s a moment of pulling back the catapult really.”

The sense of ambition around the band has only been compounded with their recent signing to Fiction, home to heavyweight legends like The Cure as well as a raft of fresh talent. “I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with the signing, with the record,” says Billy. “Fiction obviously has a lot of prestige and the people really believe in us which is a very special feeling.”

Speaking on some of the iconic names on the wider roster, vocalist and bassist Vera Leppänen adds, “I honestly haven’t really thought about it and if I do I’ll get freaked out.” It’s a modest comment that speaks to the DIY ethics of the sextet - which is completed by Emmie-Mae Avery (vocals, keys/synths), Clio Harwood (violin), Lola Cherry (drums) and Billy Doyle (guitars) - so far. It perhaps makes sense given their early plan was to get out and play as many shows as possible, with the band hitting triple figures for gigs played with barely any recorded material out in the world.

“We’re definitely aiming high, but it’s about just keeping going.”

— Billy Ward

This last year, though, says Billy, was all about expanding the operation beyond the comfort zone of London institutions like The Sebright Arms and The Windmill where they first made a splash. “The way we’ve worked this year was really different with much more touring. We’ve been on the road pretty much all year and we’ve started going out of the capital for shows which has been really cool.”

Vera says it’s been rewarding exploring other scenes across the country as well as playing shows further afield in Europe and beyond. “It’s been really nice to have the opportunity to travel and see more of the world. It’s been great to see the club venues in other cities as well. It’s always quite fun when you see the ripple effect of excitement behind the band when you get out of what you’re used to.”

With milestone shows this year including sets at SXSW and Paradiso in Amsterdam, it’s been rewarding for the band to see the operation scale-up, even though they haven’t noticed it day to day. “I think it’s felt quite gradual to us but incrementally things have grown,” says Vera. “I only ever realise when I’m telling friends or family members what we’ve been up to just how cool it’s all been.”

“Those shows were both massive pinch me moments,” Billy adds before noting the realities of a hard touring band. “In the moment you don’t always process it but you realise afterwards. It will feel amazing and life-affirming in many ways but then also you’re still in a van for eight hours and in a Premier Inn with the same people you’ve spent the last two weeks with.”

“That Premier Inn was way nicer than some of the places we’ve stayed before,” chuckles Vera before suggesting that things are getting easier. “We played a gig recently and we weren’t with our tour manager and I realised I’d forgotten how to do it without our team which says a lot. It does feel sudden that we’re working with this much bigger team of people now. I feel really lucky and it does feel surreal sometimes.”

“I only ever realise when I’m telling friends of family members what we’ve been up to just how cool it’s all been.”

— Vera Leppänen

Given their vast sonic palette, it’s understandable that a myriad of labels have been thrown at Man/Woman/Chainsaw. The truth is though, they don’t see themselves as all that experimental. “I do think we’re quite conventional in the way we write tunes,” says Vera. “I feel like there’s less need to be edgy for the sake of it to be honest.”

Billy agrees with this sentiment. “With this upcoming body of work, we just took every song as it came to us. The songs that hold up when they’re stripped back tend to be the ones that speak to you more, then what we do with the arrangement is a separate conversation. Structurally at the core of it, if it works and isn’t broken then you don’t need to fix it.”

Cue talk circling back to ‘Only Girl’ - which landed just weeks ago - and is, at its core, a great love song. “It’s very different to everything we’ve put out to date,” nods Vera. “I was listening to it the other day and I realised it’s just so happy. I don’t think I’ve ever written a song that’s that happy and I don’t think we have anything else quite like that either. I guess we have been a little bit more adventurous in that sense, not everything needs to be particularly deep or serious.”

She attributes that to new processes that have come since the label deal. “There was this new pressure on us a few months ago to write songs. It felt a bit more balls to the wall with no time for messing around and that was quite a different experience for us.”

With Vera still studying and other members still juggling the band with their own studies and work commitments, she stresses that now more than ever it’s about balancing their time. “I’m graduating next year so I’ll have more time to get this shit done. It’s so hard because I’m working, studying and doing the band so it’s been a learning curve trying to make that time. It’s kind of a bitch but also I guess it’s good practice for the hectic world out there.”

With a monumental year lying in wait, it feels fitting that her goals are relatively humble. “I’m excited to go to Ireland because I’ve never been there,” she answers. “I’m so excited to go to Dublin, that’s going to be really fucking fun, I’ve got to have that good Guinness.”

Steering the ship back on course, Billy chips back in. “We’re definitely aiming high but it’s about just keeping going. We’ve done well this year because we’ve put in a lot of time, dedication and focus. Where we’re at is a result of years of hard work so I think it’s about keeping that attitude and spirit.” Vera nods in agreement. “Basically the grind never stops.”

‘Only Girl’ is out now via Fiction Records.

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