South London quintet Y talk their formation, the South London scene and new EP 'ENTER' • Neu • DIY Magazine

Community is everything to Y. “I think you were in five bands when I met you,” notes Sophie Coppin, singer and synth player, as she turns to her partner Adam Brennan as they sit at their dining table today, smoking and chattering over one another.

Adam draws another rolling paper, “I was living in Peckham and there was this community of people always playing the Brixton Windmill, and I’d go every week.” He lights the new cigarette. “Eventually these people became our friends.”

Reading Adam’s musical CV charts a who’s who of South London’s storied indie scene. To name but a few of those groups, he has played in Meatraffle, SCUDFM, Sleaze, Pregoblin, Brain Destiny, and most notably Fat White Family. Now, alongside Sophie, he resides in the jolting and grooving post-punk powerhouse that is Y. When speaking about his seemingly insatiable appetite for scuzzy guitar music, Adam is humble: “It’s a bit embarrassing, but it’s my favourite hobby. I’ve played guitar since I was 12 and now I’m in my late 30s - I should be half-decent by now…”

Sophie’s story is a touch different. Much like her partner, she would regularly visit The Windmill, becoming inspired by bands like Madonnatron to write songs in her spare time. Instead of joining in though, she secretly crafted intricate tracks in her bedroom. “I had an ex who played music, he tried to get me involved in a band and it went terribly wrong,” she recalls. “And then I met Adam and that part of me that was a bit secretive organically all came out again - that really opened my mind up.”

The close dynamic between the pair is clear on chatting to them. Both are intensely supportive of one another and quick to champion each other’s talents, especially when it comes to writing music - something they began to share during the pandemic. “We were making a song basically every day,” notes Adam. “Sophie and I would write something then demo it consistently, and later show them to our band.”

“The louder and harder and more obnoxious we are, the more people like it.”

— Sophie Coppin

Equally, outside of the couple, Y is a group that can - and should - be defined as a unit. Alongside Adam and Sophie lies an engine room that is as powerful as it is precise. Featuring Dan GB on bass, Fells on drums and Harry Mchale on sax, the group are a real sight to see live. Developed out of The Windmill’s dank crevices, they create oblique and searing dance-punk that is pocked and checkered with electric new wave pop.

As the quintet ready second EP ‘ENTER’, they do so with a flurry of road-proven tunes that expand their post-punk stylings into broader, darker, and more conscious environs.

“Playing live is integral because we make a demo of a song and the moment we’ve realised the parts, we’re straight in! We always put a new song straight in the set,” beams Adam. “We don’t overthink anything too much,” he adds, before Sophie picks up.

“I actually get more nervous playing a Windmill gig than any of the bigger ones,” she admits, stubbing out another cigarette and looking up. “But basically the louder and harder and more obnoxious we are, the more people like it.”

Y play DIY’s stage at The Great Escape on Friday 15th May alongside Mên An Tol, Aifric, Marsy and Spacestation. Head here to find out more.

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