Naming icons like Blondie, The Donnas and Kim Wilde, as well as Wet Leg and Wolf Alice as their biggest influences, these four feisty ladies are no strangers to the music scene. Formed out of the ashes of The Amorettes and Tequila Mockingbyrd, The Hot Damn! boasts the talents of Gill Montgomery (The Amorettes), Josie O’Toole (Tequila Mockingbyrd), Laurie Buchanan (Aaron Buchanan and the Cult Classics) and Liz Hayes (New Device/Sophie Lloyd band).
Who inspired you to make music?
I think it was discovering the Riot Grrrl movement that really got me comfortable with the idea of actually making it. I had been a fan of all types through high school and it wasn’t till I discovered these girls and movement that things really began to click. They were so fierce, dedicated and ballsy and promoting the word that girls should be doing this too. It wasn’t living it first hand but trying to research everything I could from the internet at the time.
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
I guess when streaming became the main source of music that’s when a lot of bands started to suffer financially. Cds are going to be irrelevant soon and for a touring band that’s half of your income. I guess there needs to be a fairer way for bands to recoup their art and product through streaming. On the other hand, social media is more useful than ever for up and coming musicians to be discovered and to gain new fans. It’s a massive case of swings and roundabouts.
Have you got a ritual of sorts when making music?
Not ritual as such just trying to get ideas out of your brain and into people’s ears is tricky sometimes and I’m still working on it! It involves a lot of post-its, a lot of voice memos and notebooks. I usually do a (very crap) demo of a song that I’ve been humming into my phone and then send it to the girls to listen to and give me feedback on. We usually take the best of the bunch and try to flesh them out together in the studio. The lyrics usually come last and are a joint effort as I’m rubbish at lyrics. Our guitarist Laurie will then do an overall (audible) demo which we can take into the studio.
How would you describe your music?
Fun cheesy pop rock with sparkly riffs and bucket loads of ‘tude – like a slap of stilton to the face. It’s hard to describe but musically I’d say if Blondie had a baby with Blink 182 we would be the earworm friendly offspring. We love everything from RATM to the Venga boys so it’s a bit of a mixture of everything in between.
What’s next for you?
We are currently writing demos for our debut album, which we will be recording in early 2023, with the album being released in the spring/ early summer. We will be touring all over the UK then too and hope to widen our fanbase into Europe.
What are your top two favorite songs of all time? Why those songs?
Heroes by David Bowie and Creep by Radiohead. They seem to touch parts of my brain that spark the most emotion and connection I’ve ever felt with a song like an aural spinal tap. They are universal. And also bangers.
What was the last series you watched on TV?
I’ve just finished watching Dahmer on Netflix. Some gory gritty stuff right up my street! If you haven’t seen it (and have a strong stomach) I would highly recommend it.
What do you think the greatest invention has been?
Tipp-ex
Do you have any lucky items, objects, or traditions?
I used to have this thing where I would wear the same sweatband on the same wrist the same way around for years as I thought I would have a bad show without it. It started to get really gross after 8000 washes so I had to sadly abandon it and get a grip.
If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?
Are all these agonizing gym sessions ever going to pay off?
If you had to describe yourself as a flavor, what would it be?
Banoffee pie mixed with alka-seltzer
The Hot Damn! say – pop punk is officially back huns! Hailed as the ‘colourful chaos’ of rock, the all-female British four piece share their brand new single ‘Live Laugh Love’, out everywhere now.
‘Live Laugh Love‘ is described by the band as “a giant dose of good time, cheesy rock“. A sugar-infused power pop anthem GUARANTEED to make you smile – it was recorded in Doncaster and mixed in Australia – and is accompanied by a sickly sweet video shot at a caravan park on the Costa del Morecambe (Lancashire).
Speaking of the track, Gill says, “Back to normal from riding the epidemic train, and discovering the joy of “reliving” your life felt like a very fitting message for our new single. Making plans and making the most of things in general, and not giving a crap is more important than ever. It’s a parody of those kitsch yet cringeworthy motivational signs you would find in cheap and cheerful homeware shops, which were very popular in the late naughties. Considering the irony…..we wanted to bring back the essence of the message with a humorous twist.
We want people to embrace the cheese! It really is a case of a full on slap of stilton in the face! To have people reflect and move on from the miserable time of the pandemic, and just embrace the other side with guns blazing. Shake off their miserable side and just enjoy whatever it may be! Life! Love? New music! Positivity!”
