Goat Girl
L.E.D., Clottie Cream, Naima Jelly and Rosy Bones could be characters in a 21st century nursery rhyme. They sound perhaps a bit spooky, but sweet and unassuming. They’re actually the pseudonyms of Goat Girl; Ellie, Lottie, Naima and Rosie, respectively. Banish any visions of sweetness from your mind, they’re a savvy quartet from south London, although still a bit spooky.
The rising four-piece were brought together by, what Lottie calls, “a like-mindedness”. “We all came from music and always saw each other at the same gigs,” she laughs. “Maybe the music bound us together!” Coming up through the DIY so-called scene, south of the river, their scuzzy, raw, garage-pop sound caught the attention of Rough Trade, who signed the group to their label last year.
“It was kind of mad really,” Lottie gushes down the phone. “I think there was a lot of attention in south London at the time, with record labels looking for the next thing to exist for the new generation of music. I think we were just lucky with being in the right place at the right time… It was quite shocking in a way, we hadn’t really had much time to grow with ourselves and our own sounds. It felt kind of rushed at first, but now we’re getting more into the swing of things."
Finding their stride, the band are now gearing up to release their debut album in 2018. “It was all written at a time of feeling like your surroundings are against you and the built up anger that you can express through the words, but then juxtaposed is a melody,” Lottie explains. “Our melodies are always quite soft. I feel like people get it wrong with us that we’re an aggressive band. I don’t think we are, it’s just the words that are.” “I really want to smash your head in,” Lottie sings on “Creep on the Train”. Definitely not a nursery rhyme, the track details the dangers of icky dudes on public transport. “But the actual song itself is really soft and smooth and friendly sounding!” she insists.
Dropping their newest track,“Cracker Drool” in late October, the quartet’s growling guitar sound and drooling vocals hark back to feelings of fiery teenage angst. Their fifth official offering, it’s an off-kilter nostalgia-filled number with dark undertones that’s surely cemented them a space on every “best of the year” round-up going. The girls aren’t that fussed though, all they ask is that you listen to the music, and “kind of zone out and not think of anything else and not be distracted”. I’d recommend making your new year’s resolution to see them live. I dare you to get distracted.
Photography - Jack Minto
Fashion - Mitja Olenik
Hair - Randolph Gray
Makeup - Aga Dobosz
Wonderland Magazine Winter 2017/2018 Issue
