Self Torque x Rankd
Experience the loud 'n' lively sounds of Self Torque in their latest single - (All The Things I) Wannabe
Self Torque are a Brighton-based DIY punk three-piece crafting exciting tracks which simultaneously call to mind the heavy hitting old-school punk of the 1970s and more recent DIY-ers, with shades of The Clash’s social commentary and the throbbing riffs of Fugazi. Since their formation ‘out of the ashes of various bands’ two years ago, Self Torque (Gabriel MacKenzie on vocals and guitar, Luke Ellis on drums and Jay Cross on bass) have enjoyed high attendance at their hugely popular live shows. Rankd spoke to Gabriel fresh off their gig at New River Studios in and the exciting drop of their new single and video (All the things I) Wannabe.
Graziela Williams: Thanks for being with us today! We love the new track, can you speak to its influences?
Gabriel MacKenzie: I wrote it while I was at work in a van on a cold and wet day. Its about identity and not knowing what you want and who you are, the extremes you can flip between while fantasising about a different life and the contradictions that brings up.
GW: Would you say that those themes of frustration under capitalism are always present in your work?
GM: Yeah, probably. It’s not usually nice things that inspire me, more the frustration of living in a system like this, working – or not working – and relationships.
GW: I hear that, the new track almost reminded me of ‘Country House’ by Blur, how idolising a certain way of living can be toxic. What do you feel has really challenged you in your time on the Brighton music scene?
GM: I think, about the scene itself being challenged, that the Brighton music scene has recovered from Covid but its not the same. There’s a real difference between the pre and post Covid scene.
GW: For sure.
GM: And then, in terms of Self Torque, our challenge is that we don’t fit into a box. But that’s something I always like about artists so I’m not too fussed about that.
GW: The new video is brilliant, we love the visuals! It’s out under Sugar-Free Records, how did that collaboration come about?
GM: I’ve known Chris (of Sugar-Free) from playing with bands over the last ten years. I wanted to put the record out with someone independent, someone I know, so it made a lot of sense.
GW: Absolutely. Is there anything you’ve got coming up that you’re excited about?
GM: Our album is coming out at the end of January, and we’ll be dropping three more singles before then. We’re actually doing a secret show somewhere in central Brighton on November 22nd, so keep an eye out for that.
Self Torque’s debut album ‘A Brutal Nadir’ will drop on the 30th of January 2025 via Sugar-Free Records. Their brilliant, biting new single ‘(All the things I) Wannabe’ is available on all steaming platforms, and the excellent accompanying video is on YouTube.