Cusk
- bizzarre
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
London's Cusk share debut single "Blu Tac Piano" via The Bird.
Cusk have shared their much-anticipated debut single "Blu Tac Piano", a haunting, evocative introduction to the group and one that has already become a live favourite in their early sets. It marks the second release from The Bird, a new tastemaker label from Charlie Wayne (Black Country, New Road) and Mita De (ex-Ninja Tune, ex-Brownswood) who also put out an acclaimed EP for Ninush last month.
Cusk is the alt-rock group fronted by duo Esmé Creed-Miles and Evie Hilyer-Ziegler. The pair met at an improvisation night at the Shacklewell Arms and soon became close friends and collaborators, drawn together by a shared instinct for making music that is raw, exploratory, and emotionally direct.
Since their first show a couple of years back at The Windmill, Brixton, Cusk have quickly become a presence on the London music scene. In that time, alongside select headline performances, they have supported the likes of DIIV, Geordie Greep and Tiberius B.
Their process is intuitive. Songs begin as fragments: voice notes, poems and melodies caught in passing, with full songs taking shape through a process of playing together. Evie and Esmé's musical chemistry is characterized by their juxtaposing playing styles.
In the space between Hilyer-Ziegler's precise, melodic string work, her sirenesque vocals and Creed-Miles’ slackened rhythm guitar and androgynous lyrics, there exists a spectrum of character and femininity. Their songwriting dances along this spectrum, playfully contrasting impulse and control, quiet intimacy and sudden intensity.
At the core of this project is friendship and trust. Writing and performing together allows Creed-Miles and Hilyer-Ziegler to reach something neither could alone. That connection translates into music that draws you into their mood - hood up, inward facing - completely absorbing.
Catch the band live at Sound From Another City Festival, Salford on May 3rd. Further new music and live dates will follow soon.
Photo by Sophie Vroom
