W/ Rachel June
The intriguing sounds of Scared Little Toaster excited ASBO. Their noisy rock/punk music sends electric waves through your body. Listening to the band feels like entering an actual toaster after someone puts a knife into it. Deathly, but worth it. The band just released ‘NO DECAF’, “set against a backdrop of jagged, mathy rhythms and chaotic, noisy bass riffs“. Scared Little Toaster’s sound is a journey – where futuristic in elements swirl amongst a gritty and experimental vortex of vocals and beats. Fun aspects chime through, with unserious lyrics battling against hardcore drums and electric guitar. Find out more about them below:
1. Who are Scared Little Toaster?
We are an experimental noise rock/noise punk bass and drums duo made up of Hugh on bass and Sonny on drums, with the addition of sporadic moments of jazz and the occasional use of a domestic appliance.
2. For someone that is yet to discover you, how would you describe your music?
Intense
Hypnotic
Unpredictable
3. What inspired you as an artist?
The two of us played in different bands for a few years ranging from shoegaze, psychedelic rock to a carnivalesque group. We connected really well and always enjoyed playing the most when the bass and drums were at the forefront of the music and when we could let loose more. We then felt the time had come to get pursue our own project with no other instruments and make music that we love with just bass and drums, and eventually a toaster.
4. What Is Your Pre-Show Routine?
Hugh: A strong cup of coffee followed by at least 12 trips to the toilet before going on stage
Sonny:4-5 beers.
5. Where do you feel you fit into the music landscape?
Alongside other noisy and intense artists whose music combines a range of different musical styles.
6. What are your favourite musical genres, and are there any you dislike?
Things that are generally noisy, fuzzy, loud, and driven by bass and drums go down very well. Experimental rock, Jazzy music, noise and math rock, and music that’s able to seamlessly combine numerous styles in a heavy way. Not a fan of Indie rock with clichéd song structures/arrangements which features tweedy guitar that sounds so thin raw spaghetti strings would do a better job. Also, no Trap music for me!
7. Is there a story behind the band’s name ?
Brave Little Toaster (1987). The most haunting Disney film in existence…
8. What would you say is your greatest strength as an Band /artist? What’s your weakness?
Greatest strength: Having a toaster that can speak for us and make important band decisions.
Weakness: Requiring tap dancing lessons in order to effectively change pedal settings with my feet at shows.
9. What’s on repeat for you right now?
Disco Volante by Mr Bungle and Now by John Patitucci
10. What music artists would you say have influenced your work?
Lightning Bolt, Mike Patton, Ruins, Hella, Clowncore, John Patitucci, Adi Oasis, ’68, Converge and Amenra
11. Who would you most like to collaborate with artistically?
Mike Patton with Chick Corea
12. Worst performance?
When we didn’t have a verbal toaster and I had to communicate with the crowd using a series of consonants and vowels that I produced with hesitation.
13. Biggest obstacle & how did you overcome it?
Failing to defrost bread before putting it in the toaster. We then realised if we sang “Jolene” in Latin backwards to the toaster that it would then be able to toast frozen bread with little to no issues.
14. What is your creative process when making music? Do you work with others or is it just you?
Perched uncomfortably on the corner of my bed, laptop balanced on a wobbly IKEA stool and my pedalboard just within reach – if I dislocate my hip slightly I can just about stomp the fuzz. I then record bass ideas sparked by sounds I’ve made or music I’ve been soaking in. I take these half-formed ideas to Sonny who adds heavy drum grooves. Then together, we absolutely butcher them—rearranging, warping, and reimagining until something new takes shape. A Frankenstein track, born of foot cramps, powerful drum rhythms and feedback.
15. This year, what can we expect?
Actual toast coming out of the toaster, our first festival performance, a unique performance at Skronk’s experimental night at Endeavour in Deptford in September and an EP release bonanza!
