Witch Post: 'We want to bring back band music'

“We want to bring back band music, make it less boring and one-dimensional,” said Witch Post in a recent interview. It’s a bold statement, but on stage, as in the studio, it’s evident from their sound that the experimental London-based duo are intent on bending new ideas to their will. Their intoxicating songs incorporate all manner of unexpected elements: crunchy riffs, jarring silences and whispers of midwest emo vocals.

Growing up in rural Scotland and Montana respectively, bandmates Dylan Fraser and Alaska Reid’s separate journeys collided in an intense, meaningful way when they arranged a joint writing session in London in late 2022, after connecting via social media. They had previously released material as solo artists, but both became somewhat disillusioned with their output, with Fraser eventually exiting a major label contract. Witch Post soon became their space to flex and finesse a fresh musical identity.

Their newly released EP Beast feels like a meeting of minds, reminiscent of the otherworldly feel of Surfer Rosa era Pixies with a touch of Perfume Genius-style pop fantasias. Its tracks have the potential to be catnip for a new generation of rock fans – the youthful, big-chorused magic of Chill Out should make it a festival favourite come summer.

Having already played a series of sold-out gigs in the capital, could Fraser and Reid make the jump to indie stardom? With forthcoming appearances at the Great Escape and Pitchfork music festival in the diary, it’s hard to see them retaining cult status for much longer.