Words and photos by Grace King
Chest is an indie five-piece from Norwich – Joel (vocals), Stan (Guitar), Russel (Guitar) Will (Bass) and Teo (Drums). ASBO caught up with them before they headlined the New Noise at Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom – a showcase of up-and-coming local acts.
Q: Where did the name Chest come from?
J: Basically I have a massive chest tattoo and that’s kind of why I wanted to call it Chest and also I really like the band name Elbow – I just liked the idea of a band name that’s a body part – it’s just kind of cool.
The band released their second EP ‘Bodies’ – a melting pot of shoegaze and indie influences, built on the foundations of their seminal singles, ‘Dissaray’ and ‘Waterslide’.
Q: What’s your favourite song to play from the EP?
S: it sort of varies, I feel like ‘Pangolin’ is one of our favourite songs off the EP – I feel like Elvis is a lot of fun to play though just because it has quite a lot of changes, it’s chill then really intense – but I think that’s one that we all find a bit tricky, timing-wise.
In September, they won the ‘best new band’ award at the NMG (New Music Generator) Awards, an initiative which celebrates the best of artists based in East Anglia.
Q: You got nominated and won ‘best new band’ at the NMG awards, how did that feel?
S: I was pretty…
T: drunk.
S: We were on another level, I don’t think we expected to win anything so we were just there to have a good time. And then we had to go on stage and deliver the worst speech of the night. Our mate (and fellow Norwich artist) $ebbuku won an award and did this most lovely, earnest sort of speech. And then we just come on stage and were like, “Err Seb give us a YOW, oh Joel – Joels not here!”
T: We said Joel like 8 times.
J: I wasn’t there and I watched the speech online – they just went on stage and said my name a bunch. I don’t even know if they thanked anyone.
R: Nope
J: They thanked me.
S: I think what we learnt is that we’re not very functional without Joel in social situations, so we’re not doing that again!
Q: Is there any new music on the way?
S: We are currently recording a string of singles for next year, I think this last year we’ve been finding some songs which show a development from the EP.
We’re trying to focus on more of a visual aesthetic now that we’ve got our sound sort of where we want it, we’re working with certain photographers and artists that we really admire because we’re not very artistic people in that sense. We’re better at the music than the actual visual-ness.
After achieving awards, doing loads of gigs and a recent feature on BBC Introducing for Suffolk and Norfolk what are the bands goals for 2025?
S: Last year we did 10 gigs, so we sort of set a goal to try and double that this year- so I think we’ve just about done 21 gigs. Next year, 40?
Weve done a lot of gigs in London this year so maybe trying to go further out
T: Keep working hard…
R: and at least 4 more songs.
J: Give a better speech at the NMG.
T: If we’re invited back!
Catch Chest in the New Year supporting The Lounge Society at Voodoo Daddy’s on the 29th of January.
