Words by Adora Mekuleyi. Photography by Olly Bromidge. Lighting/ Lighting Assistant Fuji George-Fukuda
Self described as, hip slick and washed up, insert eyeroll here; the infamous Gossip Queens (of London or online, depending on when you discovered their instagram), are leaving their greasy mark on London one gig at a time. In the words of Atkin, when asked who Gossip Queens were and who their influences are, “Neither of us go out clubbing unless it’s for an artist… there’s not really any regular events that I feel like I really want to go to. We wanted to create the night that we wanted to be at.”, and create the night they want to be at- they have.
Fronted by Atkin and Charlie as the figureheads of the electronic dance machine that is Gossip Queens, the two describe their creative process as fluid, with Atkin stating that, “I’ve always found the genesis of ideas really easy, in the sense that to make something cool and palatable you have to expose yourself to as much weird shit as possible. And then some subconscious part of you is drawn to a really unique idea like a melody or an interval or a drumbeat… and it sort of grows from there. I listen to my songs and I just hear all of the different stuff that I’ve brought in.”.
If there’s a defining moment in Gossip Queens’ rise, it might just be their gig at The Victoria. The sold-out show was a sensory overload—a room so tightly packed the walls seemed to hum with the crowd’s energy. “It was sweaty, it was hot, we were weird,” Charlie recounts remembering the way the atmosphere fed into their performance. With support from Hot Property and Gingerella, the lineup brought together an audience as eclectic as the band itself—fans who hadn’t quite known what to expect but left buzzing.
For Gossip Queens, the gig was proof of their ability to transcend scenes and defy expectations. “There were so many people who hadn’t seen us before,” Charlie notes. “And that’s what I want every time—new faces, new energy. I never want to see more than sixty percent of the same crowd at any show.” The night encapsulated everything the duo strive for: breaking down tribalism in music, pulling people into their unique world, and curating a live experience that feels just as experimental and electric as their sound.
The two don’t tread lightly when talking about the current scene, when asked where they see themselves fitting into the current London music scene Atkin replied, “In London? I have no idea…I feel that if you are following a certain route or if your band has a recognisable style, you’d have to be a lot better than we are… whereas if you have a good concept and your sonic and visual Moodboard is a whole new idea… like what is the point of being The Strokes 2”. Charlie cuts in slyly, “Or The Libertines 12”, it’s a cheeky jab but great music comes from a bit of competition, make of it other bands as you wish.
What Gossip Queens do instead is akin to what Erol Atkin did when he was tired of the late 1990s electronic music club scene in London which resulted in the formation of the infamous Trash nights, he took what works and added his own edge to it. Their live shows have drums and guitar, taking the traditional indie rock route, but their lack of bassist subverts the traditional rock trope, however pays homage to The White Stripes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs; their use of a proper synth is alike LCD Soundsystem, perhaps one of the godfathers of the electroclash scene, but they have an air of youth and an unmistakable english edge. They write about what they have lived through, sleepless nights around Soho and east London, girls on guest lists, fashion, hair, booze and drugs, although originally hailing from Wales and Norwich.
However, although Gossip Queens are a band inspired by bands inspired by the forthcoming of the digital age such as, “Damon R, 2Hollis, The Hellp, silicon valley”, both Charlie and Atkin shun modern social media, with Charlie stating “ I think the age of TikTok music artists is one of the most depressing things.” Atkin follows up the point blank statement adding, “Obviously you have to be in the room, you have to have an account, but it’s kind of insane to me to see how eager people are to play exactly within the rules. The fact that there are TikTok video formats is kind of crazy when really all it is is short form video… Like why is everyone doing this? Why is everyone showing their mums their songs in the car?” Integrity, to them, is everything. And you feel it in their music, their shows, their outlook.
From a first glance at the two, their statements seem cocky, but fortunately for the two they do walk the talk and talk the walk, Gossip Queens live shows are unmatched and often sold out. What’s next? “New York in spring, maybe Philly,” Atkin says with a measured excitement. Charlie adds, “We really believe in less is more. We want to sell out every gig we play… It’s about making the whole Gossip Queens experience unlike anything else, but still sitting in the same circle.”
Gossip Queens, hip slick and washed up, drums meet synth in one sleazy package, catch them before they slip out your grasp!
Gossip Queens : instagram.com/gossipqueensonline
