"In an era of self-consciousness and image, the band launch into Girl, God, Gun—a manifesto for their ethos." — Jean Genie
W: JeanGenie Hayes I: Joe Loughrell
Jovial, fierce, and fun-loving, Gen and The Degenerates are far more than your standard guitar outfit. Backed by a high-energy band featuring pacy drums and tight riffs, front person Gen brings an uncompromising "punk punch" to the stage. Following a hot tip from Skunk Anansie’s Ace, I caught up with Evan, Gen, and Jay backstage in Brighton at The Great Escape to talk road trips, song writing, and the perils of long hair.
"Watching my mum work to undo Jake’s hair from the bass headstock while we continued playing... I’ll never forget it." — Jay
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The band made the mammoth trek from the Preston and Manchester area to Brighton, a journey that required a diverse soundtrack. Drummer Evan Reeves noted they bounced between the heavy sounds of Mastodon and the post-punk of The Murder Capital, with a splash of jazz for good measure. Vocalist Genevieve Glynn-Reeves added that their tastes are famously eclectic, though she personally leans towards country tunes and surf rock to pass the miles on a long drive.
"You have to make space for fun and joy. No one is going to turn around and tell you it's okay to take a break, so you just have to do it anyway." — Gen
When it comes to creating their own sound, the process is just as varied. Bassist Jay Humphreys explained that songs can start from a single riff or a full composition, but their best work often emerges from simply jamming in a room together. For Gen, song writing serves a deeper purpose: "It’s a way to take those thoughts outside of myself and into something I can clarify," she shared, describing it as a tool to navigate mental spirals and understand the world.
Music hit the band members early. Evan recalls his dad blasting Jane’s Addiction while he was a toddler, while Jay’s obsession began the moment he heard Metallica’s Battery. For Gen, it was the stirring power of Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain that first revealed what music was capable of. Today, that passion translates into a live show where spontaneity is key. While Evan loves the crowd-favourite Girl God Gun, and Jay enjoys the bass-heavy Anti-Fun Propaganda, Gen prefers to let the energy of the audience dictate her favourite moment each night.
Of course, live performance has its hazards. The band fondly remembered a gig where guitarist Jake’s hair became entangled in Jay’s bass headstock mid-song. In true "show must go on" fashion, they continued to play while Gen’s mum and a friend performed an emergency extraction on stage. It’s this sense of groundedness—and a shared love for worshipping cats and improv comedy—that makes the band so endearing.
Securing a tour with Skunk Anansie was a "step up to the plate" moment for the band, and they’ve been riding that wave of momentum ever since. While they are keeping their cards close to their chest regarding official release dates, they confirmed that new music is coming "very soon" this year. Their ambitions remain a mix of the practical and the revolutionary: Evan wants streaming royalty reform and a communal "Degenerate HQ" for their pets, while Gen is wishing for universal basic income and free healthcare.
After our chat, I watched the band take to the stage and quite literally blow the roof off. In an era often stifled by self-consciousness, seeing a bald-headed Gen in a tutu confidently commanding the crowd is a breath of fresh air. As they launched into Girl God Gun, it was clear that Gen and The Degenerates aren't just a band; they are a manifesto for being unapologetically yourself.