"Play a lot, write a lot, get it all out, don’t overthink, and make music with your friends." — Imogen & The Knife
W: Rachel June
In the heart of South London, a new creative force is emerging from a shared studio space. Meet Thredd, a collective comprised of Max Winter, Will Lister, and Imogen & The Knife. Born out of high-pressure residencies and a shared love for succinct, emotive song writing, they are proving that the best music often comes from simply creating with your friends.
We sat down with the trio to discuss their origins, their "icy" sound, and why tea and good food are the ultimate fuels for creativity.
For the uninitiated, Imogen & The Knife (IATK) describes the Thredd aesthetic as "Cold Pop." It is music designed for the duality of the human experience: "Icy, succinct pop music for those who are up for a party, down for a cry."
This unique sound wasn't just a choice; it was forged under pressure. "Thredd began in a residency where we had to play one live show a week with brand new material," IATK explains. "The deadlines were extreme. We had to be super economical with our time and ideas, but ultimately those constraints led to the music sounding like it does. The biggest obstacle was actually our greatest motivator."
While many bands struggle with the "who does what" of songwriting, Thredd leans into their individual identities. "We all have individual processes that we bring to the table," says IATK. "This album is an exploration of all of those. Each track was a different experimentation; we don’t really have just one way of working."
Max Winter echoes this sentiment, noting that their primary inspiration is simply each other. "We share a studio, so I'm always inspired by what the others are doing." When asked for advice for those starting out, his answer is simple: "Start a collective."
"Play a lot, write a lot, get it all out, don’t overthink, and make music with your friends." — Imogen & The Knife
Despite their "cold" sound, the members of Thredd find warmth in the simple things. For Max, it’s a good cup of tea. For Imogen, it’s "eating good food with loved ones." This grounded nature carries over into their artistic ambitions; while they are heavily influenced by the musical world of acts like Gorillaz, Max dreams of collaborating with film directors to bring their visual world to life.
If you want to catch the "Cold Pop" movement in person, you won't have to wait long. Thredd is hitting the road this September, touring alongside their close friend Slow Cooked.
"You should come!" they urge. Based on their trajectory so far, it’s an invitation you’d be wise to accept.