Words by Rachel June

Enjoy the crisp vocals and dreamy synths as you are whisked away by Cutflowers. The Brighton band have just released their latest single, Sailor, a track full of life and promise. The song itself carries you to a new place, inviting you to be swept along by Cutflower's deep and emotive lyrics, set against an indie rock ballad glowing in the background.

Cutflowers make music perfect for a long train journey, or for playing softly as you contemplate life. Other tracks are more upbeat but carry the same strength. Cutflowers' signature sharp vocals and unique sound set them apart and mark them as ones to watch this year. In a world full of chaos, choose Cutflowers.

1. Who are Cutflowers?

Cutflowers are Kai, Max, George and Charles. We are based in Brighton and we make music together because we discovered a while ago that it was about the only thing we were any good at. We also love it.

2. For someone that is yet to discover you, how would you describe your music?

We write songs in the studio, usually on a laptop or an acoustic guitar, then play it live for a while and put a full-band spin on it. Then we come back and try to blend that punky, atmospheric live energy with the studio sleek electronic sound. I've been trying out the term prog-pop - but I don't yet have the data on if that lands or if I should drop it entirely.

3. What inspired you as an artist?

lots of stuff. we all grew up with our own different backgrounds. Kai (me) grew up listening to bands like The Beatles and film soundtracks. Max and George grew up on more punky/prog stuff, and Charles on a bit of everything. I remember him being into barbershop quartet when I first met him.
looking back at it now, it's kind of a miracle we can make a single cohesive sound together at all.

4. What Is Your Pre-Show Routine?

panic, most consistently. feelings of gratitude and fear. it always surprises us how nervous we get. we reluctantly submit to our chalantness. then - lots of water and a group hug.

5. What song have you got on repeat right now?

Peru by Bungalows.

6. What are your favourite musical genres, and are there any you dislike?

It could sound pretentious but music is music - tones and vibrations affect us. We love the classic band stuff like indie/shoegaze/alternative/etc but anything outside of that is a joy to discover too. I haven't stumbled upon a genre I dislike yet, but you'll be the first to know about it when I do.

7. Is there a story behind the band’s name?

Yeah, Kai's dad had a band called Cut Flowers (two words & a space) in the 2000s. They were quite a hit in Japan. We were looking for a name for a while when we formed, and we pioneeringly put the two words together to make Cutflowers. We didn't like it for a long time but I think it's come to feel like us now.

8. What would you say is your greatest strength and weakness?

We are definitely perfectionists. I love that about everything we do - you can guarantee there was thought behind every decision. But it would be nice to just throw our gear into a van and see where the wind takes us. That nomadic, free-spirited rockstar lifestyle just doesn't come naturally to us. I wish it did. There's still time.

9. What has challenged you in the industry?

The idea that there isn't really 'an industry' in the standardised, bureaucratic sense. The industry is a sort of vague, abstract idea like oz. In truth, its a handful of friends who are friends with some slightly more powerful and usually slightly older friends. And there's nothing wrong with that - it keeps the music we love alive. But it's slightly daunting to look at when you start out, because friends... can be flaky.

10. What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?

Be okay with falling flat on your face. I'm right there with you, we're still trying to figure that out.

11. Who would you most like to collaborate with artistically?

Frida Kahlo.

12. What music artists would you say have influenced your work?

So many people that we are too embarrassed to name. It's like a magician giving away his tricks. I will say, when we met in secondary school, we bonded over Billie Eilish, Radiohead, 5SOS, Muse. That's unavoidable Cutflowers lore for us.

13. Fun fact about the band?

We have twins in the band - Max and George. But they actually have different birthdays. March 28th and 29th, born 4 minutes apart. Fun, right? I think that's cool.

14. What is your creative process when making music?

Usually someone writes something out of complete accident, doesn't like it, then someone else hears it and adds a spin on the idea, which turns the original creator back onto it and the whole band finishes it. It's almost always very accidental. Which is why you have to always get up and give anything a try.

15. What can we expect in 2026?

We're loving recording at the moment. We have some songs live that we want to put into a listenable format. It's daunting committing to a version of a song you have heard in a thousand different settings, but it's also really fun exploring the vast edges of what a song could sound like in the studio. So - we'll release those. With some cool music videos. And gigs.