HotWax are a band set on experiencing life at its most intense. In the past two years, the Hastings-via-Brighton trio – comprising Tallulah Sim-Savage (vocals/guitar), Lola Sam (bass), and Alfie Sayers (drums) – have toured extensively, including shows with Royal Blood and Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, and festival appearances at Reading & Leeds and All Points East. Out of this comes debut album Hot Shock (out now on Marathon Artists), a record of adrenaline-jolted anthems about abandoning fear and leaping towards the future. The band recorded live at London’s RAK Studios, perfectly capturing the ‘explosion of colour’ energy of a HotWax show. The band worked with an all-female production team, Catherine Marks (boygenius, Wolf Alice) and Steph Marziano (Hayley Williams, Let's Eat Grandma), with additional recording in Joshua Tree, California. Sim-Savage recalls how Marks was drawn to HotWax after an intimate gig at the Blue Basement in July 2023. “It was the sweatiest gig we’ve ever done – packed,” she says. “Afterwards, Catherine said, ‘I need to record your album. It needs to feel like a party.’” These songs were made to be played loud and with abandon, but also have a vulnerable pulse underscoring them. It's this balance that could propel HotWax to become the UK’s next big crossover rock act.

Deap Vally, HotWax, Maria Iskariot, Hot Wax

Maria Iskariot

Going to Deap Vally, HotWax, Maria Iskariot, Hot Wax?