Adam Kennedy talks with Newcastle-based alt-rock outfit Abnorm about their forthcoming EP and impending Tyneside headliner.
How has 2024 been treating Abnorm so far?
Abnorm have been working hard making some new music in 2024 so far. We’ve taken a few months off gigs to write and record our first EP and we have our first headline show coming up, so we’ve been doing a lot of preparation.
What’s it been like working in the studio working on the EP?
We’ve written and recorded three songs for our upcoming EP and we’re calling it ‘Giant’. We recorded ‘Giant’ with Andy Bell at Blast Recording Studios in Ouseburn, Newcastle, and the rest we did ourselves from home. We wanted to do most of it ourselves as we are an independent DIY band. The production and mixing were done by the incredible London-based Alex McArthur as well as the mastering legend, Cicely Balston. We are releasing this EP after our first headline gig on Saturday 10th August at The Cluny in Newcastle.
Tell us a little bit about the inspiration behind the lead track from the EP…
‘Giant’ came from a place of empowerment. I wrote it when I was really angry and to me, the song is about regaining power from when someone has really pushed you too far and hurt you when you were most vulnerable. It’s about when someone that you trusted and cared for turns on you. ‘Giant’ was me saying, to put it politely, “Get gone”. We did this artsy cool music video for ‘Giant’ with Krzysztof Furgała at Caviar Studios, where it all gets more unhinged as the song develops.
Which bands would you say have influenced Abnorm’s sound and musical direction to this point?
When I was growing up, there was a severe lack of representation of women in rock music. I grew up obsessed with Paramore, The Pretty Reckless, Joan Jett, and Janis Joplin. Before I considered starting Abnorm, I was listening to other emerging female-fronted rock bands like Dead Pony, The Mysterines, Black Honey, Yonaka, Nova Twins, Wet Leg, Scene Queen, and Cassyette.
You’ve got a headline show at The Cluny in Newcastle on the 10th August. It’s your biggest Newcastle show so far. How much are you looking forward to getting back on stage?
We’ve really missed playing live gigs together. We’ve had some well-needed time off and rest and now we’re ready to get back to it. I’m a little nervous about playing our first headline gig but we are very prepared. I’ve made some stage decorations in the form of abstract graffiti and we have a few pieces of performance art which you should really come along and see. I can give you a small spoiler: there will be bubbles involved.
Which other bands are appearing on the bill?
It took me so long to choose our supporting bands for this gig because I strongly believe in representation of women, trans people, and people with disability within the music industry. I chose two bands who I am insanely proud of: Gaydar and Not Now Norman. Gaydar are a Newcastle-based punk band and Not Now Norman are a hard-rock band based in Berwick-upon-Tweed. Both bands are absolute unstoppable forces and are really doing bits in terms of representation within the North East music scene.
Abnorm will headline The Cluny in Newcastle on Saturday 10th August. For ticket information and further details, head to thecluny.com.
