Fresh

Atop a brightly fuzzed-out guitar loop, she lets her frustrations loose
Stereogum
 
“It's as fun and catchy as it is biting and vicious.”
Brooklyn Vegan

 

London punks Fresh have shared a brand new video for 'Why Do I', the closing track of their new album 'Raise Hell'. The track resolves the record with our protagonist breaking free of a toxic relationship, joyously riding into the sunset singing doo-wops. It’s the first time on the album that the inner conflict settles, and contentment takes precedence. 

Talking about the new video, lead singer and principal songwriter Kathryn Woods said “After getting back from an intense UK tour, we thought it'd be nice to have a fun day out at the beach on the bands dime. A seagull stole one of our doughnuts, and another one pooped on Dan. They may have been the same seagull, we will never know.”

On the track itself, she expands; “Sadness and self-doubt are acknowledged and present on ‘Why Do I’, but they don’t hold power over you anymore. There’s power in starting from scratch. Think Nicole Kidman signing divorce papers in 2001-vibes. There’s a real catharsis and joyous presence to this song, upbeat do-woop vocals, guitar riffs with a touch of delay and soaring lead vocals make it a great note to end the record on."

Fresh have been an unwavering fixture within the UK punk scene since their first record in 2017. A joy to behold live, Woods honed her craft not only fronting Fresh but as a member of several heralded indie and punk bands, including cheerbleederz and ME REX alongside Fresh bandmate Myles McCabe. 

 
Their new album radiates with their signature mischievous British charm and flourishes of brilliant pop punk flair – though underestimate Fresh at your peril. ‘Raise Hell’ dares to dive deeper than most, delivering Woods’ darker moments and contemplative thought processes through the sharply focussed lens of upbeat indie punk. 

Since the pandemic, the band have been working tirelessly behind the scenes writing and recording. They released their EP The Summer I Got Good at Guitar (produced by Rich Mandell at Resident Studios and Marketstall Studios in London) in Spring 2021, to praise from Upset, Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, BBC6 Music, Radio X and more. Since their inception they’ve toured with the likes of The Beths, Jeff Rosenstock, PUP, Adult Mom and more, releasing two albums in the process and amassing a devoted fanbase following appearances at Fest, Manchester Punk Festival and The Fiest in Madrid amongst others. For a band that have existed for a relatively short period of time, the four-piece have already released a hefty catalogue of work – prolific, ever evolving and always fresh (in every sense of the word).