Tummyache

Fronted by Soren Bryce, Tummyache shares new single 'Stop, Drop, Roll'. A project that blurs the line between band and personal confession, Tummyache are a raw and enigmatic expression crafted since inception in 2018. 

Tummyache have carved out a space in the DIY scenes of both the United States and the UK, resonating with listeners who feel the weight of systemic struggles and societal expectations. Bryce’s music pulls no punches; her lyrics confront issues of class, privilege, and inner conflict, inviting listeners to face the harsh realities she lays bare. Moving from Texas to the UK to learn to engineer and produce music, Soren now works alongside Pete Miles at the esteemed Middlefarm Studios in Devon.

Soren says of 'Stop, Drop, Roll', "Directed at big government and big corporations that further extend the general malpractice of societal attitudes, with much more directness. I feel that ‘look at your empire, stop and smell the rose’ with such a sneer. ‘Couldn’t sleep for days thanks to artificial sun’ kind of referring to both the idea of the longer working day due to artificial light becoming available, as well as the blue light of technology and it’s hand in the day to day psyche of humans."

"The final lines of the verses are directed at myself saying all I’ve done is ‘stop drop roll’ (panic, freak out, generally in a sense of there being a fire that needs to be put out) rather than organising and articulating myself against these powers as best I can. Over this is a varisped ‘news announcement’ meant to sound quite inauthentic about caring about people’s safety and well being."

In 2020, Tummyache expanded the lineup when UK-based bassist Linus Fenton joined as a key creative contributor, adding new depth to Bryce’s already evocative soundscapes. A year later, Bianka Baranova, from Slovakia by way of the UK, joined the live band and soon after contributed creatively to the project. Arthur James began drumming with the trio early 2024, after the dissolving of Brighton’s own cult-status hardcore band Negative Measures. Together, the four have infused Tummyache with new perspectives, creating a dynamic interplay that has only deepened the intensity of their music.

Their sophomore album Egosystem released in 2024, is a provocative exploration of ego within the structure of Western society. This album builds on the raw emotion of Soak, as Bryce and her bandmates dissect the roles ego plays in shaping relationships, ambition, and self-identity. As much a philosophical journey as a musical one, Egosystem offers listeners a powerful reflection on personal and societal frameworks, challenging them to confront their own assumptions and desires.