Dry Cleaning: Unconventional, Unassuming yet Uncontrollable — The Future of British Music.
Dry Cleaning are an English post-punk band formed in South London in 2018, primarily known for their unique style of spoken word in place of sung vocals, and their unconventional lyrics. The band’s early releases saw them placed within the post-punk genre, although similar to the way in which IDLES and Fontaine’s D.C are placed within this category, it is almost unfair to box such a niche band into one particular genre. The early success of the band has seen them perform multiple KEXP live sessions, an appearance on the Later … Live with Jools Holland show performing their single ‘Scratchcard Lanyard’ from London’s MOTH Club, whilst also being included as part of the NME 100 of 2020. Dry Cleaning are about to take over.
There is something truly captivating about this band. Everything they do, they do in such a nonchalant manner that adds to their natural charisma which oozes through their music. Dry Cleaning were originally comprised of Lewis Maynard, Tom Dowse, and Nick Buxton — old friends whose previous bands had occasionally crossed paths in London. The three met at a house party and were reacquainted over their love of Deftones, ultimately proving to be the unlikely catalyst to form their own band. The trio spent months and months carefully curating the sound that we now know as Dry Cleaning, but there was still a key element missing. Dry Cleaning were crying out for a singer. Tom Dowse, the guitarist, was an art student studying at Royal College of Arts noticed that his best friend and fellow student Flo Shaw would be the missing piece they had been looking for. Flo had never performed on stage in a musical capacity, and as such was totally against using her singing voice, but this proved to be the masterstroke that would send Dry Cleaning to the big time.
Flo’s use of the spoken word as opposed to sung vocals allowed for enhanced execution of lyrics that she had spent years and years compiling together. Flo stated recently in an interview that with a notepad and pen always at the ready, she carefully absorbs everything life throws at her. Flo writes lyrics about anything and everything, wherever she is, the Dry Cleaning lead vocalist explains: “At the time I was looking around for how one might write lyrics, and what kind of tone of voice I wanted the songs to have — whether I wanted to write as myself or someone else, as a character or whatever. I guess because I was thinking about songs and songwriting for the first time in my life, I suddenly became interested in what people had to say about how songs made them feel.” Honestly, this is how clever she is as a lyricist. You know that ferry that got stuck in the Suez canal? Don’t be surprised to hear about it in a Dry Cleaning song that Flo will somehow manipulate to resonate on a deep level with you.
Dry Cleaning’s sharp melodies and Flo’s lyrics complement each other perfectly, for an example of how they create these songs that are so encapsulating, you only have to look to their hit single ‘Magic of Meghan’. A wholehearted punky affair that builds from a palm-muted guitar into an eclectic blend of fiery riffs and chaos. Flo wrote the song about how Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s engagement coincided with the same day that her relationship ended, and as Flo details the events of that day, you can’t help but obsess over her every word. In the song, Flo says: “You got engaged on the day that I moved out” quickly following up this line in a psychotic manner by shouting “IT’S OK!” all the while maintaining her deadpan vacant emotions that are utterly compelling from start to finish. The lyrics essentially carry very little meaning, they’re not intrusive or thought-provoking, but through the use of spoken word and the band’s unassuming yet uncontrollable sound, it is simply electrifying.
Now, with this band, the easy thing to do would be to concentrate solely on Flo and her enthralling, subdued, spoken delivery of lyrics, but that would be doing a disservice to the rest of the band. Their debut album release ‘New Long Leg’ is the work of a hugely focused group whose genre-bending music makes it unfair to box them into the post-punk genre. Pitchfork Magazine explains their latest album contains elements of Black Sabbath, The Smiths, and The Strokes, albeit Dry Cleaning appears more intimidating than all of them. Much like a horror film, the scariest ones are often the ones that mess with you psychologically as opposed to thriller, jump-out-of-your-seat scary. Their artistic background and desire to convey certain emotions out of the listener display how clever the band are, whilst Flo’s disparate imagery adds a more daunting aspect that would send chills through even the sternest critic.
However, despite all of this and with the success of their debut album the whole band have maintained their day jobs. Flo and Tom still remain as university lecturers, whilst Nick builds furniture, and Lewis works with adults with learning difficulties. Tom explains on living the lives of lavish rockstars: “We’re trying not to get too far ahead of ourselves. Rock ’n’ roll fame and fortune is a fickle world, you know?”. The thing is, Dry Cleaning could definitely live the rock n roll lifestyle. They have that groundbreaking, fuck you sound to them, but then again, it also wouldn’t be totally surprising to see them elope to a Cotswolds cottage. The best thing about Dry Cleaning is you never know what is going to come next from them, but whatever they produce, it always seems to hit so hard due to the sheer uniquity of their music and individual charm. Dry Cleaning are building something so special, and soon these guys will be one of Britain’s biggest bands.
