English Teacher

Photo by Sara Carpentieri

Name, where are you from?
English Teacher, we’re from all over but met and live in Leeds.

Describe your style in three words?
Urban Outfitters Sale.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Was right at the front with my best mate for The Last Shadow Puppets at Castlefield Bowl in 2016 where they brought out Johnny Marr as a surprise and covered 'Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me' and 'Totally Wired' by The Fall. I actually fell on the way in and couldn’t move my arm the whole night but it was incredible.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
Silver Jews because he rarely did live shows and Pixies because it would be sick.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
As much as it makes me cringe now, my best friend and I found a lot of comfort in the queer-accepting, self-expression promoting hellscape that was Tumblr during our teenage years. I think the whole art-hoe, hipster, indie-rock bands, YouTubers and Wattpad scene actually had a huge impact on the way I dress, the music I listen to, the books I read and the films I watch. I used to call the genre of music I write ‘Art-Hoe Psychedelia’ - art-hoe being a subculture that emerged on Tumblr for women of colour who expressed themselves through the arts. Sadly the phrase has now been whitewashed, and associating myself with that fifteen-year-old makes me cringe, but it’s important to recognise these things.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Wendy Carlos - A synth pioneer. Her soundtrack to 'A Clockwork Orange' still blows my mind to this day. Would mainly spend the whole hour looking at her synth room and not understanding it.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
We’re from Leeds so there’s only one choice. The one and only Brudenell Social Club. There’s nowhere quite like it. A beautiful place with great beer and great bands.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Poly Styrene was not only one of the first female punk musicians, but she was also a woman of colour, which made her a complete anomaly in the '70s punk scene. This, combined with the social commentary of her lyrics and her disregard for sounding ‘pretty’ is why she is hugely inspirational to me.

English Teacher recently released their new track 'R&B'. Listen, purchase or stream it via pias.ffm.to/3gx5rd.