This week we're getting familiar with ethereal goth balladeers 'Modern Coven' for a brief spell before their gig at The Grove this Friday, we tried to get another pun into this intro but, curses! We couldn't think of one!
How did you meet?
We met in 2012 while studying at the same college doing different courses, so we almost never crossed paths until we connected via socials, one day we just decided to go for a coffee together because the vibes were clearly unmatched and we’ve been close friends
since. We started making music together around 2018-2019.
Who are your biggest influences for your music
Ruth - My biggest influences come from a mix of the soundtracks you might find in existential horror films and my dads music taste - I grew up on The Steets, Radiohead, Aphex Twin, a LOT of reggae, and naturally converted to the 2000’s 3rd wave Emo phase. My favourite artists now and in the last decade would have to be Alex G, Big Thief, and heavier stuff like 90’s sludge rock Acid Bath and Chat Pile. Right now though I can’t stop playing Magdelena
Bay, which is cute synthy dream pop. I basically love anything that evokes some sort of sense of painful, all-consuming yearning for something or someone unreachable!
Aly - I really do love all kinds of music, especially Blues, 90s rock/grunge and 2000s pop. I could be here all day listing my favourites but the ones who inspire me the most when creating for Modern Coven have to be, Lana Del Rey, Massive Attack, Radiohead, The Marías & Portishead.
Which witch would you most love to be?
Ruth- The one in The Witch directed by Robert Eggers, you know - the one you only see for a split second but haunts you for the rest of your waking life!
Aly- Definitely a water witch / river hag, think of the folklore legend Jenny Greenteeth and you'll get the idea.
How would you describe your music to new listeners?
Ruth- Despondent harmonic ethereal beats to menacingly conjour to
Aly- Ethereal and in some places cinematic, vocal harmonies that lul you to sleep (or death) and a soundscape that paints an unsettling yet dreamlike feeling.
If your music could be played in any movie genre, what would It be?
Ruth- Biblically accurate Christian adaptations of popular movies during a scene where someone is having an exorcism. Or a rom com.
Aly- Definitely horror or supernatural, think American Horror Story, Twilight, True Blood, The Conjuring, we've had many visions of our songs playing in horror games also.
How did the two of you decide to make witchy music?
Ruth- I don’t think I’m physically capable of writing cutesy cookie-cutter pop songs or an indie banger. Every time I try, it comes out sounding like the devil itself playing a banjo through a broken speaker in H&M.
Aly- If I'm not mistaken, we never actually discussed or decided on making witchy music, it just happened and well... some would say there was some sort of magic at play when we decided to start writing together...
You’ve been paying more shows recently, have you got a favourite Nottingham venue or place that fits the style of your music most?
Ruth - We absolutely loved Simon from the Chamelons new spot, The Mist Rolling inn. We love any venue with a historic background because it feels like we’re singing to the ghosts. Always
makes for a better show when the spirits turn!
Aly- What Ruth said! The Chameleon will always hold a huge space in our hearts even though we never had the opportunity to play there we spent many nights supporting the venue. We're very excited to play a new independent venue called the Grove! We also recently played in a Chapel in Sheffield General Cemetery and that was by the most ideal location we've ever played in terms of entertaining the ghosts. (We left without levitating or any demonic attachments so I think they liked it!
Interview by Holly Surguy Modern Coven play The Grove in Sneinton market with Hurstfall and Joshua Todd supporting The DSM IV on Friday 21st Feb. Tickets are £10 advance and £12 on the day via Gigantic or Fatsoma Tickets
Poster by @ruzosk_design
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