Cassava

Musicians — Southampton

01Profile

A Cassava Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
We are Cassava, from Southampton.

Describe your style in three words?
Whatever feels good.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
It’s definitely very hard to whittle it down to just one. We saw Sticky Fingers last month at the Forum, Kentish Town. That sticks out as one of the better ones as we’re all big fans.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
I think for me it’d have to be Oasis and The La’s. I reckon the party after would be just as good as the gig.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
We’ve always been a massive fan of the Britpop movement, but all sorts really. Into a bit of everything.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Richard Ashcroft because he is a not only an icon as a musician but as a person. I remember being mesmerised sat in front of the TV watching Bittersweet Symphony video.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
We played a show last year with DMA’s at a venue called The 1865, Southampton. I don’t know whether it was just the night as a whole, but the venue is big and DMA’s were one of the nicest bands we’ve come across.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
I am a massive fan of a singer-songwriter called Stephen Fretwell. He never really got the recognition he deserved at the time. I wish he was still about recording and releasing music.


Cassava are a 4-piece indie/alt band from Southampton, listen to their latest single 'Alone' below.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
I was brought up on good music to be fair. When I was a lot younger my parents used to play a lot of good bands whilst in the car. 'Parklife' by Blur sticks out as one of my first memories of music.

A song that defines the teenage you?
I went through loads of phases as a teen. I think the one song that defines that time though is 'Moving to New York' by The Wombats.

One record you would keep forever?
One record I think I will forever cherish has to be The Coral’s self-titled debut.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
“I figure I’m a jigsaw puzzle,
They’re taking pieces out of me.”

I love the lyrics to 'Everybody’s Talkin Bout It' by Sticky Fingers. It’s very clever and I’ll always admire it.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
‘Dreaming of You’ by The Coral - no matter when and where - I’ll be belting it out at the top of my lungs.

A song you wished you had written?
This changes all the time for me, I hear so many songs and I’m like "Imagine if I wrote that". I always have wished I wrote ‘Mardy Bum' by the Arctic Monkeys.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Pacifier' by Catfish and the Bottlemen.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Caravan of Love' by The Housemartins - It’s a class tune, I bought it the other week on 7-inch vinyl, sounds amazing.

Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Superstylin' by Groove Armada.

Any new bands you are listening to right now?
'Someday' by Pale Seas - I’m really into Pale Seas. Their debut was released last year and was one of my favourites from 2017.

'Northern Skyline' by PLANET - I’m really into this Australian band. Their frontman is the brother of Johnny Took from DMA’s. I saw them in Oxford a few months back.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
We are Cassava, from Southampton.

Describe your style in three words?
Whatever feels good.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
It’s definitely very hard to whittle it down to just one. We saw Sticky Fingers last month at the Forum, Kentish Town. That sticks out as one of the better ones as we’re all big fans.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
I think for me it’d have to be Oasis and The La’s. I reckon the party after would be just as good as the gig.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
We’ve always been a massive fan of the Britpop movement, but all sorts really. Into a bit of everything.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Richard Ashcroft because he is a not only an icon as a musician but as a person. I remember being mesmerised sat in front of the TV watching Bittersweet Symphony video.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
We played a show last year with DMA’s at a venue called The 1865, Southampton. I don’t know whether it was just the night as a whole, but the venue is big and DMA’s were one of the nicest bands we’ve come across.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
I am a massive fan of a singer-songwriter called Stephen Fretwell. He never really got the recognition he deserved at the time. I wish he was still about recording and releasing music.


Cassava are a 4-piece indie/alt band from Southampton, listen to their latest single 'Alone' below.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
I was brought up on good music to be fair. When I was a lot younger my parents used to play a lot of good bands whilst in the car. 'Parklife' by Blur sticks out as one of my first memories of music.

A song that defines the teenage you?
I went through loads of phases as a teen. I think the one song that defines that time though is 'Moving to New York' by The Wombats.

One record you would keep forever?
One record I think I will forever cherish has to be The Coral’s self-titled debut.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
“I figure I’m a jigsaw puzzle,
They’re taking pieces out of me.”

I love the lyrics to 'Everybody’s Talkin Bout It' by Sticky Fingers. It’s very clever and I’ll always admire it.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
‘Dreaming of You’ by The Coral - no matter when and where - I’ll be belting it out at the top of my lungs.

A song you wished you had written?
This changes all the time for me, I hear so many songs and I’m like "Imagine if I wrote that". I always have wished I wrote ‘Mardy Bum' by the Arctic Monkeys.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Pacifier' by Catfish and the Bottlemen.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Caravan of Love' by The Housemartins - It’s a class tune, I bought it the other week on 7-inch vinyl, sounds amazing.

Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Superstylin' by Groove Armada.

Any new bands you are listening to right now?
'Someday' by Pale Seas - I’m really into Pale Seas. Their debut was released last year and was one of my favourites from 2017.

'Northern Skyline' by PLANET - I’m really into this Australian band. Their frontman is the brother of Johnny Took from DMA’s. I saw them in Oxford a few months back.

 

05Videos

Cassava | 20 (2018)

Cassava | Martha (2016)

Cassava | Alone (2019)

Cassava | The Solution (2018)