Shelf Lives

Musicians — London

01Profile

A Shelf Lives Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Shelf Lives. Sabrina (Toronto, Canada) and Jonny (Northampton, England).

Describe your style in three words?
Grunge, street, vintage.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
J: Death Grips at Primavera in 2017. It was scary but thrilling.
S: Such a tough question but definitely one I'll never forget is at Glastonbury 2017, I was basically at the front for Anderson .Paak and it was wild. His energy is infectious AF.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
J: Led Zeppelin because they're Led Zeppelin.
S: Soundgarden because Chris Cornell.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
J: To be honest, I can't say there has been one subculture that has influenced me. I've never been the type to get immersed in any one subculture, it's been really fluid for me.
S: That's an easy one for me, grunge for sure. Many came after but that was the first subculture when I was a kid in the '90s that I became obsessed with. I was young so I could only go so far with it but music-wise and aesthetic wise I was all in and there was no room for anything else... well, maybe Hanson.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
J: Any of the engineers from Ancient Egypt. That would be interesting, wouldn't it?
S: Scott Weiland. So I could ask him why he was an hour and a half late on stage at Edge Fest 2008. It had been raining all day. They ended up being worth the wait but still.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
J: Unfortunately it's not around anymore but there was this underground tiny venue called Power Lunches in Dalston that was just really inexplicably cool.
S: O2 Brixton, I don't know why. Maybe because it was the first venue I had ever been to in London when I moved to the UK and I still love it. It's not too big and not too small, the sound is usually great... and it's sloped.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
J: Chilly Gonzales. He's a musical genius. He's mixed classical piano and pop... and it's just genius.
S: M.I.A. She's amazing. That was actually the first gig I saw at O2 it was the tour of her 'MAYA' album. She started a revolution... her music, her aesthetic, her message, her performances. She's authentic in her creations and gives zero f*cks about how she's perceived, it's admirable, to say the least.


Shelf Lives are currently on tour supporting Skunk Anansie around Europe and the UK. They recently released their EP 'Yes, Offence'. Listen, purchase or stream it via msha.ke/shelflives.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
J: Not 100% sure of the first but 'Take It Easy' by The Eagles was definitely one.
S: I was into music very early in my life so it could quite possibly be 'Shoop' by Salt-N-Pepa. I kind of remember recording it off the radio and replaying it over and over so I could learn the words. I still have the first verse down.

A song that defines the teenage you?
J: 'Fat Lip' by Sum 41.
S: Two come to mind. 'Freak' by Silverchair and '#1 Crush' by Garbage.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
J: "Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans"

From 'Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)' by John Lennon.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
J: 'Sick Bitch' by LSDXOXO.
S: 'Millionaire' by Kelis, Andre 3000.

A song you wished you had written?
J: 'Happy Birthday'.
S: 'Sweet Life' by Frank Ocean.

Best song to turn up loud?
J: 'Why They Hide Their Bodies Under My Garage' by Gilla Band.
S: 'Fighting That Bitch' by Shelf Lives.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
J: 'my future' by Billie Eilish.
S: 'Hold Up' by Beyonce.

Best song to end an all-nighter on?
J: 'Hyph Mngo' by Joy Orbison.
S: 'Exit Music' by Radiohead... lol.

Any new music you are listening to right now?
We know they're not new, but we're both obsessed with the new Turnstile album. Also, not totally new but big fans of Vegyn. We love a band called DITZ atm. Zebra Katz we love. Onoe Caponoe - is one of the best UK rappers we've heard. Biig Piig. Stella Talpo.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Shelf Lives. Sabrina (Toronto, Canada) and Jonny (Northampton, England).

Describe your style in three words?
Grunge, street, vintage.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
J: Death Grips at Primavera in 2017. It was scary but thrilling.
S: Such a tough question but definitely one I'll never forget is at Glastonbury 2017, I was basically at the front for Anderson .Paak and it was wild. His energy is infectious AF.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
J: Led Zeppelin because they're Led Zeppelin.
S: Soundgarden because Chris Cornell.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
J: To be honest, I can't say there has been one subculture that has influenced me. I've never been the type to get immersed in any one subculture, it's been really fluid for me.
S: That's an easy one for me, grunge for sure. Many came after but that was the first subculture when I was a kid in the '90s that I became obsessed with. I was young so I could only go so far with it but music-wise and aesthetic wise I was all in and there was no room for anything else... well, maybe Hanson.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
J: Any of the engineers from Ancient Egypt. That would be interesting, wouldn't it?
S: Scott Weiland. So I could ask him why he was an hour and a half late on stage at Edge Fest 2008. It had been raining all day. They ended up being worth the wait but still.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
J: Unfortunately it's not around anymore but there was this underground tiny venue called Power Lunches in Dalston that was just really inexplicably cool.
S: O2 Brixton, I don't know why. Maybe because it was the first venue I had ever been to in London when I moved to the UK and I still love it. It's not too big and not too small, the sound is usually great... and it's sloped.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
J: Chilly Gonzales. He's a musical genius. He's mixed classical piano and pop... and it's just genius.
S: M.I.A. She's amazing. That was actually the first gig I saw at O2 it was the tour of her 'MAYA' album. She started a revolution... her music, her aesthetic, her message, her performances. She's authentic in her creations and gives zero f*cks about how she's perceived, it's admirable, to say the least.


Shelf Lives are currently on tour supporting Skunk Anansie around Europe and the UK. They recently released their EP 'Yes, Offence'. Listen, purchase or stream it via msha.ke/shelflives.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
J: Not 100% sure of the first but 'Take It Easy' by The Eagles was definitely one.
S: I was into music very early in my life so it could quite possibly be 'Shoop' by Salt-N-Pepa. I kind of remember recording it off the radio and replaying it over and over so I could learn the words. I still have the first verse down.

A song that defines the teenage you?
J: 'Fat Lip' by Sum 41.
S: Two come to mind. 'Freak' by Silverchair and '#1 Crush' by Garbage.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
J: "Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans"

From 'Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)' by John Lennon.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
J: 'Sick Bitch' by LSDXOXO.
S: 'Millionaire' by Kelis, Andre 3000.

A song you wished you had written?
J: 'Happy Birthday'.
S: 'Sweet Life' by Frank Ocean.

Best song to turn up loud?
J: 'Why They Hide Their Bodies Under My Garage' by Gilla Band.
S: 'Fighting That Bitch' by Shelf Lives.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
J: 'my future' by Billie Eilish.
S: 'Hold Up' by Beyonce.

Best song to end an all-nighter on?
J: 'Hyph Mngo' by Joy Orbison.
S: 'Exit Music' by Radiohead... lol.

Any new music you are listening to right now?
We know they're not new, but we're both obsessed with the new Turnstile album. Also, not totally new but big fans of Vegyn. We love a band called DITZ atm. Zebra Katz we love. Onoe Caponoe - is one of the best UK rappers we've heard. Biig Piig. Stella Talpo.

 

05Videos

Shelf Lives | I Don't Think I'll Go Out Today (2022)

Shelf Lives | Shock Horror (2022)