deary photo by Josh Hight
deary have become one of the most talked about names in shoegaze’s recent resurgence, following the release of their debut record ‘Birding’ I had the chance to sit down with the band ahead of a sold-out show at Manchester’s Pink Room earlier this year, the band discussed their influences, working with Bella Union, how they get their sound and what their live shows have been like.
When we first sat down in the dingy green room behind the YES stage, deary are surprisingly calm. Some bands would be nervous or at least a bit shaky, but not deary. Since their formation in 2020, they have become one of the most exciting emerging acts in the shoegaze genre: they have released 3 EP’s and more recently their debut album ‘Birding’.
In recent years, Shoegaze is having sort of a revival, with younger generations being put onto the classics such as My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and Cocteau Twins, and it was this that first drew me to deary, they are signed by Bella Union, the label set up by Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins. and for deary, frontwoman Dottie Cockram described meeting Simon Raymonde and being signed to Bella Union as “Pretty incredible really.”
“When we first met Simon, me and Ben went for a coffee in King’s Cross and we were just totally freaking out saying how we are about to meet one of our idols in person.” For a band so clearly inspired by this music, it was a full circle moment for them
“He is really great, he’s given us so much advice about what his experiences were with Cocteau Twins and what it’s like to have the sort of harsh distorted guitar mixed with the soft vocals, and I guess he showed us that with this music, not everything will be perfect, but it’s the sort of imperfections that make shoegaze and dreampop what it is.”
Despite their clear influences, deary create a sound that is entirely unique whilst still retaining what makes the genre so special. And whilst you may listen to some of their music, particularly that off ‘Birding’ and think there is a lot going on, “There actually isn’t, it sounds like there’s a lot of stuff but it’s surprisingly really simple stuff’ lead guitarist Ben Easton said.
“Most of the record, bar a couple tracks, are just done on one Fender Jazzmaster, going through a Vox AC30, mixed with the classic pedals, a big sky reverb, a slo walrus reverb, which is my personal favourite, as well as your classic delay and distortion.”
As the interview carries on, the band start to tell me about their experiences playing with Slowdive as a support in 2023.
As well as having drummer Simon Scott play on their 2024 Aurelia EP, before now permanent drummer Harry Catchpole joined.
“At the time we didn’t have Harry, and we were in Brighton and Simon had known us from when we supported Slowdive at the Troxy in London, we were kind of at a loss, but Simon was available and he already wanted to collaborate on a track with Dottie, so he came down and joined us for 3 days, and it was sort of amateur, there was no great production value we just wanted to jam and see what sounded good, but now Harry has got some big shoes to fill.”
And unfortunately, as our conversation comes to an end, the band tell me about what it’s like being on tour, travelling the country and playing in venues they have always dreamed of.
“We played Birmingham last night, and it was just so cool, we played there a few years ago when Aurelia had just released, and to be going back to these venues we played, but with new music and a better sound it’s so refreshing and we can’t wait to do more, everyone was just so into it.”
This is just the beginning for deary and with the success of ‘Birding’ they have some big shoes to fill with what comes from them next.
‘Birding’ is out now. deary will be on tour this autumn with the following dates confirmed:
3rd – 6th September – Larmer Tree – End of the Road Festival
Thursday 3rd September – Bristol – Rough Trade
Monday 9th November – Berlin – Berghain Kantine
Tuesday 10th November – Prague – Bike Jesus
Thursday 12th November – Milan – Arci Bellezza
Friday 13th November – Ravenna – Bronson Club
Saturday 14th November – Bern – ISC Club
Sunday 15th November – Aarau – Kiff
Wednesday 25th November – London – Oslo
