HotWax On New Album And Working With Music Venue Trust To Support Independent Venues

Rosie Risdale

Hi my name is Rosie! I am a Midlands born, Bristol based photographer, writer and interviewer who has been an active member of the music scene since I was 17. I seek to capture the tiny moments of a gig, the human connection that we can find in venues all across the world, I live for gigs with power and meaning, that speaks for the people. In my personal work, I focus on exploring memory, intimacy and social connection through from my own life experiences and those talk to around me.

We sit down with Tallulah Sim-Savage, guitarist/vocalist of HotWax, to discuss new album and the importance of independent venues

Playing 22 different cities around the UK and Europe, alternative rock band HotWax have been pioneering for more to be done for our independent music venues that develop and birth some of the world’s biggest acts.

We discussed their new album ‘Hot Shock,’ their work with the Music Venue Trust and how their catalogue has changed over time in the full interview below.

I’ve been taking a deep dive into your music, and it certainly holds no punches. As of today, why do you think it is important to make confrontational music?

Tallulah: I really enjoy being very honest in my lyrics and in the music that we create, I think that it’s just so important to have music as a form of self expression. And even in the way that we merge a lot of genres, whatever we’re writing or feeling, however it comes out, it comes out and we kind of go with that.

Obviously we’re an alternative rock/grunge band, but if we’re writing a song and the lyrics are frustratingly soppy about love or something, and I’m like, “oh it’s not very cool I don’t really want to write about that,” and the music isn’t even something we’d ordinarily listen to, we would still go with it, because at least it’s honest. I feel quite passionately about writing honestly, even if what we are writing about and what it sounds like can be such a vast range of things.

Do you find yourselves inspired by the current state of the world, does it help with the formulation of the tracks?

Tallulah: Our music has never specifically been political, but the state of the world, being a woman and having struggles whilst trying to survive how terrifying everything is at the moment definitely feeds into our music. But it is also the time that music and art can really bring people together, and nourish the anger that we all have towards what is happening right now.

To add to that, everyone’s begun to separate with social media and the younger generations, not really leaving their rooms, not going to spaces where they can hang out with other people. Live shows are so important for that. It’s so much more impactful than it has ever been, because human connection is dying, nobody says hi in the street to each other anymore.

That’s a really great sentiment to have, especially in this political landscape. Going off of what you were saying about the live music scene, I listened to your interview with the Music Venue Trust, it’s amazing what you are doing for the scene. Why it is so important for artists to continue touring, for spaces to be properly developed and financially supported?

Tallulah: Well, when we booked the tour, we reached out to the Music Venue Trust, because we’re playing at grassroots venues, and we have been forever. And that’s how pretty much every band I know started, every band starts out in these little venues. Both bands and venues are struggling massively, everyone in the creative world are struggling at the moment.

It’s become a luxury to tour at this point. It just helps keep the venues on their feet, it gets people out, because otherwise, there won’t be anywhere for artists to develop and find themselves and people, especially the younger generation, would just stay at home staring at screens.

We are actually going to be making a docu-series with the Music Venue Trust, interviewing the different roles at a music venue, to find out first hand how they are struggling and what can be done to help more. I’ve already learnt a lot. It is so underfunded, and it’s so important to see this perspective first hand straight from the sources all across the UK.

This is so empowering for people behind the scenes of live music nights, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked much about my role of capturing a band perform! So, thank you. Is there a particular genre that you’d like to explore that you haven’t yet?

Tallulah: I think growing up with influences like Beck has made us want to delve into so many sub-genres. He obviously does so well creatively with weird samples, like someone screaming down a microphone and then a soft little motif, and I always found that really cool. We all listen to different things, Alfie isn’t a traditional rock drummer, and loves dance music and jazz, and I really think it’s changed our sound. Lola and Alfie both play off of each other in a non rock way really nicely.

Do you think growing up in Hastings has impacted the music you play now?

Tallulah: I think growing up in Hastings is the reason why we are a band. It’s a very creative place, we would all club together and make music videos with people when we were 16 or do photoshoots with creatives, we all helped each other out. It’s a small town but there’s so many creative people in it, we used to play gigs when we were 12/13 even, people and venues just help each other out there. We’ve even been collaborating with artists from Hastings for our merch for this tour!

We are planning on selling individual bits of specifically designed merch for this tour, something different every night! We’re even selling candles that we have worked on with people from the creative community in Hastings. It’s just a special thing to collaborate with as many people as possible. We also have a lyric book which I’ve always wanted to do. I want to expand on all this; call it “Hot Shop”, make it more of a brand but still keeping it to working with local designers on clothes or accessories.

Is there a song in your catalogue which has changed over time?

Tallulah: ‘Chip My Teeth For You’ really changed by the end. I started writing it when we were in America, during that time I was out of a relationship and I started catching feelings for a friend, and I wrote it because it was annoying and distracting, like a hot shock. The lyric “I’d chip my teeth for you, would you chip your teeth for me too?” also resonates with how I feel about the band, this hot shock of adrenaline when you put everything into it. I think it’s a song that truly speaks for the album too.

How does playing to a quiet room vs a chaotic one change your energy?

Tallulah: I really love playing to a big room, especially when the lights are on everyone’s faces, you can look into the crowd and see everyone smiling. Playing in front of large loud crowd gives you a lot more adrenaline. However, with a quiet big crowd, you know that they’re really listening, and sometimes it’s hard not to get in your head and think that something’s wrong. Up North and in Europe they really go for it, which is amazing.

Looking forward, what does “growth” look like for HotWax? It’s the beginning of 2026, where do you see the band at the end of this year?

Tallulah: By the end of this year, I hope to look back on this headline tour we are about to head out on, with fond memories of creating new connections and knowing that I absorbed all the experiences as much as possible and performed to my best ability. I hope to have recorded new music that I really feel proud of and to expand more creatively by collaborating with artists, whether that be visual artists or musicians.

Which is your favourite song to play live? Why ?

Tallulah: We are going to be trying out some new stuff which always is my favourite, because it’s fresh, and the passion and meaning of the songs are more raw. ‘A Thousand Times,‘ one of our oldest songs, is one I love to play; it just has such good memories.

In curating a set, is it intentional for ease of playing, or also for fan service as well?

Tallulah: Definitely created for the audience. We obviously want it to sonically work for us and work for us practically but the song order is all down to making the audience feel a certain way. This will be our first proper headline tour, so creating the set has been really fun and gives us a lot more freedom than a quick 30 minute support slot.

Finally, is playing music for you or for the fanbase?

Tallulah: Not to sound selfish, but it is for me, and I think that’s the only way you can really enjoy it. However, I do want people to let go and enjoy themselves, I really love to share that with the crowd. But I would never want to be writing music for anybody else.

Listen to ‘Hot Shock’ here: