Talking to: Cuckoo Spit

Step into the Whimsical World of Lottie Morton and her band, Cuckoo Spit.

Self-described as dreamy and introspective, when listening to Cuckoo Spit you enter into a daydream-like state. Starting as just Lottie, the band has already attracted venues like the Windmill in Brixton, headlined shows, and supported sold-out bands… Cuckoo Spit are quietly storming into the music scene.

The lyrics are born from Lottie’s journals, observations from life around her - allowing for an intimate peek into a rather personal window that captures relationships and its difficulties, coupled with melodies that let your mind wander.

It was the hottest day of the year when I met Lottie at a quiet bar in Bermondsey. We spoke about Cuckoo Spit’s new single, Something About a River, the disparity between countryside and city life, why art school isn’t the place to form a band… and the fact that Camden is still cool.

Hendrike: So, how did Cuckoo Spit come about?

Lottie: I moved to London to start a band - but I went to art school, assuming people would want to do music, but they all wanted to do art. I released an EP of demos for my art degree and it was the lowest mark I ever got.

Hendrike: How did that make you feel?

Lottie: I wasn’t that bothered, I kind of knew that was going to happen - doing a fine art course! But I held back on performing live after that. It was only once I graduated that I felt I just needed to do it! I met everyone in the band online - Kamil, who plays guitar, who was best friends with a drummer, and then they also knew a bassist.

Hendrike: Since getting your band together, you’ve been playing all over London!

Lottie: I used to go to the Windmill loads when I first moved here, everyone is so friendly. I made a good group of friends there, which helped us to get some shows there. We’ve only played shows in London though - but there was one I did solo in Portsmouth.

Hendrike: How was that?

Lottie: I was on my own, and I was a bit… bemused, honestly! Portsmouth was twee, and it was nice to go somewhere different - despite the crowd being Radio 6 dads. I grew up in the north, and there were NO music venues there. At 13 I went to a show in a library, and it was Wolf Alice! I thought back then they were gonna be famous.

Hendrike: Was seeing them a bit of inspiration? Your music style isn’t too far off! Your music, the new single especially, sounds ethereal, transportive - a calming interlude among the heavy electronic music that’s dominating at the moment.

Lottie: I do like electronic music as well, but yes - I want to transport people to a more ethereal, dream-like state. When I was first properly getting into music I liked really heavy stuff, but my vocals don’t lend well to that. I was also always attracted to dreamy music too. I also daydream a lot. I like the feeling of longing.

Hendrike: Would you say daydreaming inspires your music?

Lottie: Yes definitely! Daydreaming became my coping mechanism growing up in the middle of nowhere. I find it much easier to write when I’m at home - partly because there’s nothing to do, but also it's so peaceful I can just tune into my own thoughts. Its harder to do that in London - while London is full of inspiration, you’re wrapped up in work, socialising, money worries. Since I’ve lived in London, lyrics have been about feeling more weary of surroundings and working out where I am. I went to art school and people were cold, it was competitive, and time was taken up by working out people’s intentions and figuring out where I stood in the world. I always wanted to be open.

Hendrike: So ultimately your lyrics reflect getting into your feelings? What’s the writing process like?

Lottie: I love listening to lyrics, but people don’t always - so I can be really really honest! A lot of the time when I write lyrics I only think about what they mean after they’ve been written. I write something down, pick it apart later… it’s very cathartic. I’ll vocal phrase, play guitar until something sounds nice, make a melody on top, and then add lyrics on top. My journals help me get back into the flow. I’ve even used phrases I wrote down years ago!

The lyrics are basically my diary entries. It’s vulnerable, but something that’s felt very validating has been seeing playlists where people have added our music to. It’s among songs and artists that I personally listen to, so my music seems to resonate with the right people! It’s the same dreamy introverted stuff, slowdive and Grouper.

Hendrike: Very validating! People take their playlists VERY seriously. Are they your major influences?

Lottie: The first band that got me into music was Nirvana - a classic gateway band. Then I got interested in more dreamy female vocals, slower paces. I’m very inspired by Grouper. I love War Paint, an all-girl band, who make very beautiful melodic guitar music. I like things that make me go into myself. I’m really interested in worlds; where an artist has cultivated their own aesthetic and how they view the outside.

Hendrike: What’s your world like?

Lottie: Day to day, I’m quite extroverted and chatty, but when writing, I’m in a sensitive state. I would say it’s pastoral, like where I grew up. I hope it's a world where you can feel lonely but not in a bad way. You’re always alone in a daydream, there is a lot of whimsy, tapping into a daydreamy, whimsical world. It’s a bit like Alice and Wonderland, maybe with a bit of a psychedelic aspect - real life with a twist.

Hendrike: What is Something About a River about?

Lottie: The lyrics are about a relationship where I felt quite avoidant, I wasn’t too sure about things; I wanted to replicate the flow of a river - ‘believe me, he flows I ebb’. I used a river as a metaphor as it’s constantly moving backwards and forwards. My songs so far have been based on crushes and relationships, but now things are taking more of an abstract turn, focusing on feelings you can’t quite put your finger on.

Hendrike: What’s the future looking like? Any dream venues you’d love to play?

Lottie: My favourite venue I’ve been to, which I desperately want to play at, is called Earth in Hackney. It’s like a colosseum, round, with tiered wooden seating. I’ve actually realized I quite like sitting down at gigs – I'm not a mosher anymore.

Hendrike: So that’s what you’d want your audience to experience when seeing you live?

Lottie: Yes, the round shape. from a technical standpoint, would allow our music to echo very nicely. Our music would sound so good in there. Speaking of, the Roundhouse in Camden would be great too. I would love to fill up the Roundhouse… similarly to Earth, its all-encompassing, where you can forget about everything and zone out… like daydreaming once again! I really like Camden. Camden is still cool for musicians and it still feels magical to be walking among the where the greats hung out. It gets too much hate! Bring back Camden!