HOTWAX - INVITE ME, KINDLY
Teenage alternative rock trio, HotWax, drops their second anticipated EP, Invite Me, Kindly, ahead of their support slot alongside well-established rockers Royal Blood in America this year. Emerging from Hastings, the trio defies templates and gives off an unbothered angst attitude within their music, presenting them as front runners in the new generation of female lead punk bands. Flying in full force with the release of Invite Me, Kindly, HotWax aims to show audiences what they are all about and get themselves out there as a household name.
The opening track and latest single, 'High Tea', packs a punch. The jaunty guitar riffs combined with the gritty vocals from singer Tallulah prove a powerful statement and introduction to the EP.
Tallulah describes 'High Tea’ as it being “about two people in your life who are very close to you but do not mix well, leaving you in the middle feeling torn. It is a conversation that has gone on for too long, you have to spit out your doubt and let your bad feelings leave you. 'High Tea' is a song for people to let go and be free.” The album opener cements everything HotWax stands for - breaking boundaries and being free in their music with no chains. The opening lyrics, “Invite me kindly,” pay homage to the record title and depict the band as an angsty punk-inspired trio who pack their songs with heavy and gritty choruses.
Resemblance to British indie rock duo Wet Leg hides and intertwines within the lyricism and production of the latest HotWax EP. No shock, Alan Moulder mixed the EP, and he has his hand in the Wet Leg catalogue, so these uncanny similarities are present in ‘Phone Machine’. In the age of far-fetched lyricism combined with catchy rock riffs, Hot Wax lends themselves a favour by penning similarities to Wet Leg, their rise and success level will pay off by incorporating word-play lyricism and catchy taglines.
Songs like ‘Drop’ introduce visualisations to the record, as the beat drops and the chorus becomes louder, especially with the subtle introduction of the cowbell, you can envision a pit opening and fans throwing themselves around to the gritty melodies Hot Wax produces.
‘E Flat’ stands out on the entire EP; the buoyancy of the baseline compliments the drum patterns effortlessly. Despite the funkier bass vibe, it is still inherently punk-rock. Tallulah chants “I just wanna read a book book ah!” vivaciously and with so much passion that you cannot help but chant alongside her - it’s catchy and vibrant. As the bridge of the song enters a more whimsical and softer realm, HotWax shows off their delicacy when playing their instruments, it’s not all rock and screaming, they can play with a calmer and quainter nature.
Coming to a quick close, Invite Me, Kindly only spans fourteen minutes - a longer duration may have added to the instant addiction HotWax provides listeners. The closing track ‘She Don’t Like It’ places the album into the punk-rock rebellious genre. On first listen, Courtney Love’s fronted nineties grunge band Hole comes to mind. As the singer wails “She don’t like it when I play with my friends,” echoes of the grunge star Love resonate throughout the EP closer, similar to that of her song ‘Doll Parts’. Tallulah’s slurry vocal stylings on this track - overlapped with the softer, less aggressive guitar of Lola, portrays ‘She Don’t Like It' as a cleverly developed and produced track. The production value increases significantly during the second verse and chorus as the singer harmonises “She wants me to feel the pain from yesterday.”
Invite Me, Kindly symbolises what HotWax are about - yet something appears lacking with this EP - the desire to hear even more from the band is in desperate need. With their emerging success and support slot in America later this year, the trio will be able to grant fans and audiences further with more content, as people are desperate for more angsty and defiant rock from this powerful group of teenagers with the world at their feet.
Stand-out songs such as ‘E Flat’ and ‘She Don’t Like It’ prove to be the prime of HotWax - they are so deep in their bag during these tracks. It will be pleasing to see if they stick to a similar attitude and rebellion in future Hot Wax releases. What the group are doing in Invite Me, Kindly is what they are best at, a solid second EP release from the Hastings rockers.
Amber Nielsen
★★★☆☆