Ipso Facto

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If you’re wondering why London is suddenly awash with diminutive girls sporting jet black bobs, monochrome outfits and a newly developed penchant for Can, then look no further than the capital’s most hyped female four-piece, Ipso Facto.

However, the girls are not a style over substance act, oh no. Listen to their carefully crafted, subtly layered melodies and you’ll soon be hooked.

“Our future’s born in black and white,” croons singer and guitarist Rosalie Cunningham, on Ipso Facto’s new single, ‘Six And Three Quarters’, against a discordant drum beat and a forbidding organ. And it’s difficult to disagree with her, so convincing is Ipso Facto’s tightly woven sound. The band formed less than two years ago, when Rosalie and bassist Samantha Valentine (yes, that is her real name) jumped ship as Theoretical Girl’s backing band to form their own, picking up drummer Victoria Smith at a bus stop, and keyboardist Cherish somewhere at a party in Southend.

A gig later, they were signed by small indie label Disc/Error, and, before you could say “monochromatic”, have released three singles, each one selling out faster than the one before. These days, they are touring with the likes of Magazine. “They are one of our favourite bands and it’s an absolute privilege to play with them,” they assure us, still fresh from their tour supporting The Last Shadow Puppets.

There’s been more attention from celebrated idols. ‘Six And Three Quarters’ was produced by John Rivers of The Specials’ ‘Ghost Town’ fame, and the next single is rumoured to be worked on by that holy grail of pop producers, Mark Ronson. The girls are currently on their UK headline tour, before heading back to the studio to work on the highly anticipated debut album.

But how will this monochrome fantasyland hold up in the yellow Texas sun? “We’re very excited to see what SXSW will be like. We hope to gain more contacts from it, and maybe a Texan accent?” Now that would be something.

Words By : Pavla Kopecna

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