A spotlight interview with Penny-Laine Stowell-Corten, Tom Clark and Rhys Lewis of Newport punks HAIRDYE, ahead of their appearance at LOUD WOMEN Fest Newport at Le Pub on 3 October.
How did you choose your band name?
The name was chosen by Tom. We’d been struggling for the first few weeks to come up with a name and he just spat out HAIRDYE on a whim!
Who’s in the band, and what do you all play?
Penny – bass and main vocals
Tom – guitar and backing vocals
Rhys – drums
Where do you call home, geographically and musically?
We are all from Newport! We have a strong connection to the music scene here, from the venues to the local bands.
Describe your sound in three words.
Punk, energetic, Newport.
Tell us about your music
Our next release, ‘Drop Out’, is out on 22 September. It’s about college being your last hold onto your teens, wanting to drop out but then realising you’ll have to face the realities of adulthood.
It’s a really fun song to play live, and we may have a couple more in store to follow!
What’s your local scene like, and how do you fit in or stir it up?
We’re really lucky that Newport has such a great scene. All the bands are supportive of each other. It’s like everyone’s old mates, a real community with no competition.
There’s such a good mix of genres too, and we’re lucky to have the best venues. We have such an underrated scene. There’s so much talent in Newport.
What’s the proudest moment you’ve had so far as a band?
Definitely playing Rebellion Festival! It was our biggest gig yet and it was so much fun for us. We met so many new people and everyone was just so amazing and helpful. It made our first time at the festival so welcoming!
Dream lineup: you + three other acts, alive, dead or imaginary. Who’s on the bill?
Us with HotWax, Grade 2 and Jimmy Eat World!
What’s next for you?
We’re going to be releasing a few more singles which will be part of our next EP. We’ve also got a few more gigs lined up this year, including Sŵn Festival in Cardiff.
Catch HAIRDYE at LOUD WOMEN Fest Newport at Le Pub on Saturday 3 October. Get tickets here.
Follow and support HAIRDYE.
Photo credit: @ceirios_photo
