Leeds’ noise-rock ravers bringing chaos, sweat, and disco grit to the dancefloor.

Bathing Suits are a Leeds collective turning punk’s rawness and electronic chaos into something built for the club. With a mantra of “Always dancey. Always loud. Always sexy.”, their shows are a mix of sweat, distortion, and tongue-in-cheek theatrics, born from the city’s DIY party scene. Their new single ‘I Can Be A Freak’ reimagines Estelle through a wall of noise and synths, produced with longtime collaborator DJ Subaru, and captures the band’s mission to make every stage feel like a messy, euphoric dancefloor. We caught up with Bathing Suits to talk freak anthems, boxer-short stage invasions, and why aesthetics matter just as much as noise.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

We’re bathing suits we’re from Leeds and we make electronic ass shaking noise rock.

We love your new single ‘I Can Be A Freak’. Can you tell us more about how it was produced?

After performing the song for almost half a year we got together with DJ Subaru who produced our first single. We mostly kept it true to how it is live but just added in a couple extra synths of the record.

The band’s mantra is “Always dancey. Always loud. Always sexy.” Where did that come from, and how does it influence your sound and live shows?

I came up with it on a whim lol I think the live shows influenced it more than the other way around.

You’ve reworked Estelle’s ‘Freak’ into something completely your own. What drew you to that song, and how did the process of transforming it begin?

I was obsessed with freak by Estelle when I was growing up, it was literally like one of my favourite songs ever. I wrote the track using the sample on my computer in late November last year then brought it to the band.

You teamed up with DJ Subaru again for this track. What makes that collaboration such a good fit?

We know her well and she gets what we are trying to do. I think its good to work within ur own local scene especially when there are people as talented as her.

You got your start in the DIY party scene in Leeds. What kind of nights were you putting on, and how much of that energy still feeds into your performances?

To start we were mostly just playing punk gigs at places like Mabgate Bleach and chemic tavern they were louddd.

There’s a real intensity and physicality to your music. Do you write with the live experience in mind, or does that develop later?

I feel like that really depends on the song, most stuff I write anyways is quite dancey so it translates over pretty easy some songs tho like relay I wrote with live in mind that track specifically I wanted it to open the set.

You’ve been described as “a disco version of Gilla Band.” Do you think that comparison makes sense, or is it just a fun one to hear?

Hahaha I don’t think its too far off we are noisy electronic and dancey so I guess so.

You’ve shared stages with bands like The Umlauts, TTSSFU, and Man/Woman Chainsaw. What’s the wildest or most memorable moment you’ve had on tour so far?

When we got our friend Fakie from Normal Village to dance for us in his boxers on stage while Bo Colston ironed his clothes.

There’s a strong visual identity to the band, from your lighting setups to your promo photos. How important is the visual side of Bathing Suits?

Very important, aesthetics and fashion has always been an integral piece of whatever I’m doing for me for the first year we were gigging I had this LA Apparel Lamae silver bodysuit that I would wear for almost every gig but I had to retire it after the silver started wearing off of it :(

If you were curating your own ideal Bathing Suits club night, who would you book to play?

Really tough question there are so many people I’d love to play with maybe Silverwing Killer, Lovers Skit and Life Loose.

What do you love right now?

Julee Cruise, Vinted and ballet flats.

What do you hate right now?

My job, being told what to do even if I agreed to it and the government.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?

Devotion by Planet 1999 just love it makes me happy.

What do you hope listeners take away from your music?

I hope they start moving is all, I wanna see everyone dance.

Photography By: Matt Auger @mattgoesgigs

Start Listening To: Bathing Suits