Start Listening To: Hungry
Cambridge’s Hungry channel chaos, politics, and humour into their feral debut EP.
Hungry aren’t the type to play things safe. The Cambridge four-piece describe their sound as “alcohol music if you don’t drink often”, equal parts confrontational and tongue-in-cheek, shaped by disaffection in the internet age and a sharp disdain for the systems we live under. Their debut EP Are You The Best Yet? feels like both a statement and a question: snarling, restless and knowingly ironic, while still finding space for moments of sincerity. We caught up with the band to talk about recording in fits of chaos, growing up in the shadow of Cambridge’s institutions, and why “being the best” isn’t really the point at all.
For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make
Hungry are four boys with attention issues from Cambridge, making anti fascist neo liberal post-brexit new wave, somewhere in a realm between decent and not bad. Alcohol music if you don’t drink often.
Your debut EP Are You The Best Yet? is finally coming out this August. How does it feel to have the full body of work ready for the world after the build-up from your singles?
We wrote and recorded most of this two years ago, so it feels like we’ve been holding it in for ages (not a toilet joke). It’s pretty odd releasing music that old though, we’re basically different people to who we are in those recordings, and the music industry/media process requires you to present that as current. It’s all still meaningful, but what exactly it means to us has changed. Regardless this project has always been the mission statement. “Are You The Best Yet” is Hungry mk. 1.
The EP title is a pretty provocative question. What does “being the best” mean to you, and how does that theme run through the songs?
The question is meant to be ironic. We have absolutely no interest in being “the best”, or putting our creative energy towards some system that determines artistic quality, or anyone who thinks that’s what a rock band should be, knee deep in music theory and virtuosity (shots fired). Being the best means creating a band and a project that sincerely represents us as people, that allows us an outlet outside of the neoliberal AI generated sludge we so often move through. If you feel it, if it makes you want to cry, shout, or fuck, that is the best. Visceral feeling is priceless.
You’ve spoken about the disaffection of the internet age and late-stage capitalism. When did those ideas first start feeding into your songwriting?
The first time we were aware of politics was the Brexit vote in 2016. Then I made the fateful decision to do politics A-level. In my experience you think you know a lot more at 18 than you do at 22. As soon as we got past the brexit malarkey we stopped writing silly love songs, and I think almost everything had some element of politics after that, in so much as any art can (or should) lack the influence of the political conditions of the time.
Jacob, you’ve mentioned the influence of growing up around a semi-Etonian education system. How did that shape your perspective as a writer and musician?
In that university-oriented world it felt like a childish and futile venture to pursue music, or art of any form. I think all places have a sort of hierarchy of attention where certain aspects of that place become a target for its inhabitants. I can’t speak for every Cantabrigian but for myself and several friends who don’t fit into that system it can feel demeaning. I did have lots of teachers who were inspiring and engaging and worked to tailor education towards those of an alternative outlook though, so shout out to them. There’s good and bad sides to it. Those interesting teachers are drawn to that centre of learning.
More widely our cities most famous asset is a key player in a lot of pretty bad stuff, and has housed lots of key players in our current shitshow of a government and political system. Along with that a wealthy and informed middle class who are very informed but lack the impetus to do anything. Consider me disaffected. Throughout history you see lots of working-class social movements that lacked material wealth but affected change through solidarity and dissemination of information. It’s difficult to see why my guardian reading compadres often omitted to do the same.
The title track and ‘Eat Me’ have a real feral edge to them. What was the atmosphere like in the studio when you recorded the heavier moments?
We’re not great at organisation, so both of those were probably recorded in the only 4/5 hours we would have had free at the time. Often my voice would be shot or we’d be hanging from a gig the night before, etc. you sweat in the booth at Vibe Studios (run by dean glover <3 <3 <3), so there would be an almost bipolar studio environment between stoned-lethargic and jittering chaotic. Dean handles it all very well, and helped us get the best of our ideas out there.
You’ve been on bills with bands like Bridgette Calls Me Baby and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from sharing the stage with more established acts?
You have to have perseverance, you have to keep going. You play to a couple hundred people in a place, then you come back and 2 or 3 people turn out for you and they know the words to your songs. It’s weird in a good way. People aren’t just going to latch onto your music. There’s so much out there, so much to listen to. You have to take your thing to them, give them a reason to care. Make sure you have fun because it can be exhausting. Especially if you don’t drive.
The lyrics on the EP seem to push for a more tactile, visceral way of living. Outside of music, what gives you that connection to the real world?
It’s weird, I feel like I’m having to learn it myself. I try to take things slow, to appreciate sensorial experiences. Look at the tops of buildings, leave your phone behind when you go to eat. I love to eat. Whenever you can leave the phone and just be there, find what’s around you. Try to be as sincere as you can with what brings you joy. Good things are out there for those with eyes to see them. It’s hard to always have those eyes though.
What do you love right now?
International solidarity movements for Palestine and trans rights which show how the internet can be used as a force for collective organising. Internet radio. The Humber bridge (big). Mike Okay (YouTuber).
What do you hate right now?
ABBA voyage. Two stepping. Politicians who can’t answer questions or be sincere.
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?
Tinie Tempah’s “disc-overy”. This is always my answer for this question. It’s just an instant confidence shot. Some questionable lyrics in there, but it’s proper British brash and big. Fav track - wonderman. Thank you Ellie Goulding.
What do you hope listeners take away from your music?
Embrace your inner freaky idiot, go out and do something that makes you extremely uncomfortable but you’ve always wanted to do. Maybe find a few others to do it with. Don’t take yourself too seriously but never surrender what you are. Be in a band basically. Or don’t be in a music band but there’s a reason this model is a thing. Make something horrible but make it YOUR horrible. Be shit at what you do and love doing it. Do it in real life.
