IT ISN’T OVER TIL IT’S
NOVA TWINS ARE LENDING A HAND TO KEEP SMALL INDIE VENUES THRIVING, THEY TELL
WHO said festivals had to be held in summer? Not when they’re streaming, they don’t! With dry (and hopefully, warm) weather promised in our living rooms, Five4Five festival returns for the second time this year.
Its first outing, earlier in the pandemic, was a roaring success and raised funds for the NHS. This time, it’s supporting small, independent venues in need of help, via the Music Venue Trust.
London duo Nova Twins, who play on Saturday, are passionate about the cause. ‘We’ve grown up on the punk scene and we spent a lot of time playing grassroots venues, especially in Camden and southeast London,’ says singer Amy Love. It’s so important for music to keep evolving and growing, so we had to be involved, really!’
Bassist Georgia South agrees. ‘These venues are vital; you can’t replace them. A small band can’t just go to play Brixton Academy, it wouldn’t make any sense.’
It’s been quite the year for Nova Twins, releasing debut album Who Are The Girls? and guesting on Bring Me The Horizon’s new LP, along with some big names. ‘It was amazing,’ exclaims Amy. ‘Especially as we’re a smaller band and then you’ve got Babymetal, you’ve got Amy Lee from Evanescence, Yungblud… then everyone’s like, “Who’s Nova Twins?” We’re keeping people guessing. It was really cool that it’s not just a numbers game, you’re right for the track or you’re not. That’s really encouraging for new bands coming up to know that bigger bands want to support new music.’
The band recently wrote to the MOBO (Music Of Black Origin) Awards to ask them to include a rock category, which got them media attention, and a promise from MOBO to ‘review potential category expansions for future award ceremonies’.
‘The whole thing came about in just a weekend,’ says Georgia. ‘The support was amazing to get, it was great to see so many people were thinking the same.’ Amy nods: ‘We discovered so many POC alternative bands, metal bands, rock bands. We just thought, we’re not the only ones in this situation, so many people have been misrepresented. We’ve been talking to a lot of rock publications saying we need to diversify rock music so it’s not just a white male dominated space.
‘We also need to look at the black community and the award ceremonies, like MOBO Awards, and to ensure that we are diversifying there in terms of showing a fuller picture of black culture.’
The duo have missed playing gigs this year, even the less glamorous moments. ‘I actually miss lifting instruments and gear everywhere while touring, being on a cold tour bus or staying in a hotel that might not be that nice. Now we just want it all!’ laughs Georgia. Amy agrees: ‘Even the ones with bed bugs. I got eaten alive in Germany.’
So, after an up and down 2020, what are Nova Twins’ hopes going into 2021? ‘I’d love to play a few shows to a crowd and release some new music to be honest,’ says Georgia. ‘MOBO Awards 2021!’ yells Amy. Don’t rule that out, they’ve got success in their sights.
‘We need to diversify rock music so it’s not just a white, male dominated space’