student slasher film interview
Student Slasher Film are a charismatic and energy-filled band, each member eager to get their ideas across during the interview. From mosh pits and suing, to superfans and Jacob Collier, we got the full rundown for this article.
When asked what their new (so far unreleased) EP is called, Tom the drummer suggested “we could use this interview as an opportunity to name the EP”, to which he was met with the suggestion EP 1, so I’m assuming at the minute it’s still unnamed. Similarly, there is no exact release date at the moment, “we’d like September, but more likely October/ November” says bassist Sam, which was met with varying levels of confidence… “yeah, of 2027” and “if it’s not out by the end of October, it won’t be out until January, February next year”, although it was unanimous that the band wants to release it before they finish their degrees.
My next question was about how they met. “It was pretty standard stuff: we posted a band add, Tom and Sam have known each other since secondary”. “But me and Eden have known each other since the womb” says Mouse. “Mine (Eden) and Mouse’s Mums got fired from the same job when they were pregnant with us for going on maternity leave, and then sued the same place together”. “You should carry on the legacy- get pregnant and fired from Student Slasher Film”.
For Student Slasher Film’s main influences for the EP, they described themselves as “a big fourway venn diagram”… “a big fourway fullstop”- “a big fourway venn diagram of jazz and emo and punk and indie”. They aimed to be Midwest emo “but our sound didn’t come out that way” says rhythm guitarist Mouse, “we’re happy with it though. It’s west Yorkshire emo”. The members took it in turns to name their influences individually and as a band, including the likes of Glocca Morra, Macseal and The Promise Ring.
There was some debate on the favourite song that Student Slasher Film have written: “is it Drowner?” Eden (lead guitarist) says “yeah, so Drowner’s not a good song, song-wise… it’s not really a song but it’s got a lot of detail”. Mouse adds “it’s musical wankery, it’s like if Jacob Collier was good”, “no, it’s like if Jacob Collier was angry or sad” argues Tom. Overall, though, it’s agreed that Drowner is “catchy as fuck”.
For the creative process of songwriting, Student Slasher Film “don’t write often, but when we do we just have one solid idea. The way it all comes together quickly is really satisfying. It just flows” says Eden. “It’s instant, Sam will already have some test lyrics and obviously they just come up with a bassline on the fly because they’re a genius, and then the last thing that happens is either me or Mouse writes the auxiliary guitar parts, and then Tom just plays crazy drums”. “I think if we’re getting specific”, Tom pinpoints, “sort of my favourite part is when we’ve got the other parts, and then Sam you just come in and come up with a vocal part, and it’s always so good and it’s always what ends up being the final version” (“because I don’t change it because I can’t be arsed” -Sam). There can be vexing parts to songwriting too, the band admits “if we don’t find the song immediately, we move onto something else… that’s our least favourite part, that we’re very easily distracted”. In terms of recording, Tom says “whenever I’m recording myself I get really frustrated, but once that’s done, then messing with it afterwards the sky’s the limit” “yeah, once you’ve got a solid thing you don’t have to quantise too fucking much it’s fine, it’s fun”, agrees Sam, echoing a feeling every producer can relate to.
When asked about their favourite gig, the initial response was supporting Origami Angel at The Key Club, but the band agrees that they’ve improved a lot since then. “I think of the Origami Angel gig and cringe because we could’ve played so much better”, “so Origami Angel, if you’re listening, have us on again and we’ll show you what we can do”, “give us another shot”. The gig was number 1 for various reasons, one being “that was the first time our music connected to the audience to the point where they were moshing, that was the first mosh pit we ever had”. Eden explained it was the biggest percentage of positive feedback- “before and after that gig it was like okay, this band’s a thing”. There was also a bit of fangirling; they took photos with Prince Daddy and The Hyena and Origami Angel “and we talked our fuckin asses off with all the members of the bands, they were all really nice”. While Mouse had been listening to Origami Angel since 2019, “so that was mind-blowing. For me it was the end goal to support the bands I listen to a lot then we got there and it was like what do we do now?”.
After the EP, the band had lots of ideas as to what’s coming next. “Another EP- no. An album”. One idea was “to copy The Beatles and make a feature film with a plot”…”what about a musical”…”we are called Student Slasher Film, we need to make a slasher musical”. Only time will tell whether the next release will be music or film based. Sam says: “the plan is to release the EP in September-ish, then do a mini tour when people come back to uni, a tour of the North, and then we’ll do an album, I guess”, “and then a world tour” Tom adds.
Student Slasher Film’s dream record label to be on would be Big Scary Monsters, Counterintuitive Records, or Lauren Records. “I mean the Dream is to not need a record label… Student Slasher Film Records”.
Finally, I asked which song has the best crowd reception. “Either Sunflowers or Break Me, with all the cool drum shit”. Tom “had to fight to have my drum solo in the middle as well”. “At our last gig, we played the opener of the EP for the first time, and our superfan (who might not want to be named), he cried tears. So that’s got to be the most visceral crowd reaction we’ve had”. “He came up to us after and was like you were so good… aww, we love him”.
So if you’re about in Leeds, get yourself down to the next Student Slasher Film gig to witness Sunflowers and Break Me for yourselves, or shed a few tears at the new EP’s opener. Whether the EP is released in September of 2024 or 2027, make sure to keep an eye out, especially if you’re into West Yorkshire emo.