South London sibling duo PUNCHBAG have signed to Mute and today release their debut single ‘Fuck It‘.
Swinging between dizzying extremes, where unapologetically sugar-sweet pop hooks clash with radical leftfield production; where emotional overwhelm can be purged in the space of a single throwaway lyric; where lines are blurred and redrawn between aggression and joy, softness and toughness, PUNCHBAG (consisting of Clara and Anders Bach) are a compelling proposition.
Debut single ‘Fuck It’ introduces the duo with a grand wash of entrancing synths and piercing beats. Vocalist Clara sings of a life buffeted by anxiety and the fear of wasting time, as instrumental momentum builds and builds. Then, just short of escape velocity, everything flips on its head. Guitarist and producer Anders’ overdriven punk guitars attack in plunging dives as the vocal suddenly flips in tone; sharp, snippy and unabashed. “We might as well just say go fuck it!” Clara exclaims. “’Cos we’re all gonna die, die, die!”
This central refrain might be viewed as PUNCHBAG’s manifesto, although “it’s not nihilistic,” Clara insists. “It’s more like, we only have so much time, so do the thing you want to do. Kiss the person you want to kiss, say that thing you want to say.”
Listen to / watch the video for ‘Fuck It’:
“I am thrilled to share the news that PUNCHBAG have signed with Mute. I first saw their brilliant blend of ultra popmusic mixed with the energy, attitude and noise of early punk at the Windmill and couldn’t believe how fully formed their music, their vision and their live show is – and this was only after they’d played five gigs! I can’t wait to see where they go next, and am delighted Mute will be with them for the journey.” – Daniel Miller, founder and CEO of Mute
“Here at Made management, we are extremely happy to share that PUNCHBAG has signed with Mute, one of our favourite labels since we were kids. When we first saw PUNCHBAG play live a few years ago, we immediately realized that Clara and Anders had something very special, and we are excited to be a part of their journey towards further greatness!” – Geir Leundy, CEO of Made
Whispers of PUNCHBAG’s knock-out live performances have been growing in volume since they played their first show less than a year ago. Colliding the raw unfiltered energy of punk with the overflowing ecstasy of pop, from the off they demonstrated an uncanny skill for commanding a crowd. “We take it seriously,” says Clara. “We’ve thought about it a lot, and it was important that from the first time we performed it was fully formed. We’re Virgos. We’re perfectionists.”
This steeliness is paired with a chaotic stage presence, defined by improvisatory dance moves and an infectious energy. “At the end of the set, I just scream until everyone’s jumping,” she says. “We want it to be cathartic, but also really joyful. Joy is one of the things that you can’t really argue with, it’s not an opinion – you can either get involved or not.”
“We’d rather someone had a strong adverse reaction to our music than it be just played in the background,” says Anders. He needn’t worry, of course – PUNCHBAG’s chaotic and utterly cathartic debut is guaranteed to grab attention.
PUNCHBAG self-released a visualiser for their song ‘Pretty Youth‘ on YouTube late 2024. A song written about their “journey through erratic highs and gross lows of the idealised ‘coming of age’ experience”, the song’s visuals, shot by Jonni Wedge dutifully capture the potent intensity of PUNCHBAG’s live performances.
PUNCHBAG’s debut single ‘Fuck It’ is out now on Mute and available across all digital platforms.
PUNCHBAG play shows in London, Bristol, Leeds and Brighton over the coming months. Follow PUNCHBAG on Instagram for news of more live shows in the coming months.
PUNCHBAG LIVE DATES
21 Feb – Dublin, Borderline Festival
26 Feb – London, The Lower Third (Soho Calling ILMC)
6 March – London, Sebright Arms (w/ Nightbus)
15 March – Leeds, Belgrave Music Hall (Dark Arts All Dayer)
29 March – Bristol, Ritual Union Festival
16 May – Brighton, The Great Escape Festival
Further info / tickets HERE
