In this interview feature, we get to know the most radicalist up & coming stars on the planet.   

This time it’s the delightful garage rock circus better known as Hinds.

It was back in the summer of 2011, on the sunny beaches of Denia and with little-to-no experience of playing guitar at all, that childhood friends Carlotta Cosials and Ana García Perrote first designed to form a band. Now joined by Ade Martín (on bass) and Amber Grimbergen (on drums), these uninhibited Madrilenians have enjoyed a truly meteoric rise, brushing shoulders with their musical heroes and bringing their raucously merry live shows to sweaty clubs the world over.

Indeed, Hinds’ rise to fame has been remarkable and given their perpetually beaming faces, seemingly effortless, but make no mistake, this success was brought about by hard graft and burning enthusiasm - Hinds being the very definition of a ‘work hard, play hard’ band.

Having released two punk-tinged EPs (Demo and Barn) alongside a barrage of infectious lo-fi singles including ‘Bamboo’, ‘Chili Town’ and the old favourite ‘Davey Crockett’, Hinds finally dropped their charmingly scrappy debut LP Leave Me Alone in early 2016 to rousing critical acclaim and the commendations of such musical superstars as The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney and Primal Scream frontman, Bobby Gillespie.

Hinds’ journey has been thrilling, and perhaps it’s one that’s only just beginning…

We caught up with Hinds ahead of their upcoming winter tour to talk songwriting, Madrid, and life on the road.

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TMR: It seems like you guys have been touring relentlessly for the past couple of years, and you’ve been playing to bigger and bigger audiences especially since the release of Leave Me Alone in January. How has it been?

Hinds: It has been as exhausting as great. We've played around 90 shows in 2016 and we still have 3 tours to go!

TMR: I’m sure there have been loads of ups and downs but what has been your best experience on the road so far?

Hinds: Probably being the first Spanish band to ever play a late night show in the US. Or play twice a main stage at Glastonbury.



TMR: If Hinds had a motto what would it be and why?

Hinds: Our shit, our rules.

TMR: What is the single biggest inspiration for Hinds? Musical or non-musical.

Hinds: Our shit, our rules.

TMR: Why the album title, Leave Me Alone?

Hinds: We started this project in a room in Madrid at Carlotta's mum’s house, with two acoustic guitars and not a fucking idea about how to write a song or how to play with a pick. 10 months later we were playing a sold out show in London, then in Berlin and then in Paris. We still don’t know exactly how or why this happened to us, but we know we are the only ones that could figure that out. At the end its just the four of us. Ana, Carlotta, Ade and Amber. That's why Leave Me Alone. That record is just us, doing what we love the way we think is best.



TMR: You’re known for party-hard, raucously fun garage rock anthems but Leave Me Alone features a far broader spectrum of tunes including some bittersweet and even sad songs. The lyrics to ‘I’ll Be Your Man’ also start to play with gender roles. The album is certainly richer for this breadth of music but what prompted this change? Has the ‘purpose’ of Hinds changed in your eyes since the band began?

Hinds: We have two different things here. One thing is the live shows, where we look for people's sweat, screams and dancing moves, and then we have the writing side. I don’t think there was a change in time, it’s just that before releasing the record you could only see the live set side, but when we released Leave Me Alone you could see all the faces Hinds have. We are not always drunk or happy, we just don’t like complaining to our fans!



TMR: What is your favourite Hinds song and why?

Hinds: ‘Garden’ is probably my favourite one to hear, I am very happy with how the recording and mixing went. But ‘Easy’ is definitely my favourite to play. It’s a song where the chorus is a guitar, and its somehow even more powerful that way.

TMR: You have spoken in the past of your love for your hometown, Madrid. What is it about this city that is so lovable?

Hinds: Aiii Madrid is the bessst. The more we travel the more we love it. It’s cheap, sunny, open, happy, food is great, life is easyyyyyy!



TMR: What would be your dream piece of Hinds merchandise?

Hinds: Wow I love this question. We design all our merch and we even sell it after shows. I'd love to have Hinds beer. And a festival but I don’t think you can consider that merch haha.

TMR: We’re a blog specializing in new music so are there any up-and-coming bands you’re really enjoying lately?

Hinds: Los Nastys from Madrid.

TMR: What does the rest of 2016/2017 hold for Hinds?

Hinds: US tour, UK and Europe tour and then Spanish tour :)



Leave Me Alone is out now via Lucky Number Music. Also, don’t miss the party and catch Hinds on their winter tour.

-Karl Jawara