The Next Big Thing in Indie Rock: An Interview with ‘Cosmo Calling’

I first heard Cosmo Calling in September of 2017 when ‘Like Lightning’ came across my Facebook feed. It was like summer in a song: upbeat indie vibes and a perfect sound that came from two vocals being harmoniously blended. I unashamedly had it on repeat for days. Phoebe Taylor and Harry Preen created an infectious atmosphere, and followed up with a tougher, rockier sound in their February release, ‘Cry Baby, Cry’. This Manchester 5 piece encapsulate the current British indie scene, and with streams amassing on Spotify and Facebook, it’s clear to see that big things are coming for this collective. I got the chance to chat with Harry Preen and Darragh Burke from the band, and to introduce to Kent the next big thing in indie rock.

How would you describe Cosmo Calling in three words?

Harry: I’d say, um, Melodic, Bold and Loud

I know you guys met at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, but what clicked?

Harry: The boys were kinda put together in a band at college and we all just liked each other as people rather over common musical influence, I think we were trying to be the UK’s answer to Arcade Fire. Then when I went to university I knew I wanted that mix of male and female vocals, I think it’s a refreshing melting pot of influences with us all.

I’m loving ‘Cry Baby, Cry,’ and I really enjoyed ‘Like Lightning’. What inspired this type of music and what else do you think you guys have in store?

Harry: With ‘Like Lightning’, we were channelling this very naive, summer student atmosphere and now we’re moving into a more rockier sound. Like with ‘Cry Baby’, we’re rocking out more, going with a more guitar sound, trying to be less polite. We’re taking more risks, going for an unapologetic sexy sound.

With the influence social media can have with views and streams how do you guys deal with this and how do you feel about it?

Harry: Sad honestly, it’s so much harder to make money, so it brings challenges. With four different social media accounts to manage and making CD’s it’s difficult to maintain. It feels like you have to have a business degree as well as the music. You have to really intelligently use it and it does help, like if we hadn’t paid the bit extra to have the Facebook ad you’d not be here interviewing us right now. It’s also cool to like directly connect with the audience, like starting a conversation, putting names and faces to the people that actually like and comment on these videos. It’s nice to have the personal element.

What’s been your proudest moment with the band?

Harry: Honestly releasing ‘Cry Baby’ for me, I was really proud of the music and the music video and we’d just done our headline gig and just knowing you’re putting out music you’re proud of, it’s what it’s all about.

Darragh: I think for me, we played this gig in Macclesfield about 30 minutes outside Manchester and this guy came up to me and just had a chat and told us that he’d come out just to see us. Like knowing he’d made the effort to come all the way out, buying tickets and travel, that was worth it.

If you guys could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Harry: Are we allowed compilation albums? I think I’d just get bored, [he laughs] I think Bruce Springsteen live it’s got like 60 songs

Darragh: I think, How the west was won, by Led Zeppelin

While I’ve got you guys here, is there anyone you’d like to plug that you think deserves some more exposure?

Harry: Wow okay there’s so many, I think like locally on the Manchester scene there’s Slyvette, they’re really cool. A band called Hazy, there’s Cassia and Larkins; Gathering of Strangers and Young Monarch, there’s so many.

Be sure to check out the talented Cosmo Calling on Spotify, Facebook and Twitter and keep your eyes peeled for a single release in April. They also gave the scoop on a tour in October, so be sure to head down to an upcoming Brighton or Bristol show, you won’t want to miss this.