Vulnerability might not be the first quality associated with Dead Horse. Since forming in 2019, the London post-punk trio have built their reputation on abrasive guitars, surreal humour and gloriously unpredictable live performances, establishing a sound that thrives somewhere between garage-rock disorder and post-punk menace.
But their latest single ‘I Would Die’ reveals something altogether more exposed. Taken from forthcoming debut album 'Caught The Nonsense', arriving on the 11th September via Sister 9 Records, the track strips away much of the band's usual irony to explore devotion at its most consuming. Its repeated declaration of “I would die for you” gradually shifts from romantic sincerity towards something obsessive and faintly dangerous, while Dead Horse's characteristically rough-edged instrumentation ensures things never become overly sentimental.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with them to find out more about their origins and what has been inspiring them most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Kev - I think I got my first guitar when I was around 13 which was a shitty acoustic that was really hard to play but whacked a cheap pick up on it and soon learnt how to at least make some fun horrible noises through a cheap amp with loads of feedback.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Duncan - When I was little my Dad would play music constantly and it was fucking great. He had (and still does) really varied taste in music which I admire. When I was proper little I loved most of what he played. A lot of REM, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Talking Heads, The Stranglers. Apparently when I was 3 I was introduced to The Stranglers in a hotel with a parrot in the bar in Rotterdam. Wish I remembered that.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Duncan - First album I remember owning would be Now 31, had a look back and remember the cover vividly. No idea of a single song on it mind. Then I remember getting my first ‘proper’ album for Christmas when I was 10. Americana by The Offspring, I’d been hassling rents for it for ages and I whacked it on nice and loud on Christmas Day. My catholic granny nearly had a heart attack when it all cuts out and Dexter goes, ‘well fuck you!’. I don’t think she ever forgave me.
Kev- I think mine was also one of the Nows! Whichever one had PJ and Duncan haha. Later on I remember going into HMV after a birthday / getting my first CD player and them having a 2 for £20 deal on a load of random CDs and ended up getting Bleach by Nirvana and SMASH by the Offspring which were pretty good couple of first albums!
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Duncan - Our whole catalogue, no split royalties. But I reckon other than that I’d go for ‘All I want for Christmas is you’. Get that cash.
Kev - the Mr Blobby Song
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Kev - As a band we are pretty disorganised when it comes to writing. We usually each take in an idea and jam it out until we come up with something more structured. For the album we didn't really have anything written until a couple of months before recording and we just all came up with ideas and took them to the rehearsal room and jammed them out until they resembled something more songlike - its probably also the first time we actually had a go at having choruses instead of a constant wall of noises.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Duncan - There’s one album I’ve had on repeat for like 3 months solidly now which is ‘Featuring Malcom Catto’ by MRR-ADM. The drums are fucking outrageous, and they sound like they recorded in like 1954. It’s just this mad mix of jazzy breakbeat with super dark hip-hoppy basslines. It’s class.
Kev - Ive had the new Spike Hellis album on repeat loads since it came out a few weeks back, its fucking ace. Looking at my recent listening this week and looks like I've also been listening to a lot of David Shaw, Henge, Opus Kink and MADMADMAD.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Duncan - Easily playing live. It’s like the only thing I ever do where I’m not thinking about a single other thing in the world. It’s like complete meditation and the only time ever where my mind is totally quiet.
Kev - I still just love writing, recording and playing shows - anything else that comes along with being able to do that is bonus.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Duncan - On the flip side of a love of playing live this one has got to be waiting to play live. Travelling to a show, waiting for soundcheck, waiting for your set time. Tortururous.
Kev - I think the most frustrating part is that there are still a lot of posh knobbers about in the industry and with how expensive it is to be a musician now its just getting worse - that alongside everyone trying to appease the algorithms with engagement short form video slop its getting harder to find stuff that is genuinely interesting.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Kev - Best advice is probably that if you aren't enjoying what you are doing and letting something that is supposed to be fun cause you stress - stop and do something else as there isn't much point otherwise.
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Dead Horse's new single 'I Would Die' is out now. Check it out in the player below.