HotWax

HotWax are an English alternative rock trio based in Hastings, consisting of members Tallulah Sim-Savage, Lola Sam, and Alfie Sayers.

HotWax
HotWax performing at the Lexington in 2024
Background information
Genres	Alt rock grunge post-punk
Years active	2020–present
Labels	Marathon Artists Transgressive Records
Members	Tallulah Sim-Savage Lola Sam Alfie Sayers
Past members	Honor Wilson
Website	www.hotwaxofficial.com

Members

Tallulah Sim-Savage, vocalist and guitarist, met bassist Lola Sam at secondary school in Hastings when a music teacher placed them in a group together, and the pair became close friends.^[1] As of 2017, they were members of a band called the Kiffs along with Honor Wilson, who would go on to be HotWax's initial drummer.^[2]

Sim-Savage and Sam later met drummer Alfie Sayers at a music college in Brighton, forming the current trio in 2021.^[3]

Career

In 2020, HotWax began self-releasing singles, including "Stay Cool", "Pat the Killer Cat", "When We're Dead", and "Barbie (Not Yours)".^[4]

HotWax signed with Marathon Artists and Transgressive Records^[5] for the release of their debut EP A Thousand Times in May 2023 with its lead single "Treasure". They had a gig supporting the Pearl Harts.^[6] In spring and summer 2023, HotWax performed at a number of festivals, including the Great Escape Festival, Mad Cool,^[7] Louis Tomlinson's Away From Home Festival in Italy,^[8] All Points East, and Reading and Leeds Festival.^[9][10] They then opened for Royal Blood that autumn on tour in the UK and North America.^[11]

Artistry

 

HotWax performing at Orange Blossom Special Festival, Germany 2024.

Sam grew up listening to the Beatles, Amy Winehouse, and Destiny's Child, while Sim-Savage grew up listening to country^[12] and Lady Gaga, before developing an interest in rock music through Blondie's Parallel Lines (1978) album.^[9]

Sim-Savage and Sam took inspiration from Karen O, Starcrawler,^[3] and Yeah Yeah Yeahs when formulating their vision for HotWax. Sim-Savage primarily writes the band's lyrics.^[1] The trio's debut EP A Thousand Times drew comparisons to The White Stripes, Hole, and Wolf Alice.^[13]

In March 2022, John Robb of Louder Than War described HotWax as "ripping up the template and stages with a thrilling deconstruction of their grunge roots into a post-punk landscape."^[14] In May 2023, Ed Power of The Independent identified HotWax as part of a phenomenon of young artists reviving 1990s indie rock trends, despite being too young to remember the decade. HotWax stated these influences were framed by their parents and mentors, but that they were not defined by them.^[15]

Discography

EPs

• A Thousand Times (2023)
• Invite Me, Kindly (2023)

Singles

• "Stay Cool" (2020)
• "Pat the Killer Cat" (2020)
• "Baked Beans" (2020)
• "When We're Dead" (2021)
• "Barbie (Not Yours)" (2022)
• "Treasure" (2023)
• "Drop" (2023)

References

1. Loftin, Steven (19 May 2023). "HotWax want your attention now with their new EP, 'A Thousand Times'". Dork. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
2. Brown, Lucy (27 November 2020). "Live Before Lockdown". Hastings Independent. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
3. Williams, Sophie (11 April 2023). "HotWax could be Britain's next great guitar band". NME. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
4. Simms, Bethany (9 March 2023). "Hot Wax - 'Treasure'". When the Horn Blows. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
5. Paine, Andre (23 March 2023). "Marathon Artists and Transgressive Publishing sign alternative rock trio HotWax". Music Week. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
6. Harrop, Mark (29 May 2023). "Live: The Pearl Harts / HotWax / Collars". Norfolk Rocks. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
7. "Mad Cool Festival 2023 day two: Sam Smith, The Black Keys, HotWax and more light up the Villaverde District". NME. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
8. Ackroyd, Stephen (25 May 2023). "Louis Tomlinson has announced the 2023 edition of his Away From Home Festival". Dork. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
9. Crudgington, Kate (17 May 2023). "Interview: HotWax". Get in her Ears. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
10. Taylor, Sam (30 June 2023). "HotWax, The Goa Express and more have joined Reading & Leeds". Upset. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
11. Dunworth, Liberty (31 May 2023). "Royal Blood announce new North American tour dates". NME. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
12. Rogers, Ellie (3 August 2023). "Introducing HotWax, the 18-year-old grunge enthusiasts named after an unsung overdrive pedal and making '90s alt-rock anthems for generation Z". Guitar World. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
13. Jamieson, Sarah (1 August 2023). "HotWax: "We just write what we want to play live"". DIY. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
14. Robb, John (5 March 2022). "New band of the day : Hotwax 'seriously brilliant teen band from Hastings add post punk invention to grunge grrrl anthems'". Louder Than War. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
15. Power, Ed (10 May 2023). "How Gen Z fell for and reinvented quiet-loud indie rock". The Independent. Retrieved 3 August 2023.