Tusks

Event Information

London-based songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Emily Underhill creates atmospheric, arresting alternative pop under the moniker Tusks. Drawing comparisons to Sigur Rós and Explosions In The Sky, Tusks gained support from the likes of BBC 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne, BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac and Huw Stephens, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Mixmag, MOJO and Wonderland with the release of her debut album Dissolve in 2017, produced alongside Brett Cox (Jack Garratt, Alt J, Marika Hackman).

Her second album Avalanche led Tusks further into the world of grunge and shoegaze. Taking inspiration from My Bloody Valentine, Marika Hackman and Wolf Alice, the album went on to gain her support from ever widening audiences across the world, as well as syncs on hit shows such as Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why.

Having previously supported Khurangbin, Ásgeir, Bear’s Den and Submotion Orchestra, Tusks embarked on her first European and UK headline tour at the start of 2020, including nights at London’s prestigious Village Underground (which she recorded and released as a live album) and Berlin’s Berghain Panorama Bar. In 2021 she collaborated with CJ Mirra on the soundtrack for feature film A Banquet and has been back writing and recording new music, scheduled for release soon.

‘Hugely satisfying’ – DIY

‘A force to be reckoned with’ – Wonderland

Special guest is Jodie Nicholson. North East writer/producer Jodie Nicholson’s sophomore album Safe Hands is ultimately about self trust, in both an introspective and creative sense. Across twelve tracks, Nicholson uses brooding chamber-pop and synth-laden alt-pop to navigate many of the different relationships we have in our lives: friends, family, relationships with ourselves and, more personally, her changing relationship with music.

After self-producing her new album, Jodie enlisted Oli Deakin (CMAT, Elanor Moss, Benjamin Francis Leftwich) for mixing and Katie Tavini (Arlo Parks, Liz Lawrence, Sega Bodega) for mastering. From infectious, anthemic tracks like Another Frequency and You Wanted This, to more spacious, melancholic tracks like Love I’m On Fire and What If I; ‘Safe Hands’ takes the listener on intimate journeys of minimalism and melancholy through to blooming, euphoric ends. Nicholson’s signature rich harmonies and ethereal, reed-like vocals remain a compelling constant.

Exploring themes of escapism, nostalgia, self-reflection and changes of heart, Nicholson leans on musical influences including Daughter, Matt Corby, The National, Warpaint, Lucy Rose and Laura Marling. There are also nods to her prog-rock upbringing and 80s-inspired outros that wouldn’t sound out of place on the soundtracks to Drive and Stranger Things.