Artist’s Choice: Crooked Ties

‘First, last, and everything in between’ is an interview feature where upcoming artists talk about some of the favourite music from throughout their lives.

Crooked Ties are a young four-piece from Sheffield. They released their first two singles after forming last year. Ahead of the release of their latest single, we spoke to frontman, Matthew, who filled us in on the music that makes them tick.

First song you remember falling in love with?

Probably Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair. I remember, relatively vividly, hearing and seeing the video for the first time on TV as an 8 or 9 year old and being completely mind-blown. Also Fire and Underdog by Kasabian, the first time I heard them would have been during a Match Of The Day montage or something similar and I believe that album – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum – was my first CD.

I think most people really start to form their musical ‘identity’ as teens. What music would best define your teenage years?

I remember listening to quite a lot of rap between about 12-15, no idea how that happened. It wasn’t until probably 15/16 that we got properly ‘into’ guitar music specifically. Then the main bands for me were Oasis, The Smiths, The Beatles and Arctic Monkeys. As for best defining those years, it would have to be Definitely Maybe I reckon.

Who makes up Crooked Ties and how did you get together?

Matthew Clarke (Vocals/Guitar), Regan Langley (Guitar), Kieran Smith (Bass/Backing Vocals), Reegan Pettinger (Drums)

We all grew up within about 10 minutes of each other, and met each other through school and sixth form. Reegan had played drums a bit before as a kid, but the rest of us attempted to teach ourselves for about a year before we formed at the beginning of 2023.

What’s your go-to sad song?

Anything by Lana Del Rey really. If I had to pick I’d probably go for either Ultraviolence or Norman Rockwell, both of those albums soundtrack that mood perfectly. Also, perhaps not necessarily sad, but Richard Hawley is great when you’re after something slightly mellow and easy listening. Cole’s Corner, in particular, is a beautiful album.

What’s your go-to banger?

It changes all the time, I’ve been listening to a lot of Queens Of The Stone Age recently so I’d maybe go for The Way You Used To Do.

I can hear a lot of Arctic Monkeys (around their 2nd-3rd albums) in your sound. Are they a particular influence and who/what are some of the other influences on your music?

Yeah definitely, we’ve always really liked that slightly darker indie sound that you’d find on Favourite Worst Nightmare and Humbug maybe even more so. We’ve got a load of influences though such as the aforementioned (QOTSA, The Smiths, Oasis, Richard Hawley etc) as well as David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, Lee Hazlewood, Harry Nilsson; they would be some more personal influences for me.

Third Alibi specifically was influenced a lot by film too, which is quite a new thing for us. The title comes from a 1960 film noir, which also accounts for the tape machine on the cover and there’s a mention for an Audrey Hepburn film from the same era called Charade too.

What have you got lined up for 2024?

We plan to be very active, both in terms of gigs and new releases. We’ve recorded quite a few songs already and our next single, after Third Alibi, will be released probably late April or early May, with plenty more to follow over the summer and beyond. Gig-wise, we’ve got some exciting ones booked in already including a couple of indie festivals in Sheffield (Naah Then!) and our native Worksop (Sponge Fest), along with a couple of trips slightly further afield.

Finally. What’s the last song you fell in love with?

It’s not a new song but is a recent discovery for me – The Rat by The Walkmen. The whole thing is great, the drums specifically are absolutely ridiculous. Also I Appear Missing by QOTSA is an amazing song that has been given plenty of plays lately.