At long last, Marmozets have finally returned with their stunning third album CO.WAR.DICE.—their first in eight years. The English rockers, who boast such hits as “Major System Error” and “Captivate You,” are back and better than ever with a fresh perspective—not just on their music—but on the world, too.
Vocalist Becca Bottomley says of the record, “CO.WAR.DICE. is an album reflecting on the state of our world and a vow to ourselves to leave this world in a better place. We may never make a huge impact, but we can only try. Like any story there’s a beginning, middle, and end, and we’ve chosen for a happy ending.”
idobi Radio had the chance to sit down with the frontwoman and chat all things CO.WAR.DICE., returning to the alternative scene, and being a parent. Check out the Q&A below and grab your physical copy of the record here.
What have you learned most about songwriting, creativity, or even yourselves as individuals in the span of time from your debut album to the arrival of your new record?
I used to have to psych myself up and wait until I felt the “right” moment for writing, but in fact, there’s never a right moment. It’s best just to turn up exactly as you are and how you’re feeling—just having a go. If it doesn’t work, at least you tried. I think that is the best way to approach songwriting, and I guess it’s how I approach life altogether now: Just turn up, be there, try, fail, cry, and laugh.
It’s nice to have that childlike approach—not the immaturity of it, but the “just go for it” attitude with a fearless finesse. You watch kids…they just jump off stuff that would probably break an adult’s leg. We need to stop caring what people think.
You often hear that it’s not until you hit your 40s that you truly stop caring, finally living in financial or spiritual freedom. Reaching a point where you can just “groove on” with life is a great achievement, but I think we need to start taking our authority and self-confidence back now. We need to be less bothered and more “anti-perfectionist.” A good starting point? Get off social media, stop the scrolling, and start living!
Which song from the record allowed you to experiment the most sonically?
As musicians, we love experimenting. I think it’s in our DNA to do our very best to express the ideas in our heads. For “Swear I’m Alive,” we had a plan. We wanted it to sound as small as possible in the verses, then explode going into the chorus. The song is essentially my daydream—wandering off to one of my favorite places in the world to escape—and I believe we’ve captured that.
What made “A Kiss From A Mother” stand out as the best song to mark your grand return/album opener? And what made “Keep Going Darling” the best way to conclude the record?
“Kiss From a Mother” was like a gift you bring to a friend; you had to buy it because it was just so perfect for them. As a band, we felt this song was the perfect choice for me stepping back into the music world as a mother. We wanted a ramp to fly off from, and this song provides that momentum. Cohesively, “Keep Going Darling” is the perfect way to end the album. It’s a seven-minute song that feels like it could go on forever; it’s a nod to the future. There’s not going to be another seven-year gap, and we aren’t throwing in the towel. I sense we’re going to be here for a while, because we’re on the brink of opening our own individual boxes of creativity that we have yet to share.
What advice would you give artists who have taken a break and are gearing up to re-enter the chaos that is the music industry?
My advice? Work hard on the writing and reach out to people in the industry with demos you’re proud of. Don’t burn bridges; learn to forgive and move on. When you fail, get back up quickly—don’t mope for too long. If you work organically and with kindness, you don’t have to hurt people to get where you need to go. It’s much cooler and more respectable to enjoy the fight and keep going. That’s how you get your win.
Check out all of Marmozets’ upcoming tour dates here.
