The Spook School: International Showcase Fund (SXSW)
The Spook School are a queer punk band from Scotland. Their sophomore release, Try To Be Hopeful, is more direct than their first album, exploring issues around gender and identity, the destructive stereotypes that are generally accepted as the norm, and the difficulties of fighting them and building alternatives. Nye was undertaking his own personal journey during the making of the record too, beginning to really embrace his trans identity and starting testosterone therapy, a side effect of which meant that his voice kept changing throughout the recording process. The Spook School are very silly, very queer, and their drummer has a mean line in nude calendars. Being part of The International Showcase Fund from PRS for Music Foundation has meant being able to travel to SXSW and bring our queer revolution to more people and provide a platform for international touring and releases in the future.
“Simultaneously critical, sensitive and goofy” – Pitchfork
“infectious pop songs that perfectly balance the emotional, the political, and the silly” – Noisey
“They make dance music for introverts, love songs for people too shy to be in love” – Stereogum