HotWax’s debut album follows the release of two critically acclaimed 2023 EPs, but it was their energy that caught the attention of producer Catherine Marks (Boygenius, Wolf Alice) at Third Man Records’ Blue Basement last summer; “It was the sweatiest gig we have ever done – it was really, really packed,” explains singer Tallulah Sim-Savage “Afterwards, Catherine came up to us and said, ‘Oh my god, I need to record your album with you. I want it to sound like the energy in this room. It needs to feel like a party.’”

The band went on to build an all-female team to record Hot Shock, with Marks co-producing alongside Steph Marziano (Picture Parlour, Cassandra Jenkins), bringing a crowd of the band’s friends into London’s RAK Studios to record a live run-through of the new record. While touring the US, the band also recorded with Warpaint drummer Stella Mozgawa at her studio in Joshua Tree.

“Touring and constantly living in the moment can be chaotic. But there’s also a feeling of knowing that the more life experience we gain, the more fearless we become,” explains bassist Lola Sam. Childhood friends Sim-Savage and Sam have been writing together since they were 12, before the latter met drummer Alfie Sayers at music college five years later.

HotWax will play a string of in-store shows in March to celebrate the release of their debut. Pre-order the album to secure a ticket.