18 Questions With introduces 1883 readers to the brightest young artists, actors, creatives and beyond. From childhood memories and guilty pleasures to their latest ventures and upcoming projects, our goal is to bring you closer to the people who inspire and entertain us.
British indie-rockers Divorce are gearing up to release their much-anticipated debut album Drive to Goldenhammer tomorrow via Gravity/Capitol. The album, produced by Catherine Marks (known for her work with boygenius and Wolf Alice), explores themes of transformation and the idea of home, blending off-kilter country, indie-rock, and chamber pop. The lead single, “All My Freaks”, has already garnered significant attention with various tastemakers, alongside growing momentum on 6 Music and Radio 1. It’s an extremely exciting time for the band who are also about to embark on a huge UK tour from this month onwards.
The members of Divorce sit down with 1883 to answer 18 and chat about Drive to Goldenhammer, life on the road, and their favourite songs to perform live.
What’s one exciting thing that happened to you this week?
Adam: I went to the cinema to watch the Bob Dylan biopic – the cinema I go to has reclining seats and I find that very exciting.
What was the last thing you read?
Felix: Horizon by Barry Lopez, I’m currently making my way through all of his books and I can’t stop talking about him.
Favourite memory growing up?
Kasper: I used to wheelbarrow firewood at my grandma’s house in Denmark (I still do) and bring it inside. I was obsessed with fire but I was too young to start it, she always told me when I turned nine, I could give it a go but she let me when I was eight, and it’s the most excited I’ve ever been.
Where was the last place you travelled to?
Tiger: If I was being boring, I would say down to Nottingham for band rehearsal (I live in Glasgow), but I’m going to be fun and the last abroad holiday I went on was Provence with the band after a show we played in Marseille. I often think about French supermarkets.
What was the last thing that made you laugh?
Adam: Memes.
What’s your nighttime ritual?
Felix: I always have a cup of sleepy-time (extra) tea, the one with a painting of a bear in pyjamas sitting in an armchair. It really helps.
Who would be on your dream dinner party guest list?
Kasper: I’m assuming alive or dead, so Tom Waits, Annie Clark (St Vincent), MF DOOM , Julius Caesar , Judas, and Oedipus.
Favourite quote from a film or TV show?
Tiger: The Sopranos is my favourite so it’s got to be Junior Soprano; “My nephew is one c*nt hair away from controlling all of North Jersey. And I am that c*nt hair”.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Adam: I have only done karaoke once and I chose a lighthouse family song called Raincloud…the crowds went positively bonkers.
Favourite item in your closet?
Felix: I have a striped red and black hoodie that I love and if I ever lost it I would cry really hard.
What is the major throughline between all the songs on Drive to Goldenhammer?
Tiger: I would say a sense of nostalgia for something that has never really existed. A childhood, home, community that you run towards but is always just out of reach.
What were your favourite moments from the recording process when working with Catherine Marks (boygenius, Wolf Alice) on the record?
Kasper: Honestly the whole thing was amazing, I’ve never seen anyone so deeply focused on one thing for so long it was so impressive.
My favourite bits were asking about her process because I’m interested in engineering and production. She even said I would make a good producer which I’m going to have written on my gravestone.
Who are your inspirations when you’re writing music? What do you find sparks your interest?
Adam: I often find inspiration comes from the least expected places. Sometimes it’s an ice cream van, other times it has been local Nottingham people – we have a very musical intonation to our speech. Melody can literally come from anywhere, duck.
Given there is a big headline UK tour kicking off in March, what items are normally on your rider?
Felix: I’m a big smoked almonds guy, personally. I have also worked out that my favourite tour breakfast is oatcakes with crunchy peanut butter and banana. It’s incredibly dry, and no one else in the band or crew understands it, but the dryness makes me drink more water, and it’s one of the only things holding my life together right now. So the ingredients for that are always a must.
How do you want to elevate the Divorce live experience for the tour and your festival appearances this year?
Kasper: We’re gonna incorporate some visuals hopefully, and we’re working hard in rehearsals to make the songs a little different than on the record. For the in-stores especially, we’re reworking all of the album songs and stripping them down, it’s gonna be fun.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to and who is the funniest member of the band?
Tiger: The best gig I have ever been to was probably Dolly Parton. She is just such a real one, she was soloing about eight different instruments. I’m not sure if you mean who was the funniest person in our band or the funniest person in her band, but I will answer the former and say definitely me.
What does it mean to the band to finally be at the point to put out a debut record via Gravity / Capitol?
Adam: It’s been over a year since we recorded the album at Real World. We are practically fizzing with anticipation and excitement to finally release it into the wild.
We couldn’t be happier to have Gravity with us – they are a fine galleon and we are blessed to be sailing upon their majestic vessel.
What would you like to manifest for yourselves throughout the next year and why?
Felix: Tiger passing their driving test.
Divorce’s debut album Drive to Goldenhammer is out tomorrow.
Follow Divorce @divorcehq.
