Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with C Turtle
The south London scene has been a hotbed of talent for the best part of a decade now. From Shame to The Last Dinner Party and newcomers such as Fat Dog, the pipeline continues to deliver an array of brilliant acts. One outfit that has been bubbling under the surface for the past couple of years is C Turtle, and now they look set to take the step up and follow the path of other Brixton Windmill alums.
This week, the quartet released the single ‘Shake It Down’ and announced their new album, Expensive Thrills. A masterful piece of wonky alternative rock, the new track is noted for the dovetailing vocals and guitars of Cole Flynn Quirke and Mimi McVeigh. Infectious but with a twist of grit mixed in for good measure, the song has genuine character. It has stoked excitement for what the band have in store for their studio length when it arrives on March 8th via Blitzcat Records.
Conjuring a distinctive sound that pulls from a mesh of different areas, C Turtle looks to the work of Pixies, Pavement, cult New Zealand label Flying Nun Records and early Beck to craft fresh music that stands out despite the familiar influences. This accomplishment comes in an era where guitar music is often criticised for being somewhat passé amid a mass of pretenders erroneously touted as the next big thing. Accordingly, the future looks bright for the quartet if they keep delivering such a unique sonic palette.
C Turtle began as a solo project by Quirke until he met McVeigh – who recently featured in the latest Indiana Jones movie – on a shoot via their day jobs. After hitting it off, the two experimented with home recordings until it became evident that McVeigh needed to join the project as a full-time vocalist and guitarist. Before long, bassist Finlay Burrows and drummer Jim Gervecin had completed the lineup.
In order to get to know C Turtle better, Cole Flynn Quirke gave us ten minutes of his time to answer our Quick-fire questions. They go a significant way in explaining the quirks behind his band.
Quick-fire Questions with C Turtle:
1. What song would you want played at your funeral?
“Chet Baker – ‘I Get Along Without You Very Well’.”
2. What was the best album of 2023?
“The Replacements – Tim: Let it Bleed Edition (technically a remastered reissue, but sue me).”
3. Do you believe in UFOs?
“I’m legally obliged to withhold my opinion on this topic.”
4. What’s your favourite comfort movie?
“Begotten, (E. Elias Merhige, 1989).”
5. Where’s the weirdest place you woke up?
“At Brad Pitt’s house.”
6. What’s one gig in history you’d time travel to be at?
“‘Fall in a Hole’ show in New Zealand 1982.”
7. Where’s the best pub in the world?
“The Basketmakers in Brighton.”
8. What was the first song you learnt to play?
“‘Hurt’ – the Johnny Cash version.”
9. What track features the greatest vocal performance?
“‘Paving the Goddamn’ by Tina Kit”.
10. What venue do you dream of playing? And who’s your support act?
“Whiskey a Go Go in Hollywood supported by Pussy Galore.”
11. Have you ever had a weird celebrity encounter?
“Partying with Lydia Lunch until 6 in the morning.”
12. What song do you hate most in the world?
“That Dandy Warhols song about junkies being passé.”
13. What’s your most controversial cultural opinion?
“There’s no such thing as 21st-century post-punk.”
14. Who the fuck is Mark E. Smith?
“I think he was the guy who wrote all those Pavement songs?”
15. Are The Beatles overrated?
“No.”
