The UK noise rock duo Pohl are this week’s featured Meet The Band artist. Their full-length debut album is Mysteries. Vocalist/guitarist Will Pearce introduces us to his band.
Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Pohl.
Will Pearce: Pohl has actually been around in one form or another since 2011. For a long time it was me and drummer Jamie Thompson, and we did our second EP with bassist Hugo Morgan of The Heads. Then it was back to me and Jamie for the Freakspeed EP, after which we both moved cities and I figured Pohl was over. But I realized there was a full Pohl album inside me waiting to get out, so I recruited Linda (Westman, drums) and here we are…
Describe the songwriting process for Mysteries.
Most of the songs came out of the initial jam session between me and Linda. I love the two piece format because it lends itself to spontaneity and flow. Linda has an ear for song structure and is always forthcoming with ideas and suggestions, which I really value in a bandmate. As for the lyrics, some have been kicking around in my head for years, others came out spontaneously,
and some I had to wrestle into existence over weeks and weeks.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
Aside from tracking drums, recording the album was a pretty solitary process, which suits me fine. I’d go to the studio late at night when I had the whole building to myself. On one occasion when the album was almost done, I spent the whole night finishing off the vocals, just in the zone, and eventually emerged at 5am into a spectacular dawn. Driving through empty streets in the purple light, pumped full of adrenaline and dopamine, was pretty cool.
What was the biggest challenge in its creation?
Well, the original plan was that I would mix the album myself. I managed to finish one song before realizing the enormity of the challenge – and the shittiness of my monitors. By that time the songs had really come together nicely and we decided they deserved to be mixed by someone more experienced. Wayne Adams had been on my radar for a long time, having produced lots of excellent heavy stuff here in the UK, so we handed the project over to him. And he absolutely nailed it.
How would you characterize its style/sound?
I deliberately went for a lo-fi sound – both as a stylistic choice and out of necessity, given the gear I have! Cheap mics, ‘prosumer’ grade preamps and the like. There’s a bunch of interludes on the album which I recorded on my Tascam four-track cassette machine. The cassette was my first format – I’ll always love that warm, fuzzy, bass-heavy sound. Wayne managed to retain the lo-fi vibe without sacrificing clarity and heft.
What lyrical topics do you cover?
Let’s see… grief, depression, addiction, the end of the world…lots of cheerful stuff! But I like to think there’s a thread of hope running through the album too… Honestly though, it’s rare that I sit down and think ‘I’m going to write a song about x, y or x.’ A lot of the time the words just sort of come out and the meaning emerges later. Being quite emotionally stunted, I think lyrics are a way to articulate my emotions to myself. It’s like therapy.
How did you come to sign with Wrong Speed Records?
Wrong Speed is the brainchild of Joe Thompson and Chris Summerlin from the band Hey Colossus, of which I was also a member between 2018 and 2020. So it’s sheer nepotism. Not long after the label’s inception in 2020, Joe asked if I’d like to put out the EP Jamie and I had recorded before parting ways, and that became the Freakspeed cassette. WSR005, I believe. Mysteries is WSR062, so they’ve been very busy, putting out some of the most interesting underground music in the UK. Even without the Hey Colossus connection, Wrong Speed would have been my first port of call.
What are your goals and expectations for the album?
My main musical goal has been to write and record an album and have it released on vinyl by a cool label, so I’ve already hit the jackpot.
How has the response been to the singles you’ve released so far?
Really positive – the songs seem to be resonating with people beyond simply, ‘Hey, that’s a cool riff’ or whatever. Music is a form of communication and it’s amazing when a stranger on the other side of the world gets what you’re talking about.
How were the video shoots for “The Whale” and “Revelation”?
Very relaxed! We did “The Whale” with Benji Wilson who takes amazing photos of bands here in Sheffield. He’d already photographed us live and his aesthetic fits our sound perfectly. There’s lots of weird analog glitchy stuff going on with the video, which mirrors the sound and feel of the album. We decamped to Benji’s studio, mimed along in front of a green screen, and he took care of the rest. “Revelation” was even easier. Our friend and labelmate Chris Spalton (aka The Breedling) has made amazing videos for Hey Colossus and various others, so he was an obvious choice. I basically filmed myself playing along to the track on my phone, sent Chris the footage and left him to it! He did a great job.
The album is being released on vinyl. Are you a collector?
Big time! I got into vinyl at a young age…the first record I remember buying is Cypress Hill’s “Dr Greenthumb” single, which came out in ‘99, so I must have been eleven or twelve years old. Fast forward 25 years and I now work in a record shop – Spinning Discs here in Sheffield. It’s a lot of fun, although I probably spend more cash in there than I make…
What has been your most memorable Pohl live show?
Back in 2013 we played a show in this medieval crypt, supporting Hey Colossus. There was no bar, no toilet, literal tombs everywhere, and the police busted in towards the end and shut it down. Definitely one to remember. That was also my first encounter with the Hey Colossus guys, so it proved to be quite fateful.
What are your upcoming show/tour plans?
Not much at the moment. This year has been all about getting the album finished and out there, so we’ve kind of slacked on gigs. Although a brief tour with our friends Human Leather might be in the works. Let’s see what 2025 holds. A US tour would be nice!
How did you get started in music?
My first musical love was hip hop. I got into vinyl because I wanted to scratch and sample things! My dad bought me a Korg Electribe sampling drum machine, and I’d sample my parents’ record collection and make beats. Then when I heard Nirvana for the first time, it changed everything – I picked up a guitar and haven’t put it down since.
Who were your early influences and inspirations?
Nirvana was the big one, for sure. Dinosaur Jr and Sonic Youth followed. Soundgarden opened the door to even heavier stuff, like Melvins and Electric Wizard – and from there it was a slippery slope to insanity, drug addiction and death.
What was the first rock/metal concert you attended?
Maybe not the coolest answer, but Biffy Clyro on the Vertigo of Bliss tour. That album was huge in my development as a guitarist. Linda and I saw Simon Neil’s new band Empire State Bastard at a festival last year and were blown away. At first I didn’t realize it was him. I just knew he was very handsome. And Dave Lombardo was on drums!
What are some of your non-musical interests and hobbies?
I’m a big reader. Dead Centre by Tim Farthing and Electric Eden by Rob Young are recent highlights. I also like cooking and hanging out with my partner and my dog. I’m pretty square.
What’s the best thing you’ve binge watched lately?
There’s an amazing documentary series about the Nuremberg Trials on Netflix that weaves together reenactments with real footage and interviews with expert historians in a very compelling way. It’s a lesson from history that bears repeating, now more than ever. Super depressing though, obviously.
What’s currently in your heavy musical rotation?
This year has been amazing for heavy music! Slift, Eye Flys, Pissed Jeans, Sumac, Full of Hell, Kulk and Thou have all put out great albums. I’ve been listening to a lot of old school death metal too – Suffocation, early Death – plus current bands who channel that spirit, like Pissgrave and Coffin Mulch.
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Check out Chemical Messiah on Instagram – he did the album artwork and it’s amazing! We love his work and you will too.
(interview published July 27. 2024)
Watch Pohl – “The Whale” Video
