Having rattled round in the underbelly of London’s technicolour music scene for a while now, Hot Stamp are finally releasing their debut single, ‘Josephine’, a cinematic thriller studded with pop hooks and noughties-inspired production. Fronted by sisters Jasmine and Poppy Levi, the track has enough punch and verve to leave you winded.
Opening to thrumming, humming guitar lines and mechanical undertones, the layers of melodies quickly start to race ahead, tripping over each other in a buzz of storytelling. With all the sharp delineations and crisp outlines of an Andy Warhol, the song is driven by a playful narrative that tracks a friendship characterised by deep-rooted obsessions and blurring identities. And it’s a friendship that eventually launches itself off the deep end with a gleeful shout. “Almost everything is autobiographical, except for the murder”, the band have said of the track.
Bottling the lightning intensity of live shows and steeped in musical influences ranging from disco to punk, the single positions Hot Stamp as a group who know who they are and how to have fun. It’s a song that is drenched in a lurid blood red colour, and one that will make you want to get your hands dirty too.
We host Hot Stamp at The Elephants Head tonight (June 3rd 2025) with support from Bathing Suits. Free Entry.
Photo by Michael Jolly
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Issue Fifty-Five features Model/Actriz, YHWH Nailgun, The Orchestra (For Now), Westside Cowboy, Car Seat Headrest, Real Farmer, School Fair, Elias Rønnenfelt, feeble little horse, Kissing On Camera, Pooneh Ghana and Rhi Dancey.
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