Here at Dork, we have a firm belief that if you trimmed very nearly any song to sub-three-minutes, it would instantly be a million times better. No exaggeration: a million. Fast bangers > slow nonsense. It’s just our way. Show us a track that’s sub-two-minutes, and we’re instantly onboard.
Nancy’s new ‘un ‘Clic Clac’ clocks in at a Dork-approved 1.47 mins, and it’s a ride, guys. The Brighton newcomer describes the track as “an ode to anxiety”, but it’s one of the most freeing, off-kilter tunes you’re gonna hear all week; like one of those potent 5-hour energy drinks they sell at service stations, but for your ears.
Nancy tells us more.
Hi Nancy, when did you first realise you wanted to make music?
When I was around 11, I learned guitar, and by 13 I was doing the working men’s social club circuit in County Durham playing cover songs. I didn’t even consider writing my own songs until I started going through my mam’s CD collection at home and found The Beatles’ ‘1’ compilation. I was instantly obsessed and played it to death; I remember feeling almost intimidated by how perfect their songs were. I started learning their Fab 5 era tunes, and once I realised how simple they were, I wanted to see if I could get away with writing my own.
Did you have a musical upbringing?
Yeah both my parents are musicians, despite being from a council estate in Sunderland, my ma is a classically trained flautist, my Da introduced me to a lot of important music too so yeah I guess I did. I had a load of supportive music teachers who would get me out of other lessons to practice and generally let me hang out making music instead of science or maths…
Are you creative in non-musical ways too?
I have a little bit of a side hustle as a Graphic Designer and have always been into art and drawing. I’ve always been tall and lanky so no clothes will fit me, haha, so it got me into sewing altering my clothes since I was at school.
What do you do for fun?
Bizarrely I’ve recently reconnected with Sunday league football. I rejected it since school because it felt so toxic masculine and reminded me that I don’t fit in, but I got invited to a team full of artists, booking agents and sound engineers and it is amazing. We are probably the fucking weirdest team in the league by far, but it’s more fun that way, we’re like football pirates or something… The music Industry can be such a bullshitty place that it’s nice to be apart of something that is inherently empirical.
What’s been the highlight of your time as a musician so far?
I think being played by Iggy Pop on 6 Music the other month was a real moment of celebration and has to be my most cherished highlight so far.
Tell us about your new single, ‘Clic Clac’?
‘Clic Clac’ is an ode to anxiety; it is much quicker and shorter than anything I’ve written, it’s a head rush. The soundtrack to my ‘quarter-life crisis’… (Or maybe I should just call it ‘life crisis’ at this point)
What’s your songwriting process like?
I like to look for drum breaks on old soul records; I have quite a large library of them now – I usually get a cool drum loop going and start feeling out a song. Once there’s an idea I will start hashing out the chords and top-line either on keys or guitar, then refine refine refine, then distort distort distort.
What are you working on right now?
I split my time writing for TV and film for different companies. I am producing some local musicians that I like in Brighton and working on new Nancy material all the time.
Who do you think is the most exciting band or musician around right now?
I would say either JPEGMafia or Tyler, The Creator, both artists are so far-reaching and left field despite being so accessible to mainstream audiences. JPEG’s first record kicked the shit out me, it’s the most bonkers punk thing ever – and Tyler is just a pure entertainer.
What are you most excited for looking ahead to 2020?
Looking forward to finally releasing my new EP – I’m very excited to share it with everyone! It’s bonkers.
