Divorce: UKNY Q&A

Since the release of Divorce's first single, "Services," back in 2021, it's been evident that the Nottingham quartet possessed a special chemistry, effortlessly shape-shifting from grungy rockers to poignant Americana and sleek synth-fueled pop. The quartet — Tiger Cohen-Towel (vocals, bass), Felix Mackenzie-Barrow (vocals, guitar), Adam Peter Smith (guitar, synths), and Kasper Sandstrøm (drums) — have released two EPs so far, Get Mean in 2022 and Heady Metal in 2023, and they'll finally release their debut album, Drive to Goldenhammer, on March 7 via Gravity/EMI.

Just prior to the band's biggest UK gig to date on October 23, 2024 at London's Islington Assembly Hall— which swiftly sold out — I chatted with Tiger and Felix about the new album, produced by Catherine Marks (boygenius, Wolf Alice, Manchester Orchestra). On tonight's "UKNY" at 11pm, that conversation, plus three of the songs found on Drive to Goldenhammer, including the most recent single, "Pill."

Cohen-Towel and Mackenzie-Barrow have traveled a long road together, meeting as teenagers and seguing from theatre kids to their former band Megatrain, to Divorce, and as lyricists, they're insightful, incisive and candid. There's a lot ahead for this band in 2025, including a major gig in August at London's All Points East opening for The Maccabees alongside of Bombay Bicycle Club, Nilüfer Yanya, Dry Cleaning and more.