Cheatahs

Cheatahs are a shoegaze band formed in London in 2009. The group begins with frontman Nathan Hewitt and guitarist James Wignall, who meet while working in a Camden pub and bond over music and Seinfeld. Hewitt has recently moved to London from Edmonton, Alberta, while Wignall has come to the capital after studying in Leeds. After both have played in other bands, they start working together seriously when Hewitt asks Wignall to collaborate on a set of songs he is developing.

Their early lineup expands to include bassist and producer Dean Reid, who moves to London from San Diego, and drummer Marc Raue, originally from Dresden. Cheatahs release a series of tapes and seven-inch records on different labels before issuing their first EP, Coared, in 2012 on Marshall Teller Records. Reid produces the EP, and the group then records a follow-up quickly, also with him producing, at their Hackney studio over a weekend in June.

After supporting Milk Music in East London, the band attracts the attention of representatives from Wichita Recordings, who hear Coared and the unreleased material. Wichita signs the group and releases the later EP SANS as Cheatahs’ first title for the label. The band is associated with shoegaze, indie rock, noise pop, indie and rock.