Slurs

Slurs are a Newcastle upon Tyne group active since 2015. They are a two-piece alternative-pop act whose sound draws on post-punk and punk rock as well as jangle pop, noise pop and indie influences.

History

Mark Simpson handles vocals and guitars, while Fintan Dawson plays guitars and provides vocals. The pair begin playing together at school in late 2001 and continue working together from that point. They form Involution in 2006 and play across Newcastle before that group ends in 2009, including a sold-out headline show at Academy 2. Afterward, Dawson remains active in the local scene, including work as a drummer in Cult Image and Retriever.

Slurs form in the summer of 2013 and spend time developing their material before releasing their first EP, Northern Electric. They record and mix the six-track release themselves over about a month, using only a drum machine and a small number of guitar strings between them. The EP is complete by early 2015. Dawson designs the artwork, using one of his photographs of Trinity Square car park in Gateshead.

Style and influences

Their music combines melodic writing with fuzzy, riff-led sections and noisy pop elements. Influences cited in their sound include The Housemartins and Elvis Costello on the melodic side, and The Kills and Sonic Youth for their more distorted, guitar-driven approach. The group also presents a strong connection to the north east of England and to their local heritage.

Activity

Keeping to a DIY approach, Slurs organise their own first gig at The Cumberland Arms in Byker to promote their self-released material. They are presented as part of the Newcastle music scene from the middle of the 2010s onward.