The Spook School

The Spook School

The Spook School are an Edinburgh indie pop and pop punk group active from 2010 to 2019. They form while the members are studying at the University of Edinburgh. The band name refers to the Glasgow School. The group is made up of Anna Cory, Niall McCamley and Adam Todd, and the wider line-up is described as a four-piece.

Style and themes

Their music is often compared with bands associated with the C86 compilation, including The Shop Assistants, and with The Buzzcocks, while David Bowie is also listed as an influence. Their songs focus on gender, sexuality and queer issues, including ideas of fluidity and the lack of a binary in gender.

Releases

Their debut album is Dress Up, which appears in 2013. The title reflects the group’s interest in gender as a social construction and the idea that it can be artificially adopted. The album receives positive reviews from Loud and Quiet, Under the Radar and The Skinny. Their second album, Try To Be Hopeful, also receives favourable coverage, with attention given to the way its outlook treats gender and sexuality as fluid and gives the music a sense of urgency and brightness.

Background

Before the band forms, most of the members are involved in live comedy shows, some of which take place at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The line-up details the roles of Nye Todd on guitar and vocals, Adam Todd on guitar and vocals, AC Cory on bass, and Niall McCamley on drums.