The Wytches

The Wytches

The Wytches are a British psychedelic rock group active since 2011, with origins in Peterborough and a Brighton base. The group consists of Kristian Bell, Gianni Honey, Demelza Mather and BVU. Their music is described as psychedelic and has also been associated with indie rock and garage rock, with a surf-doom edge.

Formation and early line-up

The band forms in Brighton in 2011 after Bell and Honey leave Peterborough, which they feel is constrained by its hardcore scene. They relocate to Brighton and begin building the group there. Bell plays vocals and guitar, Honey plays drums, and Dan Rumsey joins on bass and vocals after responding to an advert placed at the university. The band later operates with a strong DIY approach rooted in its hardcore background.

Sound and approach

The Wytches are known for Kristian Bell’s lyricism, forceful vocal delivery and heavily distorted guitar playing, including surf-style bends. Their sound combines rough, unruly energy with poetic writing and direct emotional weight. The band handles much of its own work, including organising shows and tours, printing flyers, pressing early records, making videos and commissioning artwork from a friend of the band, Samuel Gull.

Releases and labels

In 2013, the band issues a run of singles and EPs on London label Hate Hate Hate Records, including Beehive Queen, the Thunder Lizard Revisited EP and Robe for Juda. Their early single Digsaw is pressed by the band themselves. They later attract the attention of Heavenly Recordings in the UK and Partisan Records in the United States, who take on their debut album Annabel Dream Reader.

Live activity

The Wytches build a reputation through extensive live work, headlining shows across the UK and Europe and supporting acts including Blood Red Shoes, The Cribs, Drenge, METZ and Japandroids.