Emerging indie-rock band Wunderhorse began taking shape in 2020 in Newquay, Cornwall, starting out as a solo project by musician Jacob Slater. Slater first gained attention as the frontman of the punk trio Dead Pretties, which was active from 2015-2017. Upon exploring a different direction, Slater channeled the influence of American artists like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young, that he was introduced to by his father, as well as the 90s grunge that he gravitated towards as a youth. Upon forming Wunderhorse, Slater served as the primary songwriter and recruited friends Harry Fowler on guitar, Peter Woodin on bass, and Jamie Staples on drums. The band’s debut album, ‘Cub’ was released in 2022 and received critical acclaim, while their live shows garnered much recognition as they toured with notable acts like Fontaines D.C. and Pixies. Their sophomore album, ‘Midas’, was recorded in a relatively short period of three weeks, which allowed for a more spontaneous and improvisational approach to music creation, with all band members bringing their own ideas and styles to the table. The result was a collection of songs darker and more complex than their debut, highlighted by the album’s title track, “Emily”, “Arizona” and others. Slater shared, “When we first went into the studio to make this record, the only thing we were sure about is how we wanted it to sound; very imperfect, very live, very raw; no frills. We wanted it to sound like your face is pressed up against the amplifiers, like you’ve been locked inside the bass drum.”
Wunderhorse spoke with B-Sides host about touring, the making of their album ‘Midas’, how they came together and more.
