Active on the Mancunian punk and alternative scene since 2023, the five-piece band Big Cat Chic has now announced the release of their latest single, ‘Access Denied’. Blending an array of grunge, funk, psychedelic, post-punk and shoegaze elements into their unique formula, the band has built an impressive reputation for their gritty and fearless songwriting.
Composed of the following members: Sam Brunt (guitar & vocals), Eliza Waite (vocals), Josie Spencer (guitar & vocals), Lucas Hookings (bass) and Robyn Elliot (drums) – each member brings their own personality and style into the mix, as expressed by Sam Brunt in an interview for Messed Mag: “Eliza brings the punk aesthetic and elements, Jamal’s bringing loads of different insane rhythms from various different genres. And so, yeah, it’s quite a meld of stuff.” He further expresses that the band’s style draws from beyond the Mancunian scene’s inherent sound: “I would say, because we’ve got such a diverse range of [influences). Jamal plays in Nguvu which is a funk and jazz-fusion band, Eliza is a kind of ‘riot grrrl’ aesthetic, and I’ve come from ‘60s elements, and then Charlie brings a heavier influence – it’s difficult to say whether we fit in anywhere, necessarily. But we could sit on quite a few different bills, quite happily, from heavy rock, even into the more funky elements and that kind of stuff.”
Hard to pin down under a label, the new single by Big Cat Chic is said to be “a dark, emotionally charged track that explores vulnerability, self-doubt, and the fear of intimacy beneath the chaos of modern attraction […]. Blending grunge, psych, shoegaze, and funk influences, “Access Denied” captures the tension between craving connection and instinctively pushing it away. Driven by distorted guitars, restless rhythms, and haunting vocal melodies, the single examines the internal conflict of someone unable to fully believe they are worthy of affection, even when faced with genuine interest and intimacy.”
Further described as moving “between obsession, insecurity, and emotional denial, reflecting the experience of sabotaging closeness out of fear of trust and vulnerability”, the track results in “a raw but theatrical anthem that balances sharp-edged intensity with moments of fragile honesty.”
Messy, rowdy, bold, unique and non-conforming – that’s what punk is about, and that’s what both Big Cat Chic and their new single embody. The song’s pulse is the call to embrace a march to the beat of one’s own drum, whilst vocals and lyrics preserve the leading tinges of insecurity and vulnerability around others – the perfect juxtaposition of bounce and emotional limbo.
The song is now available to stream on streaming platforms, and you can always keep up with Big Cat Chic’s gigging and future releases on their Instagram page: Instagram | bigcatchic. Nobody puts it better than Big Cat Chic themselves – they’re a “new kind of fierce and feisty for your playlists”.
Article by Rozalia Lewandowska