HotWax - 'She's Got a Problem'
"She’s Got A Problem"—But They Don’t! HotWax Drops New Single Ahead of Debut Album Announcement
The South Coast trio, HotWax, came into this decade with two things in mind: writing songs and kicking ass. And it looks like they’re all done writing songs (for now). Upon announcing their debut album, Hot Shock, set for March next year, HotWax unveiled their lead single and album opener, She’s Got A Problem. But one thing’s for sure: HotWax doesn’t have a problem writing head-banging, dirty, pounding rock songs like this. The grunge-inspired punk trio has burst onto the scene in the last few years like a meteorite hurtling towards the music industry.
The band has garnered support from legends like Steve Lamacq, Elton John, and Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs—one of their biggest inspirations. They've toured with dirt-rock icons Royal Blood and earned the admiration of Wolf Alice, especially producer Catherine Marks, who wouldn’t settle for less than working with the sweat-inducing band.
The track is a melting pot of distorted riffs, thumping basslines, and tightly woven but crash-heavy drumbeats. True to grunge form, it has all the guttural angst and fluid musicianship of the genre’s greats. The chemistry between these three musicians makes their music so satisfying, playing each track like a well-oiled slip 'n slide of sound.
She’s Got A Problem is a pulsating opener, showcasing the diverse highs and lows HotWax is capable of. If this is just the beginning, they’ve hit the ground stomping. With more in their locker, you should be excited to see where this energetic band takes us with Hot Shock.
A band so electric, they’re soon to put defibrillators out of a job. Tallulah Sim-Savage leads with a high-octane roar of running chords, Lola Sam delivers a darker bass tone, and Alfie Sayers moves smoothly between crashing cymbals and neat expressions of snare and toms. While not showcasing HotWax’s full technical prowess, this track demonstrates their intellect and humility as artists—everything is exactly how it should be.
The lyrics are cryptic and hard-hitting, with Sim-Savage shouting, “I wanna feel the way you feel! I wanna see the way you see! I wanna think the way you feel!” Simple yet evocative, capturing the raw emotion of the entire track. This confusion of emotions and longing to understand is something universally relatable.
HotWax released a music video to accompany the track, heightening its psychological intensity. With a retro aesthetic, psychedelic lighting, and VHS-style footage, it adds to the song’s disorienting vibe. Set in a motel room, possibly inspired by their days on the road in the US, it conveys a sense of entrapment—until the final shot reveals it’s all just a set, leaving viewers questioning reality.
The female-driven Hot Shock is sure to showcase the rock excellence we know HotWax is capable of.
Words by Adam Mir
