Band Of The Week #327 - Cherry i
This week's Band of the Week is London art-rock four-piece Cherry i - who have just released their new EP 'Yes, but I could never tell that lie' - which was produced by Ali Chant (PJ Harvey, Yard Act, Soccer Mommy).
Formed in 2025 by two now best friends who moved to the UK together due to the conflict in their Ukrainian homeland, despite only having met a handful of times, Cherry i have since gone on to release two well-received singles, racking up north of 100K streams, whilst building a feverous word-of-mouth buzz playing across the London DIY Windmill scene.
They took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there, how are you? So your EP is out now – how does it feel to have it out there?.
Nerve wracking. I still can’t shake the protective feeling I have over music once it come out, maybe being able to let go comes with time, but for now it feels a little like asking someone you like on a date, except you’re asking everyone.
It is called 'Yes, but I could never tell that lie' – what is the meaning behind that?
The title comes from me thinking about lying to myself as a coping mechanism for getting through difficult situations in life. I think that most people, if they lie, it’s more often than not to themselves. Every song on the EP slightly touches on morals and lines one would or wouldn’t be willing to cross. Lies one would or wouldn’t be willing to tell. I was thinking of a particular lie I couldn’t keep telling myself and came up with the title.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories you are willing to share with us?
All the tracks were recorded in Bristol with Ali Chant. We did it in two trips. One of the best experiences of my life so far. Both Ali and Niklas who was the sound engineer helped make the songs so much better and I’m really thankful to them for it.
What are the key influences behind the EP?
Pain. Cue world's tiniest violin. In terms of musical influences I don’t know that anything specific influences the sound. We like Kim Gordon a lot, Fontaines DC and The Books. Gigging around London really helped shape the final sound of some of the songs.
If the EP could be a soundtrack to any film – which one and why?
I would want it to soundtrack Mulholland Drive by David Lynch. It’s one of our favourite movies so maybe there is a bias there but we also think it would be a good fit. There’s a constant tension and confusion there that we think a song like Mistake or The Arsonist would work well for.
Do you have a favourite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
My favourite lyric on the EP is “god freed the arsonist, told him that he could buy another day, off the streets off the silver screen, in poetry he’s moving” This whole section is kind of about my relationship to art and media. I think I need it so badly because I’m trying to extinguish some very painful experiences for myself with it, despite it also being a reminder of those experiences. That’s the best way I can explain it
Now the EP is out there – what next for you?
A gig at Shacklewell Arms in London on the 26th of July! Then a gig at The Greyhound on the 5th of August Yay! We are also in the process of finishing our next EP. Double Yay!
