With their new single “Remedy,” The Straights reaffirm their place as one of the UK’s most exciting independent acts—unfiltered, unpolished, and unapologetically themselves. The track dives into themes of personal chaos and emotional recovery, wrapped in a sound that’s equal parts punk grit and pop finesse. We caught up with frontman Michael to talk about the subconscious nature of songwriting, the band’s DIY ethos, and how “Remedy” came to life—from spontaneous studio moments to deep layers of textured guitar work.
Congratulations on the release of ‘Remedy’. The song explores themes of personal chaos and healing. What do you think is the role of music in emotional release or healing?
Thanks, Writing and recording is the art of doing what is best for the song and allowing it to write itself. It’s a very subconscious form of expression, and naturally, the human condition will come into play. Creativity is an old friend who is there for you when it matters.
What was the creative process like in the studio for ‘Remedy’? Did anything surprise you during the recording of the song?
George came into rehearsals with ‘Remedy’ and I fell in love with it. It’s a brash, sophisticated, and unorthodox song with pop sensibility but with punk rock muscle. The recording was quick, from what I recall, and the ideas were very spontaneous, with every suggestion given at least 20 minutes to develop in the recording studio. George has a good ear for unusual ideas, so it keeps things interesting. Creatively, a lot of focus is on achieving guitar tones and sound, layering them with accents and textures. The same goes for everything else regarding attention to detail. Our original rehearsal space was also a recording studio, so we spent hundreds of hours in our formative years learning how to record.
You’ve built a loyal fan base both in the UK and internationally. How does that feel, and how does it impact your approach to making music?
It doesn’t change our approach to making music because we please ourselves creatively first. It feels like there are a couple of indie head music nerds in every town and city who are passionate about music and are very loyal. We sincerely appreciate everyone who listens to us.
Your music seems to embody the chaotic, rebellious spirit of youth. How does that influence your identity as a band?
We are a rock n roll band, and everything you just described is essential.
What inspired the song, and how did it come together?
The song’s meaning is very open to interpretation as it’s abstract; it’s a unique perspective through the lens of the creative. George wrote the song based on an event and used it as a source of inspiration.
What was it like to work independently on this single? Do you think being self-produced has shaped your music in unique ways?
Yes, I think it does because the tracks we create our unapologetically us with no interference. Working independently and self-producing is something we’ve always done, so we don’t know any different. Rob Quickenden is our recording engineer/producer and is the unofficial fifth member of the band.
How has being from Portsmouth influenced your music, both sonically and lyrically?
I don’t think it has influenced us musically, but definitely influenced us in how we interact with the industry. Portsmouth has a really good music scene, and we like being based here.
Who were some of the biggest influences for you when creating ‘Remedy’?
Our collective record collections and playlists. It has a real melting pot of influences.
Looking ahead, what’s next for The Straights? Do you have more music or tours planned for 2025?
We will be releasing more new music and playing more live shows. We are very focused on writing new songs at the moment.
