Gaffa Tape Sandy Present New Single “Scrapbook” & Announce New Album & UK Tour

Brighton, UK trio Gaffa Tape Sandy have revealed the details of their new album, Hold My Hand, God Damn It, that is set for release on the 31st May via Alcopop! Records. The three piece have also announced an extensive run of September UK headline tour dates, with tickets on sale from 10am on the 19th February, there will also be a special album release show at London’s Rough Trade East on 5th June with tickets on sale now. To celebrate the glut of news, the band have also shared their new single, Scrapbook.

Featuring a rousing riff and gang vocal that pinwheel satisfyingly around a soaring chorus melody, Scrapbook is the first song from the band primarily written by bassist Catherine Lindley-Neilson, who has been writing her own material since Gaffa Tape Sandy‘s formation, but never had the confidence to share her output with the rest of the band. Previously leaving the bulk of the songwriting down to guitarist Kim Jarvis, in keeping with their newly adapted method of songwriting, Catherine finally decided to bring Scrapbook to the table, and the band are enormously proud of it. Not only musically, but in terms of what it represents for the songwriting trio. 

“Scrapbook is about lost time, and wondering what could’ve been with someone. Picturing what the scrapbook would’ve looked like if things had been different, and the mixed feelings you get when you see that person again.” (Catherine Lindley-Neilson)

Gaffa Tape Sandy wrote forthcoming new record Hold My Hand, God Damn It nervously together as the world slowly emerged from the first COVID-19 lockdown. The album writing process proved difficult, as a myriad of anxiety and personal relationship issues plagued the trio. The band was battling post-COVID mental health problems and employment issues, all while Catherine and Kim were trying to navigate recent breakups that coincided with their first UK headline tour in March 2020, just before the pandemic struck. Thankfully, the band persisted, and adopted a more cooperative writing method that made the songwriting process for Hold My Hand, God Damn It a revitalising experience, rather than a debilitating challenge. Rehearsals that started out as somewhat difficult became more like bonding sessions, and the friendships within the band started to flourish. The theme of the album quickly materialised.

Recorded and produced by George Perks at the legendary Vada Studios in the countryside surrounding Birmingham, UK, the album was made by three friends with boundless love and affection towards one another, who pulled together and preserved their musical output and friendship, despite the odds. As such, Hold My Hand, God Damn It is a frustrated-yet-compassionate, cathartic celebration of friendship and reconciliation in difficult times.