Based in Monaco, ShitNoise is a rising outfit that blends noise rock and dance punk into a thrilling sound. First starting out in February 2022, the band initially featured Alexandre Michel on guitar and Aleksejs Macions on vocals and drums, who met at the Centre Culturel Prince Jacques in Beausoleil.
From their early sessions, their debut single “Hazardous Bitch” was craft and released in May, followed up by the first EP titled Shit City in June which featured new band member Rebecca Bartocci Mesa. After dropping their first full-length record, Moments Before Drowning last April, Alexandre Michel left the group to be replaced by Tim Aringazi, with Aleksejs stepping up to front the band on vocals and guitar.
Dropping a string of new singles, music videos and live videos introducing drummer Paul Albouy, the line up settled as the trio they are today. Recently announcing the release of their upcoming sophomore record titled Good Luck (Welcome To Hell), the band is set to deliver their most personal songwriting to date across an album recorded in just four days. Ahead of the forthcoming LP, they now bring us two of their new singles with “Cowboys In Shorts” and “Teachers,” which both capture perfect snapshots of the latest chapter of the evolving ShitNoise sound.
With “Cowboys In Shorts,” the band serves up an energetic blast of retro rock n’ roll stylings filtered through their brash sound of raucous noise rock. Slick lead guitar twangs, crunching chords and belted vocal outcries all collide on this relentless uptempo dose of storming rock music written about toxic friendships. Paired with a brand new music video co-directed by Kenneth Seltman, known under the stage name Bald Head, which sees the band performing the song on stage with Kenneth serving as the presenter.
Watch the music video for Cowboys In Shorts below
“Teachers” delivers a crashing punch of gritty guitar riffs riding splashy drums before slipping into a powerful sound of punk rock attitude cut with grungey aesthetic. Angsty vocal leads serve up biting lyricism about the wayward behaviour of today’s teenagers on this robust rock outing. Featuring Aleksejs Macions and Paul Albouy, the music video for “Teachers” cuts the pair performing the track in various setting from an elevator to a concrete football pitch and a stairwell, reflecting the locations that the detrimental activities the song covers often occurs.
Watch the music video for Teachers below
With their new album on the horizon and the band riding a wave of creative output, 2024 is setting up to be their most exciting year to date. Bringing their music alive on stage, ShitNoise is set to play live at Le Local in Cannes this Friday night where they’re deliver what promises to be an unmissable show.
We caught up with ShitNoise to find out more about their recent releases, their live performances and what they’ve got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with ShitNoise below.
Hey ShitNoise, how’s things?
We’re doing great! A lot of things have been happening lately.
What’s new since we last spoke in November?
People really enjoy the new ShitNoise songs, especially Teachers! Our music has been played on a lot of web-radios and podcasts and stuff, that’s pretty sick in my opinion.
What’s the story behind the band name?
We chose it without much thinking honestly, hahaha. It was first a placeholder name for our debut single, Hazardous Bitch. The name was in French, “Le Bruitage De Merde”. Our guitar teacher then translated the title to “Shit Noise”, which we thought fitted a lot better. We then decided to name our band ShitNoise.
What was your highlight of 2023?
Oooooo, great question! It’s hard to choose a favourite moment that happened this year. I think either going to a Gilla Band gig or playing our first, own gigs.
Which artists have you been listening to recently?
I’ve been listening to a lot of IDLES and Larry Gus lately. Cool stuff.
You channel a good dose of rage into your music, do you find songwriting to be a therapeutic outlet?
I guess so, in a certain way, especially with the theme of our new album. I mean, even at our shows we try to express our emotions through our music and all, it helps a lot!
How did you find making your new singles “Teachers” and “Cowboys In Shorts”?
Teachers was a fast song to write, literally. I wrote and finished the song in like an hour or so. Everything. From the instrumentals to the lyrics.
Cowboys In Shorts was an interesting song to make. It’s weird as hell, but in a good way. I honestly wrote it while trying to learn Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry, hahahahaha. The only thing I honestly remember from recording this song is Tim recording his guitar parts.
What were your inspirations for writing them?
Teenagers who act like douchebags and who think doing drugs, smoking/vaping, and having sex at such a young age is ok.
Both tracks have brilliant music videos, how do you find pairing your music with visual offerings enhances the experience for the audience?
I think it’s a really important element. You don’t want to watch a crappy music video with a very great song. It’s just boring in my opinion. You need to find a fitting visual representation of the song.
How did you find collaborating with Kenneth Seltman, also known as Bald Head, on the “Cowboys In Shorts” music video?
Oh, it was great! He’s a super nice guy! We became great friends with him. I had an idea to make a video in the style of Saturday Night Live, and when I saw his videos (Bad B!tchez and the BWC series), I decided to contact him and ask if he wants to work together. I loved the way he filmed and edited his videos, so I thought it would be a great collaboration.
You’re set to play live in Cannes on Friday, how do you try to make a memorable show when performing?
Like that one meme said “GO CRAZY LALALALAL GO STUPID LALALALALA”
On a serious note though, we try to go crazy at our shows, more or less, especially me. I try to be as energetic as possible. It’s also great to mention the themes of the songs, it appears that the our audience members like the music better when they know its theme.
Finally, what’s next for you and your music?
Releasing the new album in February, see what happens, and continue to create weird songs people could like.
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