What makes a band immediately exciting? What’s the magic ingredient that makes one group of newcomers jump out from the rest? More often than not, it’s not virtuoso playing or meticulous technical proficiency, but the alchemy of a group of individuals coming together to make something bigger than the sum of their parts. It’s a vibe, a feeling, or – as Clutter guitarist Ove Jerndal puts it: “I think we write good songs, but it’s more about the four of us standing on stage together.”

Still only 20, they grew up on Pulp, Blur, Depeche Mode and Swedish punk. Their sound is messy by design – scrappy guitars, big personalities and a healthy refusal to be too polished. Even their name is a mission statement in itself. For Clutter, the band is about more than the songs. They’ve put on DIY gigs at their local youth centre, built their own basement studio and developed a visual world inspired as much by films, fashion and Britpop as music itself. With their debut EP "Loves You" on the way, they’re already showing they have the songs, the attitude and the spark to make some serious noise.

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