Ex Agent: Undefined, unconstrained and completely unforgettable

Ex Agent are Bristol’s no-wave group, made up of Evo Ethel (vocals, guitar, sax), Alfie Hay (guitar, bass), Eve Rosenberg (bass, guitar), Aidan Surgey (drums, percussion) and Otto Wild (keys, sax).

Formed in 2021 after the easing of lockdown restrictions, the band have released their debut single, Clutch/5, to rapturous applause.

The track was recorded with Connor Jones at Humm Studios in St Phillips and showcases the bands defiant stance against genre.

A cacophony of grating symphonies of sax and piano alongside scratchy guitars, crunchy drums, and haunting vocals, Clutch/5 is a highly impressive debut single.

Bristol24/7 caught up with the band to see where they go from here.

Where in Bristol are you based?

At the moment most of the band are spread out between Stokes Croft and Horfield.

How would you describe your music? 

We enjoy blurring the lines between punk, jazz, and classical music; although this may be a more appropriate job for our listeners.

What influences your music? 

Aside from our wide array of musical influences, our sound also takes inspiration from other creative mediums such as performance art, surrealist cinema, and literature.

We attempt to showcase some of these influences throughout our live shows creating a more immersive experience for the audience.

I think what really drives us as a band is producing something new and exciting for ourselves, and hopefully listeners too.

What’s your favourite memory of your career so far? 

A pretty distinct memory for us would be performing an improvised set alongside Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, and the late Mark Stewart of The Pop Group.

This was a truly bizarre experience for ourselves and everyone involved. It was such a pleasure to have collaborators Natalie Whiteland (Minor Conflict), and Harry Furniss (Bingo Fury / Iceman Furniss Quartet) along for the ride also.

What’s the response been to the music/art you’ve put out there so far? 

The response to our first single Clutch/5 has been pretty positive so far. It means a lot to have been supported by publications such as Hard Of Hearing, So Young, and Crack Magazine.

At recent shows, audience members have also described our set as more of an art/performance piece as opposed to a regular band performance. This feedback has been so refreshing and exciting to hear.

How have you found breaking into the music industry for grassroots artists? 

In Bristol, we are surrounded by a lot of people that align with our outlook on art and music. Bristol has a very supportive and collaborative scene.

One day you’ll play alongside a strange percussion group and the next you’ll be joining in with a hardcore punk band – soon enough you’ll all be starting a new project together.

The community here is lovely and embraces the weirdos.

Where’s your favourite place to perform and attend a gig in Bristol? 

Although we haven’t performed there ourselves, The Island is always exciting to attend a gig at. I first attended a Lice show there in late 2020, and more recently the Quade album release show.

It’s not often you get to watch performances in a repurposed police station. Some of our favourite places to play would definitely include Strange Brew and The Cube Microplex, both of which showcase the most exciting leftfield / experimental acts in the city.

Who’s your dream artist to work with? 

Would be impossible to choose a singular artist but Charles Hayward of This Heat would definitely be on our list. Also some local legends pop to mind including Janine Rainforth of Maximum Joy, and Matt Jones of Crescent.

Who have you got your eye on at the moment? 

A few of us saw The New Eves at The Cube earlier in the year and were completely blown away. The mix of styles they bring to the table is truly an experience to watch. They incorporate dance, folk, and punk in such a mesmerising way.

A few of us have also been listening to ‘SAVED!’ by Reverend Kristen Michael Hayter, it’s so bizarre.

Lastly, any project Valentina Magaletti is part of is incredible. (Holy Tongue, Moin, Vanishing Twin).

Are there any artists you think deserve more appreciation/acknowledgement? 

BIPED definitely!!

Some older acts also include Dog Faced Hermans, Rip Rig and Panic, Movietone, Algebra Suicide, and Maximum Joy.

What’s next for you? 

We are extremely excited to start working more in the studio and pushing the production side of things. Being able to capture our sound accurately and distributing our work as physical formats would mean so much to us.

We also have some really exciting shows to announce including the Breakfast Records NYE party, and Simple Things Festival.

Main photo: Jess Agnew @_krozerova_

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