In Conversation With...Warmduscher at Levitation Festival

Words by Angelika May

Over the last decade, Warmduscher have established themselves as one of the UK’s most eccentric bands. Their name, a German slang term for “wimp” is just as tongue-in-cheek as their music is restless and unruly. Formed in South London in 2015, the six-piece; Clams Baker Jr, Benjamin Romans Hopcraft, Adam Harmer, Marley Mackey, and Bleu Ottis Wright emerged with their debut album Kaki Tears. By the time At the Hotspot (2022) was released, they had become cult heroes, with their 2024 release Too Cold Too Hot, propelled an ambitious leap forward, combining humour, anger, and working-class strife with infectious dancefloor ready riffs. Their legacy has remained poignant by upholding their core tension between party and politics, chaos and control. 

Under the vast Texas sky, and vertiginous heat I sat down with Clams and Benjamin at 13th floor, a musty downtown gig venue prior to their set at this year's Levitation Festival. Reflecting on the differences between British and American crowds, it turns out that the gig-goers are not so different on this side of the pacific, Baker Jr noted that “it’s kind of the same really, you’ve got to get people involved,” whilst Hopcraft highlighted that it is the scale of the country that makes the most prominent difference: “In the UK, we’re used to big crowds, but here we’re still building.” 

Although not technically on home turf, having grown up on the East Coast, Baker Jr delighted in being back in the US, expressing his love for the country and a desire to move back to New York someday, whilst Hopcraft teased his vocality of the adoration he has for the states. 

The blend of British and American influences has forever shaped their sound. Hopcraft points to an openness to musical styles: “We’re linked by punk, hip hop, soul, and rock. Those genres all share an ethos, and that essence runs through what we do.” 

The band’s origins are firmly rooted in South London, with Baker Jr and Hopcraft first meeting on a street in Streatham. A few weeks later, one of Dan Carey’s Christmas parties led to Hopcraft joining Warmduscher on bass. Even after ten years, Warmduscher’s process remains grounded in honesty and enjoyment. Their approach to music reflects a philosophy of keeping things simple: hang out, make music, and let inspiration guide them. Their song Pure at the Heart encapsulates this ethos, which they reflected that they adhere to by staying close to family, staying playful and constantly moving forward. Other tracks, like Wildflowers, demonstrate how inspiration can emerge unpredictably. Written during the Covid pandemic, the song was a “curveball” experimenting with new sounds and approaches without overthinking the circumstances that generated it. Collaboration also plays a key role in the band’s work, with the partnerships ranging from Soulwax and Opus Kink to Nuha Ruby Ra and Irvine Welsh, which is often selected by “whoever picks up the phone”, Hopcraft jokes. 

A decade in, Warmduscher remains a band that thrives on chaotic energy without losing their heart, their music, live shows continues to create a space where party, politics, and creativity collide, and they show no sign of slowing down. 

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