Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandi Nicholson.
Hi Sandi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Swinging Pussycats have been bringing our brand of 60’s inspired rock-n-roll, incorporating elements of reverb-drenched surf, garage rock and girl-group pop to audiences for more than a decade.
Toronto couple Sandi and David Pussycat are the primary songwriters. We started up TSP after stepping away from support roles in other alt-rock bands, and earlier rock and roll endeavours.
Our sound is inspired by harmonic proto-punks such as the Ramones, fuzzy psychobillies The Cramps, Link Wray, Italian western soundtracks, 60’s beach movies and Japanese power pop that Sandi discovered while living overseas. The primary focus is using three or four chords to convince people to move their feet. Song themes tend to tackle the big questions – such as what would happen if a Beach party was disrupted by a volcano eruption and/or zombies.
The current lineup features Sandi on vocals and guitar, David on lead guitars, Gord Pussycat on bass and Ed Pussycat on drums.
We released our first full album in fall 2022, and more recently a couple of singles.
TSP is working on material for a new studio album this fall.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being an unsigned indy band, is always a challenge. We book our own gigs, design and produce our own merchandise, arrange for recording and videos as well as doing our own social media and promotion. Our lineup has changed several times as members moved or couldn’t continue to dedicate the time needed. It’s all about the love of the music, and it’s always worth it once you fire up the amps and start the show.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We’re really inspired by the great rock and roll music of past generations – when it was all about songs that make you wanna dance. We try to write songs that stick in your head with hooks that make you wanna move your feet. When we started this, we were new to song writing, but we always had a unique sound. There’s a certain naiveté to the lyrics, and a purity. The song writing is probably where we have developed the most over the years – and continue to develop – while still keeping that original vision. And there’s nothing more satisfying than having someone approach a few days or weeks after a gig and say, “that song of yours has been stuck in my head since your show.”
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Like everyone else, the pandemic was a setback. We had a showcase gig planned just as the world shut down, that had to be cancelled. That venue, like many other live music spaces in Toronto, never did reopen. New spots open up but you need to build relationships. We’re looking forward to playing The Pilot Tavern in August for the first time. It’s a long time Yorkville bar that has started a big effort to bring in new live music.
We have been lucky in that the Toronto music scene is close knit and we have met a lot of amazing people who have helped us along the way. Other bands, particularly in the surf scene, have really offered a lot of support and advice.
Pricing:
- T-shirts – $25 US (Bandcamp)
- CDs – $10 US (Bandcamp)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecatsto/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Swinging-Pussycats-516685428363802/
- Twitter: @TheCatsTO
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBYdgzWIhsYlVvdUYkAIrzg
- Other: https://theswingingpussycats.bandcamp.com/
