Emerging London outfit Cusk have introduced themselves with the release of their debut single Blu Tac Piano, offering a striking first glimpse into the band’s atmospheric and emotionally raw sound.
Cusk
Already gaining traction as a live favourite, Blu Tac Piano captures the duo’s instinctive approach to songwriting—delicate yet unsettling, intimate yet expansive. It arrives as part of the early output from The Bird, a new tastemaker imprint co-founded by Charlie Wayne of Black Country, New Road and Mita De.
Fronted by Esmé Creed-Miles and Evie Hilyer-Ziegler, Cusk’s origins trace back to an improvisation night at London’s The Shacklewell Arms, where the pair first connected. That initial meeting quickly developed into a close creative partnership, rooted in a shared desire to make music that feels exploratory and unfiltered.
Since their debut performance at The Windmill, Brixton, the band have steadily built a reputation on the capital’s grassroots circuit. Their rise has included support slots alongside the likes of DIIV, Geordie Greep and Tiberius B, positioning them as one of the more intriguing new names to emerge from London’s alternative scene.
At the heart of Cusk’s sound is a dynamic interplay between the two members. Hilyer-Ziegler’s precise instrumentation and ethereal vocal delivery contrast with Creed-Miles’ looser guitar work and androgynous lyricism, creating a shifting tension that moves between restraint and release. Their songwriting process reflects this balance—songs often begin as fragments, voice notes or poems before evolving organically through collaboration.
That sense of closeness and trust is central to the project, giving their music a deeply immersive quality. Blu Tac Piano embodies that ethos, drawing listeners inward with its hushed intensity and understated emotional pull.
Cusk are set to appear at Sounds From Another City in Salford on 3rd May, with further new music and live dates expected to follow.
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