Formed in Nottingham in 2021, Divorce have quickly carved out a reputation for doing things their way. Drive to Goldenhammer is their first album, a heartfelt exploration of place, identity, and connection. Recorded with Catherine Marks, the album’s lead single, ‘All My Freaks’, is a tongue-in-cheek critique of the music industry, delivered with humour and charm.
Ahead of their UK tour, I caught up with Tiger Cohen-Towell (vocals/bass) and Felix Mackenzie-Barrow (vocals/guitar).
whynow: Let’s start with the album. Drive to Goldenhammer feels like such a celebration of imperfection. How did you approach keeping that in the recording process?
Felix Mackenzie-Barrow: I think the demos were already full of the quirks and charm that we wanted to keep. Catherine [Marks] was amazing at making sure we didn’t lose that when recording properly. Sometimes it’s the small, messy moments, the ones that feel like mistakes, that end up being the most meaningful. Like, there were moments in the demos where we just hit something by accident, but it worked. Catherine has such a good ear for spotting those and saying, “That’s what makes it.”
Tiger Cohen-Towell: Some of our demos were really scrappy, like just the four of us figuring things out, not worrying about how polished it sounded. But Catherine could always hear through that and find the bits that felt alive. She would tell us not to overthink it. There were definitely moments where we’d think, “This needs to be tidied up,” and she’d just go, “No, it’s good. Trust it.” I think that’s where the album’s energy comes from.
whynow: Was it ever difficult to decide when something was finished?
Tiger: I wouldn’t say it was difficult because we’re all pretty much on the same wavelength with this stuff. If something felt exciting, it stayed. That was kind of the rule. If it made us all sit up and pay attention, then it was done.
Felix: By the time we got into the studio, we’d lived with these songs for so long that we knew what they needed. It wasn’t so much about fixing things as it was about leaning into the things that already worked and building on them.
whynow: Felix, you recently moved to Bristol. How has that change influenced your music?
Felix: It’s funny because for so long I thought I had to be in the “right” place for music, like London or something. I spent years making decisions based on what would make being a musician easier. But after a while, you realise that it doesn’t matter as much as you think it does. Bristol has been great because it’s somewhere I actually like living. It’s quieter, there’s space, and I feel like I can breathe a bit. It’s nice to be able to separate my day-to-day life from the band stuff sometimes.
whynow: And Tiger, you’re moving to Glasgow?
Tiger: Yes, I’m in the middle of flat-hunting, which is always fun! Nottingham is home, and it always will be, but I think sometimes you need a change of scenery to stay inspired. Glasgow just feels like the right move for now. I like the idea of starting somewhere new, meeting new people, and seeing how that shapes what I do.
whynow: Touring can take a toll on anyone. How do you stay grounded when you’re on the road?
Felix: Cooking has become my thing. When I get home after a long tour, I’ll spend hours making a proper meal. It’s such a simple thing, but it helps me reset and feel normal again. Touring is great, but it can feel like you’re constantly in motion, so those moments of stillness are important.
Tiger: For me, it’s about keeping myself balanced. The music world can be so heavy on the drinking culture, and that doesn’t really work for me. I’ve learned to bring my own stuff on tour: ginger shots, carrot sticks, things like that. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps me feeling like myself. You have to figure out what works for you and stick to it.
whynow: ‘All My Freaks’ is such a playful track. What inspired it?
Tiger: It’s kind of a piss-take, honestly. The music industry can be so ridiculous with all its egos and drama, and we wanted to poke fun at that. But it’s not mean-spirited, it’s more about laughing at the absurdity of it all, including ourselves.
Felix: Exactly. Writing that song was like saying, “We see how silly this can all get, but we’re still here, and we’re still having fun.” It’s tongue-in-cheek, but there’s a lot of truth in it too.
whynow: What do you hope listeners take away from Drive to Goldenhammer?
Tiger: That it’s okay to embrace the mess. Life isn’t perfect, and neither is art, and that’s a good thing. There’s beauty in the things that don’t go to plan.
Felix: If something feels honest, it’ll connect with people. That’s what we’re trying to do: make something that feels real and human. If people can see themselves in it, then we’ve done our job.
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- All My Freaks
- Catherine Marks
- Debut Album
- Divorce
- Drive to Goldenhammer
- Indie Rock
- Nottingham Band
- UK tour 2024
