shortstraw.

From Coventry, shortstraw. is developing a project at the crossroads of British punk, rap and spoken word, built on an entirely DIY logic. Its tracks, recorded in a domestic setting, blend direct rhythms, post-punk tension, spoken-sung delivery and catchy refrains, with writing focused on everyday life, youth and growing up in Great Britain. shortstraw. first drew attention thanks to a session for BBC Radio 6's Live Lounge, which marked their live debut, before appearing as the opening act for groups like SOFT PLAY, The Libertines and STONE at the start of 2024. Their approach combines the frontline energy of punk, a sensibility deeply rooted in social observation, and a way of assembling short melodies, rhythmic tension and spoken phrasing that brings them close to both certain forms of English punk and a more narrative tradition of British rap. In this deliberately raw and autonomous format, shortstraw. circulates compact, nervous and legible music, designed as much for the live scene as for recordings, while preserving a degree of spontaneity.