Dream Nails

Formed in London in 2015 within feminist and activist circles, Dream Nails developed a direct punk rock sound that blends the legacy of riot grrrl, queercore and an aesthetic the trio also linked to the idea of “witch punk.” The band initially took shape around Janey Starling and Anya Pearson, later stabilizing its rhythm section with Lucy Katz and Mimi Jasson after several lineup changes. Quickly noticed on the British DIY scene, Dream Nails played the Sisterhood Stage at Glastonbury in 2016 and went on to perform across the UK and Europe, including a support tour for Cherry Glazerr in 2017. They released the EP DIY in 2016, Dare to Care in 2017, and the acoustic live recording Take Up Space in 2019. Their first album, Dream Nails, arrived in 2020 and continued a concise, abrasive and melodic songwriting approach centered on chanted choruses, nervous rhythms and lyrics that are political or intimate. After Janey Starling’s departure in 2021, Dream Nails continued to evolve and recorded Doom Loop, released in 2023 with Ishmael Kirby on vocals, maintaining a punk spirit but in a tenser, darker and more focused mode.