Rough Trade Recommends: The Cindys, Special Friend, LuxJury

Rough Trade Recommends presents: The Cindys + Special Friend + LuxJury

Rough Trade's monthly new music showcase returns with up-and-coming acts in the alternative scene.

The Cindys

Bristolian power pop outfit The Cindys united through a shared love of Alex Chilton, The Clean and Beat Happening. Brainchild of Jack Ogborne (aka Bingo Fury) and with help from Naima Bock, Finlay Burrows and members of Belishas, the group fronts surrealist imagery and infectious hooks at a pace that’ll give you butterflies. Their debut album was recorded across the West Country, between the vault of The Cornish Bank in Falmouth, Rockfield Studios in Wales and the cellar of The Louisiana in Bristol throughout 2024. The album includes production and engineering contributions from Joe Jones (Aldous Harding, The Cure, Teenage Fanclub) and Sam Stackpool of Holiday Ghosts, who also features on 12-string. The album was released via Breakfast Records (UK) and Ruination Record Co (US) on 7 November 2025, leading to tours with Shame and Getdown Services.

Special Friend

Formed in Paris in 2018, the Franco-American duo Special Friend brings together Erica Ashleson (drums, vocals) and Guillaume Siracusa (guitar, vocals). The duo quickly laid the foundations for a minimalist, lo-fi project driven by a very direct approach to songwriting and recording, where spontaneity, naivety and imperfection are fully embraced.

Following a self-titled EP, two albums (Ennemi Commun, 2021; Wait Until the Flames Come Rushing In, 2023) and several tours across France and Europe, the duo now returns with a third studio album, Clipping - a record that is brighter, more ambitious and more confident than their previous work.

LuxJury

LuxJury is fronted by lead singer Nicole Fermie, a self-professed latecomer to the queer party who made great cliff notes along the way. The cliff notes were put to music, which translated into alternative, positive, autobiographical pop guitar music. Like if Prince went down more of a singer-songwriter route than outright sex machine.

Naming George Michael, Angel Olsen and the Vampyros Lesbos soundtrack as their main inspirations, LuxJury draws from their combined influences, fusing elements of pop, rock and soul-baring lyricism to create their own distinctive sound. Recorded and mixed at Hermitage Works (Goat Girl, Fat White Family, Big Joanie, Plantoid) and produced by Nathan Ridley (Plantoid, Big Joanie), 'Hot Mess' explores the complexities of toxic love and addiction, but with a sexy undertone. LuxJury lures their listeners by telling stories with expression and relatability, with an angsty yet playfully roguish honesty at its core.