Since 2011, the beloved Spanish indie-rock quartet Hinds have been creating some of the most authentic, warming and summer-filled indie / slacker rock music of the past two decades. The longest-standing members, guitarist and vocalists Carlotta Cosials and Ana García Perrote, originally formed the band Deers before changing the band name to Hinds (female deer) in 2015 for legal reasons. Their songwriting energy and the strict sonic manifesto to ‘be yourself / do what you want’ radiates from each release as they strip rock and roll back to its core.
On 6th September 2024, Hinds released their fourth album, and most triumphant record yet, ‘Viva Hinds’ on Lucky Number. The album showcases the pure evolution of Carlotta Cosials and Ana García Perrote’s artistry with 11 pop-filled anthems featuring guests; Lofi veteran Beck, and Fontaine’s DC frontman Grian Chatten. The album is introduced on a sombre note, reflecting on their hardship over the last few years with the lineup change of Ade Martin and Amber Grimbergen pursing their own projects. “Hey, you OK?” asks Perrote, with Cosials replying “I’ve been better tbh”. Before breaking free into a warm paradisiacal journey, exploring jangle pop rhythms molding a plethora of captivating melodies that will keep you hooked for days.
Ever since their debut album “Leave Me Alone” released in 2016, Hinds have stapled their raw completely non-pretentious sound that showcases their infectious personalities – Carlotta Cosials and Ana García Perrote call themselves “millionaires in friendship” and that is definitely a true reflection. Over the last four albums, Hinds have finely crafted and tailored their sound further, staying true to their ‘be yourself’ creative manifesto, and producing one of the catchiest releases to date with ‘Viva Hinds’. Ana’s smooth, melodic vocals are contrasted by Carlotta’s slightly higher, nasally expression in a way that creates gang-like unifying vocals that will inspire you to go pick up an instrument and make your own band. Viva Hinds is an infectious masterclass of melodies and unfiltered fun.
I have been a fan of Hinds since “Leave Me Alone” and remember narrowly missing out on their debut gig at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds around 2016. I have never seen them perform live, so I am delighted to be representing NDR at their Manchester date at the legendary Manchester Gorilla on Friday 21st February.
As the sold-out crowd eagerly anticipate their arrival, tracks by Lauryn Hill and Cleaners from Venus are played, exemplifying Hinds’ collage of influences that prepare the audience for what is about to come. As they walked on stage around 8:30pm, waving to the audience, Anna Perrote and Carlotta Cosials grabbed their instruments and dived straight into the stripped back opening track ‘Hi, How are You’ from their latest album ‘Viva Hinds’ before launching into the electrifying summer breeze ‘The Club’ from their 2018 album ‘I Don’t Run’. “I wanna show you it’s cool to grow up, I wanna prove that your clock doesn’t stop at the club” sings Ana García Perrote and Carlotta Cosials reminiscing on their musical evolution of the journey they’ve come and who they are now.
After a short break, Ana García Perrote speaks about their tour so far saying they’ve been playing every day ‘Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday’ and that they are loving every single minute. Until quickly submerging into one of the catchiest songs to date, ‘New For You’ from their album ‘I Don’t Run’. The Vaselines-esque clean guitar strikes entangled with jangle-pop licks exhibit the root of Hinds. You don’t need the most expensive instruments, or guitar pedals, or to have to look or be a certain way. You just need to know what you want to make and do it for yourself.
They explain they’re showcasing a new setlist tonight and ask the crowd what they think. An obvious reaction is heard from the energy emitted from the audience. A fan hands Carlotta Cosials a hand-made sign that says ‘You’re the cigarette to my coffee’, which leaves smiles all round before tumbling into the newest single ‘Boom Boom Back’. The new setlist shows their strength live and their fantastic ability to alter their tempo and dynamics so much, and with such great impact – keeping you on the edge of your seat when it sounds like it could all fall apart at any minute until it’s bounced back together into the tight nit ferocious garage rock n’ roll.
A highlight of their set was ‘Superstar’ from their latest album. Starting with a slow, acoustic guitar, before elevating into one of the catchiest indie tracks of the past few years that’ll sure get you singing and dancing. It sounds like it should be on a soundtrack to a coming-of-age film. Holding that retrospective feeling, encapsulating a certain time and emotion, and live, the song lived up to everything I could’ve ever imagined. The soaring guitar riff in the chorus and the gang-like vocals of “Good job/ Now you’re a local superstar/ that only hangs with superstars/ carrying the weight of all that fame” is impossible not to sing a long to. It’s a firm favourite.
Covers of Charlie XCX and The Clash’s ‘Spanish Bombs’ were altered and re-worked into the signature Hinds sound that rustled the crowd into a boisterous energy. At the end of the set, Carlotta Cosials jumped on Anna Perrote’s shoulders armed with her guitar and played a short hymn before welcoming the crowd to the Hinds karaoke part of their set. They point towards a fan stood near the front of the stage and ask what he’d like to hear. The fan grabs the microphone and starts singing ‘Thee Headcoates – Davy Crockett’ by the punk rock visionary Billy Childish, while Ana García Perrote and Carlotta Cosials orchestrate the rock-n’ roll sing-a-long. Clutter the support band run onto the stage to join the fun, as Carlotta Cosials jumps into the crowd to dance with the audience.
The set comes to an end with an acapella version of ‘Hello’ by Martin Solveig as the house lights flicker on and the audience look at each other to contemplate what they’ve just witnessed. As the crowds pummel back into the damp, cold Manchester streets, each member of the audience bares a smile cemented on their face from the pure excitement, fun-filled energy of the set. No other contemporary indie-rock artists around can have so much ego-less fun. Hinds’ music is so well crafted, it’s not about trying to imitate something else, but to simply be yourself. They are very serious musicians, but that’s where the seriousness stops. In a climate of overproduced indie rock, with sparkling press shots baring leather jackets and the attempt of the cool. It’s refreshing to hear and see musicians playing with smiles and radiating fun, being themselves, in the dark old world we reside in, reminding us to keep having fun regardless and keep smiling.
