London’s underground music scene has never been short on experimentation, but few bands bring as much raw energy and inventive chaos as Scared Little Toaster. The duo, comprised of bassist Hugh L and drummer Sonny Patten, craft a sound that feels like it’s been yanked from the wreckage of a plugged-in toaster trapped in an industrial blender—an apt description for their upcoming single, “Vibra,” set to release on February 7, 2025, but available one day earlier, exclusively on IDIOTEQ.
Hugh and Sonny’s musical connection was forged through years of collaboration in London’s live music circuit.
First, they played together in an indie/shoegaze project, followed by stints in a carnival-inspired experimental punk-folk band. These gigs weren’t just live shows; they were the building blocks for the duo’s shared musical language. “It was through these bands that we really connected musically and as friends,” they explain.
By the time they decided to strike out as a duo, their focus was clear: blend the intensity of noise rock, the intricacies of jazz, and their mutual love of bands like Lightning Bolt, Don Caballero, Hella, and The Jesus Lizard.
Building “Vibra”
“Vibra” is a vibrato-drenched, fuzz-saturated track that has been years in the making.
Hugh recalls the origins of the song: “Vibra derives from a bass riff that I’ve been sitting on for years. I was trying to come up with a riff in a peculiar scale, and this was the end product of that.”
The track’s intensity mirrors the experience of navigating London’s endless traffic jams—a frustration that Hugh channels into his creative process. “The atmosphere of the overall track relates to the intensity felt whilst trying to survive long commutes to work stuck in traffic,” he shares.
View this post on Instagram
That intensity is amplified through layers of fuzz pedals, frenetic drumming, and maximum vibrato, with feedback tying it all together.
The result is a soundscape that’s as disorienting as it is cathartic. For added flair, the track includes quirky, rapid-fire verbal instructions for preparing and eating greens—a chaotic touch that feels perfectly in tune with the band’s unpredictable energy.
The single’s artwork, created by Laurence Montagu and edited by Sebastian Luke-Virgo, encapsulates the track’s sonic chaos. Inspired by the relentless vibrato that defines “Vibra,” the visuals aim to make listeners feel as though they’re being pulled through the track’s industrial blender of sound.
View this post on Instagram
The band’s influences are quite eclectic. From the punishing intensity of Swans to the absurdist chaos of Clowncore, their inspirations stretch across noise rock, free jazz, and even math rock.
These influences come alive in every track, including the rest of their forthcoming EP, recorded at General Waste Studio in Kent in early 2024. Produced by Isaac Ashby, who also contributed additional feedback and synth layers, the EP promises to be as angular and frenetic as the band’s live performances.
View this post on Instagram
Live shows are where Scared Little Toaster shine. Late in 2024, the duo performed five shows across London in just two weeks, refining their set while introducing an actual toaster as their “front man.”
Their live sound leans heavily into improvisation, with the addition of domestic appliances and unexpected time signature changes keeping audiences on edge.
Hugh draws much of his inspiration from his commutes between West and East London, where he immerses himself in experimental rock, noise, and free jazz to endure the long hours of gridlock.
Discovering venues like Dalston’s Cafe OTO has been transformative. “I had no idea that it was possible to see more experimental bands/improv bands in London. For years it seemed that indie bands completely dominated the scene,” he reflects. The venue has become a wellspring of inspiration, exposing him to acts like The Incapacitants, Thurston Moore, and Okkyung Lee.
Scared Little Toaster plan to release a string of singles throughout 2025, culminating in their debut EP later in the year. They’ll continue drawing on personal experiences, from the chaos of commutes to the inspiration found in London’s underground music hubs.
As they put it: “Our tracks derive from daily experiences or being inspired by a part of a song we love, whether that be a jazzy drum beat or mathy riff.”
