For fans of punk, Grunge
British solo artist The Kut has released a new video for the single 'Fun When You're Winning' for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The single is out now, to coincide with the start of UK & Ireland tour dates supporting US High Voltage rockers Electric Six - activities that have just secured The Kut and her all-star female line up funding via Arts Council England’s National Lottery Grant.
A multi-instrumentalist & double award winner in 2022 UK Songwriting Contest with recent single and music video 'ANIMO' (meaning courage), The Kut's second album 'GRIT' released to Number 1 Rock Chart status in July. It concurrently became the first number 1 on the genre chart to feature females on guitar, bass and drums since the charts' inception in 1994!
Described by Classic Rock as a "refreshing blast of female-driven punk-pop swagger" GRIT brings with it a hefty dose of positive mindset, empowerment, and unity. Declared by The Kut as her 'psych up song', the new single ‘Fun When You’re Winning’ has already featured on the EFL Highlights, in Premier League segments on talkSPORT and scores of official football playlists since the summer – as well as on Sky Sports Cricket and Diamond League Athletics on ITV and BBC iPlayer
Raised in Blackpool & disillusioned with school, The Kut found comfort in the coils of punk rock, forming her first band at 14. They would gig in Lancashire & go on to win the local Battle of the Bands – but confusion struck when their drummer was hospitalised with schizophrenia.
The Kut turned to psychology for answers & left for London to study it. Inspired by London’s street artists, Maha assumed the tag ‘The Kut’, which would become her stage name.
It was here in London she became fascinated by mixing genres, drumming & breakbeats. Finally finding her line up, now a collective of 7 on rotation, she started selling guitars on Denmark Street post-studies & planned to build a studio, soon forming a bedroom label to release demos.
Tours began and major label interest followed but despite initial excitement, went cold. The Kut returned to psychology and started a PhD seeking precursors of psychosis-related illness. When the debut album did finally finish, it was later than hoped & The Kut had to decide whether to shelve it or trust in herself & her fans Team Razors to release it independently.
After a coffee meeting with Cargo Distribution, she decided to release the record, but with zero budget after self funding the recording, she turned to crowd funding to finance the release. In May 2018 ‘Valley of Thorns’ charted at #7 in the UK Rock Albums Chart & #18 in Independent Albums. An incredible feat, but one that was tainted by the closure of PledgeMusic, who folded with 70% of the funds. Four years on, The Kut, now a PhD Psychology graduate, recently signed a US distribution deal for her and her label roster – an announcement that signalled the release of her second album.
The imminent sophomore album “GRIT” is the musical amalgamation of The Kut journey so far. On record, The Kut leads on vocals & guitar, moonlighting as drummer & bassist on two tracks, alongside her collective of women in music. Its story mirror’s The Kut’s journey and speaks to those channelling self-belief & self-identity. It’s a pep-talk on trusting your instinct & leads through the process of cutting the ropes, as heard in ‘Burn Your Bridges’ & choosing your passion, in ‘Runaways’ & ‘On My Own’.
You maybe glimpse a light at end of the tunnel too, in ‘Fun When You’re Winning’ & the gratitude expressed in ‘Satellite’, while the closing punk-rock ‘And 1 More…’ calls in a new dawn. The recording of GRIT was funded by Arts Council England. Its 10 tracks include the hit single ‘ANIMO’, which won three awards (UK Songwriting Contest Best Rock Song, Best Music Video & the International Rock Award) & was debuted at The Kut headline set at Isle of Wight Festival. GRIT releases following The Kut’s first ever UK support dates, with high voltage US rockers Electric Six, with additional UK & Ireland tour dates now announced.
The Kut (vocals/guitars), Diana Bartmann (drums), Jennifer Sanin (bass)
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