Introducing - The Wha

Putting the spotlight on artists who you might not know yet, but you need to. The latest in our introducing series is energetic indie outfit, The Wha. 

Hailing from Kilkenny, Ireland, The Wha are formed through childhood friends Finn Cusack and Sam Cullen (dual vocalists and guitarists), who first started writing songs together a just 15.

The band is bulked out by Marek Lech (bass) and Abe G. Harris (drums) and were signed to Chess Club records (once home to the likes of Mumford & Sons and Sundara Karma) in 2019.

Citing the likes of The Smiths, Arcade Fire, and The Clash as early influences, debut single 'Innocents' landed in August of 2019. The song bears mature lyricism, with lines such as "you call it national pride, I call it genocide", it's clear the youthful quartet possess more than competent song writing capabilities.

Listen to 'Innocents' here

Three tunes have followed since the release of 'Innocents', '40 Odd Years' was brought out the same year and 2020 marked the drop of the slower 'Blue For You', reminiscent of 90s brit-pop. Latest single 'Young Skins' was released this past July and Cullen describes it as a "genuine heartfelt assessment of our desires to be famous".

This is reinforced in the official music video, which chronicles the lad's growth from boyhood band towards their position now, on the brink of stardom.

Though just four singles into their journey, it's clear The Wha have something about them which most up and coming artists are missing. They harvest their raw, youthful energy yet manage to turn it into something intelligent and absorbing.

2021 could be a big year for The Wha. The band have announced their presence at 110 Above festival next summer, and with the likes of iconic producer Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths) in their corner, The Wha have all the backing they need to fulfil their potential.

Follow The Wha on Twitter and Instagram.
Listen to The Wha on Spotify.