Exeter alt-indie trio Soot Sprite announce debut album and share new single 'All My Friends Are Depressed' via Specialist Subject
Wield Your Hope Like A Weapon will be released on May 16th via Specialist Subject
"Soot Sprite blend post-emo tropes with swathes of guitar effects lifted from the shoegaze arena." - CLASH
"an ethereal combination of Elise Cook’s vocals, punchy, distorted guitar riffs and thunderous percussion, culminating in a propulsive, empowering anthem of self-love" - NME
"a dose of gorgeous, slow-paced indie rock." - Brooklyn Vegan
Rising Exeter trio Soot Sprite have announced that their debut album, Wield Your Hope Like A Weapon, is set for release on May 16th via Specialist Subject (FRESH, Jeff Rosenstock, Doe, Muncie Girls). Alongside the announcement, the band have shared new single 'All My Friends Are Depressed', is a reflection on the widespread mental health crisis.
Since the release of their debut single in 2018, Soot Sprite has grown from a one-woman lo-fi bedroom pop project to a fully-fledged touring alt-indie shoegaze outfit. Their debut album sees Elise Cook (lead vocals/guitar), Sean Mariner (bass/backing vocals), and Sam Cother (drums/backing vocals) fully embrace the dynamic highs and intimate lows that define their sound.
Of their new single, Cook says:
"This is my observation of the mental health crisis we’re in, how widespread it feels and how sociopolitical factors are playing such a huge part. It’s also a reminder to myself that I need to stop distracting myself from my issues and try and change something or face things or nothing will happen and I’ll never shake off the episode,"
Sonically, Wield Your Hope Like A Weapon takes influence from many alt-indie greats, creating a sound that blends shimmering melodies with raw, visceral energy. “When I started Soot Sprite I was hooked on Clean by Soccer Mommy and Hovvdy’s Cranberry but with this record I was listening to a lot of Sweet Pill’s catalogue, Ovlov & Wednesday,” explains Cook. Written over a span of four years - some tracks taking shape just weeks before recording - the album was captured in September 2024 at The Bookhouse in London, with the help of former lead guitarist Abi Crisp and production by Tom Hill.
At its core, Wield Your Hope Like A Weapon is a record about refusing to let apathy take hold. Cook explains, “it’s about embracing empathy over apathy, despite the constant stream of worldly horrors. If we have empathy we can have hope, and with hope then change is always possible.” Inspired by Rebecca Solnit’s book ‘Hope In The Dark’, the album title reflects the urgent need for action in an increasingly chaotic world.
“Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. It is an axe you break down doors with in an emergency.” Rebecca Solnit
Album Tracklist:
1. Days After Days
2. All My Friends Are Depressed
3. Spectator
4. Sunday
5. Doomed
6. Surprise Guilty Party
7. Grip
8. Vicious Cycles
9. Great Expectations
10. Wield Your Hope Like A Weapon
11. Cautious Optimist
Soot Sprite online
