Spotlight On... SOAPBOX

Formed in 2022, Glasgow punks SOAPBOX aren’t afraid to tell you exactly what they think. Outspoken from the get-go, they’ve so far managed to piss off Glasgow City Council due to a series of posters promoting their 2024 HAWD THAT EP that appeared across the city last spring, and have received support from Jeremy Corbyn off the back of their 2024 single Private Public Transport. Last year, the four-piece sold out King Tut’s, played TRNSMT and they received a nomination for Best Rock/Alternative act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards.

With a sound that’s gritty, raw, furious and forthright, SOAPBOX continue to turn heads as they gear up to release their second EP, LOCK IN, on 25 April, with their biggest headline show to date happening on the same night at The Art School in Glasgow. With a busy year ahead for the band, we catch up with frontman Tom Rowan now to find out what makes the band tick, why it’s important for them to use their platform to highlight important issues, and what’s next for SOAPBOX.

You originally performed as a duo, but quickly expanded to a four-piece. How did the four of you meet and why did you want to start making music together?
We were only a duo because no one else would join to be honest; Aidan came to me looking to start a punk band. I hadn't sang in a band before, just playing bass but was keen on the idea. We tried out a few guitarists but quickly picked up wee Goose and our original drummer Ross. Jehnah joined the lineup right as we were finally figuring out what SOAPBOX was, so it really has been the core four of us for the main.

There’s a political undercurrent to all of your music; were there any artists in particular that have inspired the band’s output?
We took a lot of early inspiration from the original UK punks – Dirt, Crass, Subhumans and stuff. We've been lucky to be around a lot of great contemporary punk music though which has definitely been a big influence. The likes of Soft Play, Amyl and the Sniffers and Viagra Boys have all played a big part in the sound we've ended up with, especially on this record.

Why is it important for you to use your music and platform to highlight the issues going on in Scotland and beyond?
It's what comes most naturally to us. If you're going to play with conviction it needs to come from close to home.

Your latest single, Do As Ur Told, sounds a little scuzzier and lo-fi compared to tracks found on your HAWD THAT EP. What’s the reason for this, and what more can you tell us about the single – what's it about?
It's specifically about a bad experience we had when we were still pretty raw in the 'business side' of music. But more broadly it is about people taking the piss, we are an exploited generation and when people try to take the piss it makes a lot of folk boil over. That's reflected in the sound of the tune, it's not supposed to be nice.

Across the rest of your forthcoming LOCK IN EP, what else has enraged you?
God, liberals and our Dad getting pegged.

You also seem pretty pissed at a certain Glasgow venue owner at the moment, resulting in your next live show moving to the Glasgow School of Art. What happened there?
Ahhh Donald MacLeod? He's a prick [...] Too many of they folk get away with spouting bile and we just wanted to show that there are consequences to your actions even if you're a supposed 'big shot'. It's nice not to make money for people like that for a change.

Celebrating the EP with the live show on the same day as its release, what can people expect on the night?
Glasgow will be radge as fuck, hometown crowds always treat us so well. We've got an amazing lineup with Psweatpants and The Menstrual Cramps on the bill, so expect The Art School to be jumping from doors to curfew.

After that, what does the rest of the year have in store for SOAPBOX?
We're away to Europe in May which will be fun, heard great things about Netherlands and Germany for the punk scene. We'll also be over at Supersonic in Paris which we've really been looking forward to play. We'll try earn a living at some point in between and hopefully get back in the studio after summer x.

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LOCK IN is released on 25 Apr; SOAPBOX play The Art School, Glasgow, 25 Apr

Follow SOAPBOX on Instagram @soapboxband