Welcome to the Jangle: The Cords on their debut album

“It’s just… I don’t know. Different? Better? It’s not like other stuff you hear constantly. It’s so much more fun!”

Eva Tedeschi from The Cords is trying to explain the appeal of the indie-pop sound which has inspired their self-titled debut album. Eva and her sister Grace have breathed new life into a well-worn genre, picking up some high-profile support along the way. Their strum-along, sunshine pop perfectly captures the energy of youth, enough to melt the hearts of even the most cynical old timers.

And yes, it feels impossible to write about The Cords without mentioning their ages, their combined years taking them to only a fraction of most of their indie heroes. Yet they seem unfazed by horror stories of the music industry and retain an upbeat outlook on life, focusing on what seems to matter to them most: making music which hits home and tugs at the heartstrings. So where did it all begin?

“Well, you started drumming when you were six, didn’t you?” Grace sets the scene, though the sisters enthusiastically tag-team throughout the interview. “Yeah, I got a tiny toy drum kit for Christmas one year. Then moved on to lessons, and then Eva started playing guitar. She was four when she started! I’d stop for ages and then go back to it. I was hearing a lot of bands and just thought, I really want to do this. We really loved the Shop Assistants' drumming, it’s so simple, and yet it all sounds so good. And not samey, it’s never boring, it just fits perfectly with the songs.”

The Cords are signed to two legendary indie labels, Skep Wax in the UK and Slumberland in the States. The former is run in part by the Fairy Godmother of twee pop, Amelia Fletcher, of Talulah Gosh and Heavenly fame. Slumberland, in turn, have been a powerhouse of US indie for decades, home to Stereolab, Lightheaded, and Rocketship amongst many others.

It might feel like a case of right place, right time, but that would ignore the sheer number of gigs that The Cords have played, in support slots and headlining, to crowds large and small. Was that a deliberate tactic, to get out and play as much as possible? And do they enjoy it? “We just keep getting asked! And we’re supporting such amazing bands, we feel so lucky. We look forward to playing live, of course the run-up to any show is scary, but once we’re up there and we start playing it’s completely fine.”

I wonder if this feels especially true when they play “hometown” shows in Glasgow? “Oh, absolutely. Glasgow is so special because of the iconic bands it has produced. But beyond that, everyone has just been so supportive. Like, last year we seemed to be playing at Mono every month! It’s our favourite place ever, we just love Glasgow so much.”

Quizzed on their favourite gig of the past couple of years, the sisters eventually settle on the Postcards from Scotland shows, which were hosted to tie in with the Grant McPhee book of the same name. To hear The Cords waxing lyrical about great lost Scottish indie bands of the past such as Jesse Garon and the Desperadoes and The Fizzbombs is almost enough to bring a tear to the eye.

And what comes next? World domination? Arena tours? Perhaps – whisper it – a bass player? This suggestion provokes peals of laughter from Eva and Grace. “That’s the question everyone always asks us! We both play bass on the album, but we love it being just the two of us. We can discuss things and write songs together. We know what kind of sound we want. And it would be cool if we were a stadium band, but we also love the little cult following we have at the moment. And that already feels like a crazy amount of people. So, in some ways, we don’t want that to change. But also, being signed to Slumberland, we would absolutely love to play in the States… hopefully that might happen soon.”

The Cords have an easy, knockabout manner, that would charm anyone who met them. Next up is a trio of pop fests across the UK and Europe, and some album launch shows, including one at Rough Trade. Grace and Eva ponder what their favourite songs on the album might be, and When You Said Goodbye, Yes It’s True, and Fabulist all get honourable mentions. For a band who have already supported indie icons such as Belle & Sebastian and Camera Obscura, and who have worked incredibly hard to get to where they are now, it’s difficult not to feel optimistic for the future of Scottish pop after an hour in the company of The Cords.

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The Cords is released on 26 Sep via Skep Wax / Slumberland Records
The Cords play The Mash House, Edinburgh, 4 Oct; Mono, Glasgow, 5 Oct