SISTER PSYCHOSIS – AN INTRODUCTION TO

BESIDE MYSELF / INTO YOUR MEMORY

Today 15.1.2021 sees the first ever release from Canadian/UK duo Sister Psychosis with the kudos of it being the last ever release on Alan Mcgee’s Creation23 Record Label (Mcgee is forming a new label as from February 2021 called “Its Creation Baby”.

The band Sister Psychosis is formed of singer/songwriter Amanda May and guitarist Charlie Pepper (Chops). The UK-Canadian duo formed through a series of chance encounters in 2018, when a strong friendship ensued and the band was born.

The story goes that having sparked up a friendship with McGee while she was tour-managing an artist in Europe, Mcgee instantly recognised and appreciated Amanda’s vocal talents and introduced her to his friend and established Brighton producer Pepps Pepper who she has been working with ever since. In turn, Pepper introduced Amanda to his son Charlie (Chops). The two of them instantly hit it off and formed a band. Taking a name inspired by the Oasis track: ‘Go Let It Out’ (written by Noel Gallagher), Sister Psychosis was born.

Spending the best part of 2019 developing their sound with Mcgee’s mentorship and playing underground shows all over London at venues like The Social with other Creation23 acts such as Young Garbo and Marquis Drive, they signed a record deal with Creation23 last year in a weird fashion with them being on opposite sides of the world at the time!

Amanda says that the single Beside Myself is inspired by nights gigging and partying in and around London at underground clubs.

With connections in Toronto, London and Brighton, Sister Psychosis may not have one singular base, but their first release definitively owes its origins to one place in particular: Manchester! . In an unlikely tale of subterfuge, opportunism and pure luck, Amanda May posed as a caterer to blag her way into the backstage area at one of Noel Gallagher’s shows. Soon finding herself face-to-face with the man himself, Gallagher was in gregarious form and invited her to hang-out and even watch the gig from side-of-stage. Inspired by the warmth of this once-in-a-lifetime encounter and the renowned rich musical heritage of Gallagher’s hometown, a then eighteen-year-old Amanda May decided to make the pilgrimage to his hometown of Manchester. With a head full of songs and an innate feeling of self-belief, It was then, on a tour of the city’s musical landmarks, that Amanda May found herself on the steps of Gallagher’s former city centre flat. Struck by an epiphany and reflecting on her whirlwind journey, the words for the track ‘Into Your Memory’ fell from pen to page right then and there.

Although the memories were preserved it wouldn’t be until many years later that Amanda May would unearth them again. Around this this time, Amanda was introduced to Brighton based producer Pepper, where he played her a striking instrumental he had written that was just crying out for a fitting lyrical accompaniment. Immersing herself in the vibe of the music Amanda instantly recalled those lyrics she had written so long ago. With words in hand and melody in mind, she sang ‘Into Your Memory’ and it was in that moment that the song and indeed the band flourished into life.

Reminiscing on the unforgettable experiences that shaped ‘Into Your Memory’, Amanda says:

“The lyrics were inspired by my encounter with Noel Gallagher. I got to meet him, hang in his dressing room and watch the gig from side stage so I was pretty happy. He was such a cool dude. So friendly and humble. When he introduced himself to me I found it so bizarre. Like of course I know who you are mate! A few months later, I had just finished my contract as a PR girl at an artist management company in Toronto and had nothing to do, so I flew to the U.K. on my own and just sorta drifted around. No accommodation booked. Didn’t know anyone. Just on the hunt for adventure and I got it… I just did a bit of a ‘Madchester’ / Brit pop tour that I found online and that flat was one of the stops people recommended. It was there I wrote ‘Into Your Memory’… Meeting Noel, I realized that my dream of signing to Creation wasn’t that far fetched, if I could pull off what I did that night.”.

Of the single “Beside Myself” Amanda says :-

“I think the track “Beside Myself” sums us up perfectly- punky, sultry, rough around the edges. I wrote the lyrics when I was in a really boring relationship and was craving something wild and crazy. Chops and I are total lunatics so it suits us well”.

Although “Into Your Memory” was intended to be original single release, in a last minute, unpredictable change up that is now somewhat known in circles with this band, the Single “Beside Myself” has instead taken centre stage with “Into Your Memory” forming the b-side. The two tracks are available from today digitally and on limited edition blue 7in vinyl through Creation23.