Jeffery Drag Records is going international; They’re stepping across the pond and bringing back a like-minded band with them: The Slovaks. The Manchester band may have emerged in 2013, but their roots run deep. It all began in 2006, when frontman Adam Saylaby met Luke Barton while at university. They became friends when Saylaby spotted Barton’s Mars Volta shirt. With this, they bonded in the way that most music fans bond: over heavy drinks and heavier records. Soon after, they began living together, juggling day jobs and writing tunes for side bands that were never fully realized.
Luke Allen entered the picture in 2008 after he made a cheeky comment to Saylaby in the toilets of some club. Saylaby retorted, and impressed with his comeback, Allen soon joined the gang.
They initially bonded over their love for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but their tastes rapidly expanded. They absorbed American culture, idolizing the weirdoes, the degenerate geniuses, and all the other unsavory characters that make up this great country. From William S Borroughs to Bret Easton Ellis, Martin Scorsese to Vincent Gallo, Iggy Pop to Lou Reed, their influences ran deep. Hell, they answer the “Beatles or Stones” question with “the Velvet Underground.” How cool is that?
Not content on becoming a careerist, Saylaby started writing songs that channeled his honest attitude. He drew inspiration from his Mancunian roots, but also mentions that the emerging rock n roll scene in Nashville caught his ear as well. He penned a couple of tunes and soon grew confident in his songwriting. However, he knew that his path would be limited if he didn’t bring his brothers into the noise with him. He convinced the two Lukes to teach themselves their instruments, with Allen on bass and Barton on drums. With that, the Slovaks were born.
Their sound is dynamic. They can either sound like an impending riot (“Nashville Baby”) or someone trying to find some inner truth by simply getting down (“Meditate”). It’s honest, organized chaos that explores the depths of friendship, sex, and disgust. Simply put, it’s the sound of a band that simply wants to be themselves and do cool shit. And with the help of Jeffery Drag Records, their truth will be heard.
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