Introducing The Sukis: A Band You'll Have a Taste For

Photo by Kirsty Sim

In Japanese, the word suki (すき) means ‘to like,’ ‘to have a taste for,’ or simply ‘to love.’ It’s a fitting name for a band that so many fans are growing increasingly fond of. Composed of Tige (lead vocals), Ed (drums), James (bass) and Freddie (bass), Liverpool-based indie-rock band The Sukis are becoming a defining voice in the UK’s alternative scene. With their punk-inflected energy, whip-smart lyrics, and melodic instincts, the band channels the restless psyche of youth.. Emerging amid the COVID-19 lockdown, they have since carved out a sound with nods to the Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala, The Strokes, and David Bowie while remaining uniquely themselves. Their debut single ‘Becca’ has racked up over 15 million streams, and their 2023 EP A Sense of Doubt cemented their growing legacy. With two EP’s released through Lab Records and over 25 millions total streams, they’ve sold out venues across the Northwest and shared stages with Crawlers, Red Rum Club, and Maruja.  Exceeding nearly 94,000 monthly Spotify listeners with surprising strongholds in LA, Chicago, and Houston, The Sukis are a truly transatlantic phenomenon. 

Let’s go back to the beginning. How did The Sukis first come together as a band? 

We’re all from different places: Bedfordshire, Cheltenham, Hertfordshire, and Preston. The one thing we all have in common is our love of music, which brought each of us to Liverpool. 

Photo by Kirsty Sim

Where did the name 'The Sukis' come from? 

When Tige was little, his sister used to tell him stories about his imaginary best friend Suki. Suki was this ambiguous, undefined figure with the stories usually being set in a house. We tried coming up with other names–some really awful ones like Five Dollar Flannel, The Puxs, The Turners, and Drowning in the Beans. Tige’s sister got fed up with how bad they were that she just said, ‘Use The Sukis.’ She thought it sounded clean and had that sharp ending you want in a band name. It stuck around 2018/2019 and in a Scouse accent, sounds even better. 

What was the attraction that drew you to Liverpool compared to London?

One big reason we chose Liverpool is because it’s also more affordable. Making money in music is already tough, especially with how you have to become a social media personality as that’s where most of the money comes from. We’d prefer to spend extended periods in places like London rather than a permanent move. We’ve also wanted to do extended recording stints in LA, Amsterdam, and even Japan. But Liverpool will always feel like home. You spend enough time here and you’re suddenly making friends just from chatting outside a pub. That’s the kind of community we love. 

You released your first music during lockdown in 2020. What was that experience like? How did it shape your early sound? 

It was tough because we couldn’t play gigs. The live connection was missing. These days, the typical route is becoming a big media personality first and then releasing music. We went the opposite way. We just wanted to put something out there so that if people came to our shows, they didn’t need to know the lyrics but they could just enjoy themselves. A year after [in 2021] we got signed and we’re still with Lab Records now, an independent label based in Manchester. That changed everything. 

What helped you gain traction during that early period, especially with those initial demos?

We just put those demos out straight away. We were so new to it that we didn’t even realise it takes about a week to get on Spotify and that you have to go through distributors. Nowadays, it usually takes around six weeks to release something properly if you want it to be picked up by press and playlists. But back then, we were just asking ourselves, ‘What do we want to make?’ and ‘What do we actually like?’. On one hand, it was creatively freeing. On the other hand, it felt like we were doing everything wrong and going against the ‘rules’ we had been taught. Ironically, those early demos are still the songs people bring up the most. 

Photo by Kirsty Sim

A lot of your music dropped in 2021. What made that year so significant for you creatively, and how do you know when a song is ready to be released?

2021 was the year we got signed and we’re still with that label now, an independent one based in Manchester. Our track ‘Becca’ had just started gaining traction, so it felt like the right time to release more music. We put out ‘Bureaucratic Smack’ in May, which I’d written in January. ‘Cherryade’ followed in August, and Tige wrote that just a few weeks before. ‘Intimacy’ was written a week before recording it. We had a contract to deliver an EP, so there was some pressure to move quickly but that pace suited us. We’re in a similar mindset now where we just want to keep releasing music. We felt that momentum back then, and we’re feeling it again now. 

‘Becca’ became a breakout track for you. Did you expect that kind of reaction?

It was one of the strangest recording experiences we’ve had. When Tige writes, he usually go into this kind of Sherlock Holmes ‘mind palace’ and piece everything together in a deliberate way. But with ‘Becca,’ he didn’t even want to record it. Joe, who was in the band at the time, really pushed for it. We were planning to re-record one of our older tracks, ‘Mrs May’, which was a political piece. But ‘Becca’ had layers to it. You listen to it once and think, ‘Ok, it’s about a relationship.’ You listen to it again and realise it’s about tobacco. Then eventually, you see it’s about both. That’s the kind of depth we admire in artists like Kendrick Lamar. They’re songs that carry multiple meanings in a single line. 

Some artists have fan bases that closely follow their personal lives and use that context to interpret their songs. Do you feel like your fans need to know what’s going on in your lives to connect with your music? 

We’re not really interested in putting our personal lives on display, but if a fan reaches out because they’re struggling, we’ll always take the time to talk. If you look at any artist’s journey, this question always comes up. You want to create music that genuinely affects people, not just creating something they’ll like, but something they’ll love. Since day one, we’ve wanted to make the kind of songs that people obsess over. 

Photo by Kirsty Sim

What’s the biggest difference you noticed when performing in London compared to Liverpool? 

We’ve spent the last year or so cutting our teeth in Liverpool and testing out new songs and experimenting. The Liverpool crowd has heard these tracks evolve over time so playing them in London for the first time, the reaction is mad. A lot of people there hadn’t seen us since 2020 - it’s got this freshness to it. Also, Liverpool’s a small city and you see the same faces a lot. London just feels bigger and the gigs reflect that.

Liverpool has a rich musical heritage. Do you feel pressure being a band from there, or does it inspire you?

In Liverpool, you’re walking down the same streets as your idols. That’s a powerful thing. There’s a reason we’re in Liverpool instead of London or New York. People here really stick with you. We’ve written full songs based on conversations with mates. When Tige first moved to Liverpool, he was writing a song a day just from phrases he heard on the street. At the end of the day, if the music's good enough, it transcends all of that. Liverpool’s legacy is not just rich because of The Beatles, it’s always been a launchpad for new movements. Venues like Eric’s hosted The Clash, Ramones, and Joy Division. It’s a rite of passage. Liverpool had to develop a thick skin, both politically and socially, and that attitude fuels the music scene. 

With the release of ‘To No One’, how would you describe your creative evolution compared to your earlier work?  

Photo by Kirsty Sim

‘To No One’ was the first single we’ve released that involved the entire band in the studio every step of the way. Tige wrote the song, but it developed into its final form through collaboration, each of us sitting in on the process and pitching in. Even if we had already finished our own parts, we’d still stay for the rest of the session to cheer each other on. The song features little ideas and influences from all of our individual musical upbringings, more so than past releases. ‘To No One’ was sitting in Tige’s back pocket and now felt like the right time to bring it to life.

What themes or emotions were you exploring with this new single?

The Sukis came out of lockdown, and like everyone, we spent a long time in our bedrooms stuck with our own thoughts. This single taps into that experience. It’s about parasocial relationships and how our generation interacts post-lockdown, especially with the constant presence of social media. What if all your interaction is just online? There’s that strong theme of anxiety and feeling like you can’t speak to anyone. We were really inspired by what The Smiths did in how they wrote devastatingly sad lyrics set to a catchy, upbeat tune. 

You’ve supported some big names like Red Rum Club and Crawlers. Were there any standout memories from those shows? Any support slots that surprised you?

Red Rum Club was wild. It was one of the biggest stages we’d ever played with Tom Jones and Status Quo on the next night. But beyond the size of it, those support slots are great for meeting people. We supported Permanent (Joy) and already knew the lads, but you end up forming real connections through those gigs. Seeing bands we’ve played with go from small venues to something huge is amazing to watch and be a part of. Most of the people who later came to our headline at The Finsbury were from that Crawlers show. Then, we played for bands like Maruja who had 500 people crammed into a 300-cap room. Watching their rise has been so inspiring.  

If you could collaborate with any artist who’s inspired you, or someone completely unexpected, who would it be and why?

That’s an endless list. One idealistic goal would be supporting Inhaler. We'd also love to support a New York-based band. Sometimes, you only realise during a gig that you’re perfectly aligned with the artist you’re supporting. You think, ‘Why haven’t we played with you before?’

Photo by Kirsty Sim

Where do you see The Sukis going in the next few years? Is a debut album on the horizon or something even bigger?

We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing. If more people come along for the ride, that’s amazing. We’d love to go to America, touring there and in Europe would be a dream. But for us, it’s really about making art and getting it out into the world. We can talk big, but ultimately it’s about consistency and connection. We’re young and still have the energy to do this. I love what I do, and I feel fulfilled - that’s what matters. We want to reach a point where this becomes our full-time job. If we let fear or burnout consume us, we’d regret it forever, we owe it to ourselves and our supporters to keep pushing forward. Our families, our friends, and our fan community are all rooting for us. 

To keep up with The Sukis and the latest news, follow them on Instagram or listen to them on Spotify, Apple Music, or SoundCloud