No Frills, Just Feeling: Tough Cookie Are Just Getting Started

Photo by JoJo Williams

Fresh off of a sold-out show at London’s Omeara on July 15th, Tough Cookie are fast becoming one of the most magnetic bands in the UK indie scene. Based in Dalston, the four-piece combine raw, emotionally charged songwriting with the energy and edge of ‘90s alternative rock drawing influence from the likes of Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Patti Smith, while shaping a sound that feels entirely new. Made up of Jess and Dan on bass, Gavin on drums, and August on vocals, Tough Cookie are as much a band born from personal transformation as they are from shared musical ambition. Previously performing under the name Daisy Brain, the group reshaped their identity during long months of touring–evolving from a solo-driven project into something far more collaborative, cohesive, and emotionally sincere. With all of their singles released in 2025. Their upcoming eight-track debut EP The Countryside Is Good For You, out October 10th, serves as both a sonic reset and an open door into their world. It’s music for late-night drives, half-remembered summers, and everything in between. We caught up with Jess and August to talk about their evolution, the emotional core of songwriting, and what it means to keep things raw, both sonically and visually. 

How did the band come together, and what were the early days like in Dalston?

August: When I decided to press the big red button, our manager kept asking, “What’s the name?” Tough Cookie just popped into my head and it’s also probably subconsciously from Big Thief’s ‘Paul’. Jess: Dan’s a proper Londoner. Gavin and I grew up in Hertfordshire, and August spent some time there too, though he also lived in Singapore. It all kind of converged in East London.

Your sound blends dynamic indie-rock textures with deeply personal songwriting. Who are the artists that shaped your musical identity?

August: Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, and early on, Pavement, although we’re starting to move away from that sound. Patti Smith is a big one for the way she approaches art as a whole, not just the music. Jess: Even with those influences, our voice really comes from the blend of us as individuals. When four people with different musical upbringings come together, the sound naturally becomes its own thing and is a mix of different threads.

‘Sandcastles 2008’ is such a vivid title. What’s the story behind that song, and what’s so significant about that year?

August: That was the year my family moved to England. The song’s about watching someone repeat the same mistakes, even when you think a big change, like moving, might fix things. But it didn’t. The patterns stayed the same.

Photo by Sully

All your singles dropped this year. Was that a deliberate way of introducing Tough Cookie?

Jess: Definitely. We’d been sitting on the songs for ages, and once they were finally mixed and mastered, we just wanted people to hear what this project is about. Our older stuff had more of a childish energy whereas now we write more depressed songs. August: It felt like the tub was overflowing…we just had to get the songs out. Some were written at the tail end of Daisy Brain and were actually the reason we moved on from it. The mixtape bridges that gap. That’s also why it still carries some of the Pavement energy but we’ve already moved beyond that.

Your upcoming single The Countryside Is Good For You drops July 24 and then the EP on October 10th. How are you feeling about it, and what can listeners expect?

August: We’ve had it ready for a while and we’re already writing the next project, but I’m still excited for people to hear this. It’s like a welcome mat into the Tough Cookie world. The mixtape explores identity, disconnection, and relationships but above all, escapism. We wanted everything to sound raw and cohesive, like it was recorded in one room, stripped of effects. This single builds on that idea but dives even deeper. Jess: There are some hidden gems on this mixtape that haven’t been released yet. I can’t wait for people to hear them.

There’s a real emotional undercurrent in your music. Do your songs usually start with feeling, lyrics, or sound?

August: It really depends on the day. I can’t write from someone else’s perspective–it’s always personal. Whether it starts with vocals or drums or something else, it’s tied to whatever mood or environment I’m in.

Your music videos have a camcorder, almost home-movie feel. They're intimate, reflective, and often balance shots of the band with the surrounding scenery. What draws you to that visual style, and how does it connect to the music you’re making?

August: Nostalgia, mainly. Since the music has that emotional weight, the visuals should match. The ‘Emory’ video was filmed in my parents’ caravan and felt right. The camcorder gives us a bit of distance, too. It creates a veil between us and the listener…we’re sharing, but not oversharing. Jess: That home video energy is intentional. With ‘Sandcastles 2008,’ for example, it ties into August’s family moving over and fits thematically.

Looking ahead, where do you want to take Tough Cookie–musically or otherwise?

Jess: Touring abroad would be amazing. Japan’s definitely a dream. I think our sound would translate really well there and I’ve always wanted to explore that part of the world. August: New York, too. But when it comes to recording, we’d probably stay closer to nature. The Scottish Highlands are our ideal. We like to disappear for two months and really dig into the next project. Pre-order the mixtape vinyl here and listen to it on Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer.