Cherry i Releases “The Arsonist”
(19th August) London outfit Cherry i emerge today with their unsettling and cinematic new single ‘The Arsonist’, produced by Ali Chant (PJ Harvey, Youth Lagoon, Soccer Mommy).
A slow-creeping art-rock dirge that draws from myth and modern conflict, the single reframes harrowing events through a cryptic, surrealist lens: a divine arsonist trapped inside a dog, prowling the streets of Kyiv.
Built on detuned guitars and submerged percussion, ‘The Arsonist’ drifts through the liminal space between The Smile’s unsettling surrealism and King Krule’s shadowy melancholy, with glints of Portishead’s brooding atmosphere and Beth Gibbons’ fragile intensity. The result is vivid and enigmatic - anchored by singer Nikol’s spectral delivery, her voice carrying a distinctive, quivering lilt that shifts between whisper and lament.
On the release of 'The Arsonist' - Nikol said:
“The lyrics came out of a very tough time. I wanted to take a fairy tale or Greek myth-style approach to something too difficult to look at head-on. Some of our band members are Ukrainian refugees, so the song became a way to process those feelings, by creating distance without losing the truth. It revolves around themes of processing the trauma of war, displacement and loss. The lyrics themselves take on a more vague approach consisting of a fairytale-like reimagining of events wherein The Arsonist is this Greek god type destructive force, trapped inside a dog wreaking havoc on the streets of Kyiv."
Recording with Ali Chant in January was, Nikol says, “a dream come true. He knows how to listen for what’s missing or what might be clogging up a moment. And he’s just lovely to be around - whenever I get sad I picture myself back on that couch in the studio.”
Visually, ‘The Arsonist’ extends into a Lynchian lyric video, deepening its mystic and eerie qualities, with Nikol adding: “I’m proud of the atmosphere we’ve created. I think it conjures something really vivid and a succinct representation of our vision for the band."
Cherry i’s ethos is rooted in connection - with each other, their London scene, and the audiences they hope to move. They’ve built a reputation as one of London’s most intriguing new live bands, with frequent appearances at cult venues such as The Windmill and The George Tavern. As Nikol puts it: “If people are excited by our music and feel it’s a worthy soundtrack to their lives, that’s all I can hope for.”
New single 'The Arsonist' is out now. Cherry i play FarmFest on 23 August and Sebright Arms on 31 August.
Cherry i are: Nastya (guitar, vocals), Nikol (lead vocals, guitar), Slava (bass), Ant (drums)
LIVE DATES
23rd August - FarmFest, Rickmansworth
31st August - Sebright Arms, London
