Tough Cookie

Tough Cookie comprises August (vocals), Jess (guitar), Gav (drums), and Dan (bass).

Having cut their teeth in other projects, Tough Cookie marks an entirely new chapter for the four musicians, armed with ambition and freed from expectation.

At the heart of Tough Cookie's music is frontperson August’s deeply personal journey; moving to the UK from Singapore at the age of thirteen, August’s introduction to music came through an older cousin.

Enthralled by a bat-shaped guitar hanging on his wall and the heavy sounds of Korn, they were hooked.

From there, August’s musical career would become very intense quite quickly; pressured to present a persona at odds with their true self, and pushed to display emotional vulnerability online, August garnered a cult-like following who related intensely to someone they didn’t even recognise.From this deeply unsettling experience came a renewed pursuit of genuine human connection and self acceptance, and that’s where the Tough Cookie story begins.

The songs on The Countryside Is Good For You EP span a period of five years, reflecting this time of change and evolution.

Tracks like ‘Happiness’ explore the fleeting solace of addiction and is the oldest song on the project, while newest track and debut single ‘Emory’ delves into the vulnerability of finding love beyond superficial highs, and is the perfect introduction to the Tough Cookie sound; a balance of delicacy and brutality, nostalgia and modernity, drawing from the raw rock energy of Smashing Pumpkins, the vulnerability and intricate artistry of Big Thief and the indie-rock sensibilities of Pavement.The band’s lineup has solidified over time through serendipitous meetings and shared experiences, and the resulting Tough Cookie sound is born from the convergence of diverse musical backgrounds.

Whilst both living in Leeds, bassist Dan joined August for an impromptu studio session.

Dan’s vast musical palette, spanning classical to alt-rock, combined with his innate grasp of harmony and tonality made him a perfect addition.

Drummer Gav was introduced to the band by his brother, a mutual friend of August’s.

Gav’s style is rooted in hip-hop’s hard-hitting, rhythmic precision, reminiscent of Nirvana’s Dave Grohl with his powerful, backbeat-heavy style; “I wanted someone to really hit the drums, you know - not just shake their wrists”.

Jess, the final addition to the band, brings both her guitar flair and a crucial safe space for August to explore their queerness and identity within the band, while August’s raw lyrical sensibility anchors the band’s narrative voice in introspection and emotional candour.