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.
The music video for debut ‘Emory’ is the first visual of the complete band, and shows the unlikely bunch
thrashing around together in a caravan, starkly juxtaposed by the trickle of the melting snow and the rural,
sleepy setting. Filmed and edited by the band, this establishes their DIY roots and organic setup from the
get-go, driving home their music’s sense of pure instinct. The Tough Cookie aesthetic is steeped in the
sprawling and analog nature of scrapbooking; an intimate form of self expression featuring tacked
images, old postcards and writing scrawled directly onto August’s bedroom walls, allowing the audience a
glimpse into their mind and process.
The name Tough Cookie - a nod to a Big Thief lyric - carries multiple meanings for the group; “Some
people see a ‘tough cookie’ as an underdog, someone resilient in an unforgiving world, and we relate
more to that than to any kind of alpha character”. The crowd at their gigs often reflects Tough Cookie’s
eclectic mix of influences; a regular barrier-dwelling punk with a green mohawk, a bunch of nostalgic 90s
rock lovers, and fans of London’s new wave of bands who adorn the stages of Sebright Arms, Windmill
Brixton and The Social, where musicians are seen as part of a collective movement rather than isolated
stars. Performing live and feeling part of a community is a core part of Tough Cookie’s identity, and
onstage is where the band builds that crucial sense of trust with their audience. They’re intent on gigging
hard and frequently, allowing their sound to resonate in real time and establish them as a genuine one-to-
watch.