Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with South August
South August, are a South East London-based group who create sporadic, intricate, and off kilter pop. After meeting in 2023, they soon started writing and producing songs in the spare moments of their weeks. They record everything DIY at home, across London’s cheapest rehearsal rooms and in unconventional places with portable recording equipment. This process led to their debut EP, Itching Through the Permafrost, released in August 2025.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Eiren: Trying to stay in key during hymns in school assembly
Ambika: learning songs for a pre-school production of Annie
How did your passion for creating music begin?
Eiren: Copying dance rhythms from my Dad’s car rides on free drum machine & looping/sampling apps on my phone
Ambika: I was very lucky to have music lessons from when I was little, so as long as I remember, I’ve just wanted to play with sounds
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Eiren: An organic product of two people looking to make music an enjoyable part of their lives again
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Eiren: Organised chaos down the pop pipeline
Ambika: I’d agree with that
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
E: The search for major validation will leave you with mediocracy
A: to try and keep an open mind (e.g. to, techniques, learning across genres and from other people)
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
E: Logic, turntable and old live jazz records, Roland TR8, Korg Minilogue XD, Danelectro Cool Cat Chorus.
A: I like to start at a piano and go from there – I think if a piece can be translated to a single instrument (like a piano/guitar) it’s likely a solid foundation
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
E: Fine/The Crying Nudes – Greaser
A: Closer – Meric Long/The Dodos
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
E: I’ve played, listened to, recorded and studied music in so many of its forms and with so many talented people. I am (and everything I make is) just an amalgamation of who I’ve shared time with in life. Ambika is a major player in that
A: likewise, I’ve learned a lot from eiren and all of her different projects!
In terms of personal experiences influencing the music, for me this often comes across most in my lyric-writing, although it may be masked in surrealism. I also played classical music growing up (piano/flute) so I draw on that in terms of composition
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
E: It’s ok to feel the way you do, we feel it too
A: some kind of connection
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
E: Quality time and connection with those who share your passion, whatever it may be, is the closest thing to spiritual healing we will ever get
A: I think it’s one of the universal languages that has such a transformative power for anyone, no matter who they are
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
E: Open up Chislehurst Caves
A: Glastonbury
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
E: Would love to get my shit rocked by a Squarepusher remix. Or contribute anything to a Dev Hynes record
A: Sparks!
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
MUSIC: https://tr.ee/uY059NYYCl
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/south_august/
BANDCAMP: https://southaugust.bandcamp.com/album/itching-through-the-permafrost
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
E: Finishing up our second EP and expanding to a bigger live band lineup
A: We’re getting the dream started by playing a set at The Finsbury (20th December 2025) and The Amersham Arms (17 January 2026) – these are local venues in London, U.K., and we’re very excited!
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
E: That we are nerds having fun and just trying our best to involve everyone else in it (yes you)
A: Our project is always evolving, but we’re really just excited to make stuff together
