Introducing: Cherry i

For fans of Blonde Redhead, Warpaint, and Pixies, London art-rock outfit Cherry i return with their latest single Mistake, recorded with acclaimed producer Ali Chant (PJ Harvey, Youth Lagoon, Soccer Mommy). The track delves into what singer Nikol calls “a relationship with defeat,” capturing the tension of not being able to control what you create.

Mistake moves from hushed reflection — “I know who I am / I know what I lack” — into something beautifully unrestrained, with guitars scraping and shivering over taut percussion, guided by Nikol’s spectral vocals. Following August’s slow-burning single The Arsonist, Mistake continues Cherry i’s collaboration with Ali Chant while highlighting the band’s conceptual depth and striking sonic range.

With a growing reputation as one of London’s most intriguing live acts, regularly appearing at The Windmill Brixton and The George Tavern, Cherry i includes two members originally from Ukraine, whose experiences of displacement and creative survival lend the music rare perspective and emotional weight.

1. You’ve described “Mistake” as a “relationship with defeat” - a one-way conversation with art itself. Can you tell us more about how that idea took shape, and what you were trying to express through that dialogue?

I initially wrote the lyrics for this song 4 years ago. At the time, I was very lost in terms of deciding what type of music I wanted to create as well as how I was going to go about it.I just wanted the art form itself to guide me to where I needed to be. That’s why I say it felt like a one-way conversation.

2. The song moves from a hushed, almost self-contained beginning to something wild and unrestrained. How did you approach building that tension musically - and at what point in the process did it start to click?

That came about when we started working on the song as a band in rehearsal. Initially the song was quite gentle and self-contained in my demo. Having those additional instruments presented the possibility of a sort of “release” on the chorus that wouldn’t have been available/accessible without them.

3. Working again with Ali Chant, who’s known for capturing raw, emotional performances, must have influenced the track’s atmosphere. What did he bring to “Mistake” that pushed it into new territory for Cherry i?

Well first off, the track was recorded live. Playing together in real-time feels a bit like playing it in a venue except that you’re only performing for yourself, which I think gives way for a very introspective experience and in turn a unique result. Needless to say the studio with all of its equipment, bits and bobs really pushed the sound of the track. Ali and Niklas (recording engineer) were a wonderful and very insightful part of recording the track, they added in some great ideas and were just a very pleasant guide in what can sometimes feel like a stressful endeavour.

4. There’s a strong visual and almost cinematic quality to the lyrics. How important is imagery and mood in shaping how you write as a band?

Imagery has become more important since I’ve started releasing music videos with our tracks because I come up with the concept behind most of them, direct and edit them. That’s led me instinctually to think quite visually whenever writing a new song. I start to fantasise about what the song “looks like” and that can sometimes influence the lyrics.

5. Cherry i’s sound feels rooted in London’s live scene. How has playing venues like The Windmill and The George Tavern shaped your creative chemistry and direction?

I have personally learnt a lot from playing live gigs, first in the sense that it pushes you way out of your comfort zones, both physically and creatively, which can lead to all sorts of questions like “what do I want the song to feel like for the people listening,” “how does what I do with my body tie in to the music we perform on stage” so it very scrupulous in a way. Which I think is great for helping redefine what you want that experience to be like… over and over. With the venues you mentioned above, going to them always leads to a fun night out and usually an amazing music discovery for myself personally that I intern get inspired by.