The energetic drive behind the rise and rise of one of “Scotland’s most exciting new bands.”*
The Citrines. Photo credit: Paul Fuller @pf_photographer
Five-piece alt-rock indie band, The Citrines, may sing about getting wasted but in reality, this well-organised gang of Edinburgh teens ask for some nice cold water in the green room. Hydration and preparation are the name of the game for this group, which explains their ability to balance studies, work, family, rehearsals, friends, and writing with a meteoric rise in the Scottish music scene since their debut 2024 single “Drink” catapulted them to airplay with BBC Introducing Rock (w/Alyx Holcombe), BBC Radio 1.
“We realised people were starting to really like our music,” Sam said, “when Drink had over 1,000 streams in a week of its release.”
Still freshly buzzing from their high energy performance on 1st August at the Garage in Glasgow, I squeezed in a chat, before they took to the stage, this time in Festival mode, at North Berwick’s celebrated Fringe by the Sea, where they will be in high company, with prominent acts including Maribou State and Belle and Sebastian.
Advertising image. Image credit: @Fringebythesea
Described by Sneaky Pete’s* as “One of Scotland’s most exciting new bands,” this high energy bunch of optimists are a force to be reckoned with. Their newly released double track (“Red Hair” and “All That Is Pure”), sits genre-tight alongside their celebrated most-listened to fan favourites “Quarter to Nine” and “Your Girlfriend,” the lyrics to which the King Tut’s crowd confidently chanted back in unison during their electrifying performance on 2 July, a show they confessed blew them away with the “unreal crowd engagement.” This gig sits in a portfolio of many to date including perfomances at The Mash House, The Edinburgh Fruitmarket, their own (sold out-in under a day) headliner at Sneaky Pete’s (a venue they already knew well from their support of 2024 Scottish Album of the Year prize winners Redolent and the hugely respected Hamish Hawk).
Click to watch King tuts video: gig 2 July (video credit; @alisonjmcintosh)
The Citrines image credit: Alison McIntosh
Advertising image credit: @gigsinscotland
Self-described as “energetic, hyper and funny” I would also add “disciplined, authentic and community-spirited” to their bio, and would argue the latter qualities are key to showcasing the former. Before a gig, if they are not rating the flavour of a Marks and Spencer’s pineapple, banana and coconut smoothie on the Edinburgh-Glasgow train, they are in full-on planning mode (mapping the onward route time to the gig, double-checking set-lists, and who’s had what to eat (“there were great snacks, and pizza at the Fruitmarket in the green room”), before doing a final equipment test, practise and soundcheck).
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Their growth, I would say, is not by accident, but down to commitment and training like sports-team pros. What’s delightful, however, is their continued humble self-effacing spirit. They reminded me several times that they owe their success to the mentorship they receive courtesy of local youth music development projects. Sam explains, “It’s not really who (the driving force is) but what we went to that helped us…. a youth group called ‘Totally Sound’ helped form the band…then were introduced to “Tinderbox Collective” and “Mixtape” via Granton Youth which has given us the greatest opportunity to play shows and build our confidence and boost our network skills. We would definitely recommend going along and signing up if you want to start a band or write songs.”
Link To Granton Youth Instagram Page for Further Information
Indeed, The Citrines were formed in 2023 when Sol Ross (drums) and Sam Jordan (guitar) met at the tender age of 14. Now, (aged 17,17,17,16,15) and a long-time fully formed 5 piece, (with Abi Irving (vocals), Franck Giroud (guitar) and Alex Wishart (bass)), they continue to put their love of creating music down to “making friends, making connections” and in being in a “great community of welcoming youth groups.”
Abi Irving (c), Sol Ross (l) and Alex Wishart (r). Image credit: @Tinderbox.collective
So, what’s their sound all about? When Abi chatted to Redolent’s manager, Robin, after they supported, she wholeheartedly agreed with his advice to “do your own thing,” and that’s what shines through. Think bright, rebellious jangly guitar riffs, memorable choruses, Sol’s precise drumming along with Alex’s rhythm team-work, not to forget Abi’s booming, commanding vocals which demand we pay attention to every single thing they have to say. Technically superb, together and impossible not to immediately move to, their songs exude real, raw lyrical insight into perceptions of teenage life, with rebellious hints. The lyrics“let’s get wasted” in “Drink”, an ear-worm track which almost makes us want to run full-pelt to the pub, point to a need for release. And there is a deeper link with the sense of a desire to escape (a relationship? Societal control?) in “All that Is Pure” (“I sell my soul to you my darling”). This true rock ballad intermixes piercing screams with tortured lyrics, energising guitar solos and persistent drumming. Relationship themes continue with introspective vulnerability (“I want to feel the pain so I don’t have to face the time/I want to write you song/I let you fly underneath my wings”) in love song “Quarter to Nine.” However, “Your Girlfriend” delights with a humorous self-reflective nod to jealousy, social comparisons and status.
All in all, a common thread: plenty of opportunity to feel emotion, express pent-up energy, head bang, mosh and let it all out.
When I asked them to cite their influences, Rage Against the Machine and Foo Fighters were noted. I would add that I hear hints of The Last Dinner Party’s track “Big Dog.” All they want to do, they say, is make people feel “energetic”. By that metric, they have already won; this incredible rebellious rock-punk- hyper-fun translates well to their recorded tracks (produced by Mark Morrow Audio) and is equally visible on socials (Instagram: @thecitrines: Abi is scarily hilarious, (“Buy Tickets NOW!”) and with bassist Alex bringing all the rehearsal laughs).
But, what elevates this group even more stratospherically above the digital is their infectious real-life performance enthusiasm for simply, as Sol says, “making somebody’s day better”. A true team on stage, each showcases the others’ musicality by democratically taking the appropriately timed stage position. And, when called for, Abi and Franck drive forward to command court, finger-wagging every single person to scream (on demand), wave arms (to “Quarter To Nine” in synchrony) and mosh (bonded in optimistic teen chaos).
King tuts performance link (credit: @thecitrines)
They belt out their music to tell us about “observations the world has on youth”. Well, if The Citrines are anything to go by, I am optimistic that the young people of today are right on track to deliver us a fun, feisty, energetic (and well-organised) future.