Artist Interview: Lyd Read of HUNNY BUZZ

By Resonate | December 14, 2022

Words by Maisie Thompson

Photos by Aron Mathias-Weston

It can often feel like women can be isolated in the music industry. Being exposed to tough such as misogyny and intolerance and often being perceived through the male gaze by people who report on music. For too long, fierce femmes have been fighting an uphill battle to be taken seriously. Lyd Read, Bristol-based singer-songwriter and frontwoman of up-and-coming indie rock band HUNNY BUZZ, knows this all too well. Although Lyd is the only female in the four-piece band, she dominates the stage with her voice and feminine finesse. She occupies front and centre stage with a commanding presence, delivering original lyrics with eclectic and sentimental themes.

I had the pleasure of catching up with her over a coffee at her abode in Bristol, the birthplace of most of the band’s intimate tunes. She was keen to talk about and paint me a picture of her experience as to how women in the industry are treated and her experience with the dynamic of the band.

How do you find being the only female in the band?

Being the only female among the three boys in the band isn’t something I think about often. Growing up with two older brothers, I’ve always been used to being the only girl. Summer 2022 has been full of festivals and summer shows, so even squeezing the four of us in a three-person tent seemed quite normal for me.

At Resonate, we love your newest single Girlfriend in the Band. What is the meaning behind the song, and why is it ‘hard for you’, as the lyrics suggest?

I wrote Girlfriend in the Band after a band rehearsal. I went straight home and had this built-up energy to play guitar alone and explore my thoughts aloud. I remember feeling frustrated as I didn’t feel like I was being treated how the other band members were being treated. I felt more like a ‘girlfriend’, which I am, but I felt a shallowness towards this and less like a musical asset to the band. Certain band stress can affect personal relationships too, and this can then put a strain on everything. The song is about a romantic relationship within a band. It can be challenging and difficult, but at the same time, it’s a bond like no other.

And, are there any imbalances within the band being the only woman? Is there anything you would like to change anything about HUNNY BUZZ?

I don’t think there is much of an imbalance in relation to the boys, and I don’t think I could see myself being in a band with anyone else because of the friendships we’ve made through HUNNY BUZZ. I think HUNNY BUZZ will progress how it’s supposed to, and I’m excited to see where it will take us.

Are you concerned about your career with HUNNY BUZZ, whilst being a woman in the public eye?

I think it’s important to think about what it means to be a frontwoman in the music industry. I understand that there will be more times that I will feel uncomfortable and sexualised compared to my male bandmates. I’ve encountered this from the age of 16, when I began to attend open mic nights, to the 22-year-old frontwoman I am today. I’ve grown used to the rudimentary behaviour of a group of men shouting abuse from the bar. I have learnt on my musical journey as a female performer that there will be things to deal with, such as sexual crowd chants, crude comments, cheers and wolf whistles – and it’s sad to have to accept that, but it doesn’t stop me from being the performer I am.

It sounds like you have your head in the right place. Can you tell me about anything exciting on the HUNNY BUZZ horizon?

The band will release a double-sided single early next year with two tracks, Deli Man and Love Me (Like You Used To). In the meantime, we’re working on music videos, photoshoots, rehearsing and writing as much as possible. There has been talk about releasing an album in March time and starting fresh with new music for summer 2023 festivals and shows. 2023 is HUNNY BUZZ’s time. We are currently planning the next music video for Love Me (Like You Used To), within an outdated and vintage vibe – but that’s really all I’m allowed to say! We’re looking forward to a similar summer to 2022 and keeping the band busy with local festivals such as playing our favourites, 2000 Trees and Home Farm Fest again. The dream is to play Glastonbury, but who knows what next year will bring.

To find more Artist Interviews, click here.