Popping Up: Nightmare And The Cat

Popping Up is our recurring look at new artists making noise on the music landscape. Because, hey — Madonna and Britney were once unknown, too.

Nightmare And The Cat is an LA-based pop/rock band with a twist. Founders Sam and Django Stewart were raised in London and bring a distinctly  British pop sensibility to the act. For starters, they don’t suffer from an aversion to big hooks and catchy choruses and there’s a theatrical element to their live performances.

All of this is tempered their hazy lo-fi rock sound and an obvious love for Phil Spector‘s trademark wall of sound. The end result is disarmingly fresh and original. It’s rare to find a new band that creates in widescreen. As such, the hype is building and the guys and gal just hit the road with Bastille. Learn all there is to know about the talented fivesome after the jump.

BAND MEMBERS: Scotty Henson, Claire Acey, Spike Phillips, Sam Stewart and Django Stewart.

HOMETOWN: The band is LA based but the Stewart brothers grew up in London.

SOUNDS LIKE: A lo-fi Scissor Sisters or a glam rock band on Valium. There’s a hint of sparkle and glitter but also the organic yet layered feel of  ’60s pop acts.

FUN FACTS: Sam and Django are the sons of Eurythmics frontman Dave Stewart and Bananarama/Shakespears Sister vocalist Siobhan Fahey — making them second generation pop royalty.

US RECORD DEAL: The band was signed to Capitol Records on the strength of an EP they put together with producer Eric Valentine. He would go on to produce their forthcoming debut LP.

PERFORMANCE ART: Singer Django loves to put on a show. He is a fan of colorful costumes and the odd splash of man make-up. “If you have a stage, use it,” the frontman emphasized. “Otherwise it’s just like listening to the record but seeing people in front of you.”

THE ‘SIMPLE’ EP: Nightmare And The Cat has just released a five-track EP called Simple. “It’s different. It’s a mixture of rock & roll and ambient 60s Phil Spector-inspired sounds and anthem pop music too,” Sam says. “Lyrically, it’s very personal to us”

INFLUENCES: The band list David Bowie, T-Rex and The Ronettes as major influences on their sound.