You could define 2026 as Twenny Bucks’ comeback year, but the reality is that the human behind the project never stopped making music. Known as Ed by day, the talented Exeter-based creative is not only a gifted musician, but also a professional luthier. Juggling different projects and monikers, Twenny Bucks has returned this year with new music, following up on 2022’s ‘Sleeper’ EP. ‘The Aviation Station’ is the result of that journey, a distorted, bold album that feels both nostalgic and modern.
Anticipated in April by ‘Small green frog’, the album’s blueprint was instantly evident: packed with heavy, crunchy riffs and riotous drum grooves, ‘The Aviation Station’ feels electrifying and partly gloomy, a record that fits the chaos and aleatory allure of our present times. As one would expect from a luthier, guitars are quite central to the listening experience.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with Twenny Bucks to learn more about his artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hey Ed, thanks for chatting with us! Before we dive deeper into your latest album, how are you? Are you coping well with the European heatwave?
Heya! Yeah, I have actually. Dare I say it, but I think I’ve actually tanned too. I am now lightly tea-stained paper as opposed to office paper.
After ‘Sleeper’ EP came out in 2022, you took a four-year hiatus, broken only this year with ‘Small green frog’. What have you been up to? How does it feel to be releasing music again?
It feels really good! I’ve got multiple projects, but Twenny Bucks is just me, and it’s nice to have complete, unfiltered creative control.
Is there a core philosophy underlying your artistic ethos? In your press material, you mention that making music has almost become a cathartic process; would you say that there’s a certain escapism in it?
It’s my therapy. I write songs to find out what might be upsetting me, and then either stick to a serious tone or turn it into a song about wanting to be a small green frog.
‘The Aviation Station’ marks your latest album, out now. Let’s first approach it from a sonic perspective: I love its fuzzy, gritty and electrifying charge. It’s inherently heavy but with a particularly cool factor. I am a big fan of the industrial tones and the electronic hints throughout it. Are you proud of how the album turned out? What are some of the influences behind it?
I am very proud. It’s the most complete-sounding collection of songs I’ve ever put together. If I were to name three bands who have influenced me, it would be Queens of the Stone Age, Viagra Boys, and Demob Happy. I really enjoy their writing style. It’s so difficult to make ‘new’ and ‘different’ guitar music these days, and I think these guys absolutely nail it.
Do you have a favourite track in it?
It feels like choosing a favourite child, but I have to say ‘Small green frog’; It came together so easily all in one day, lyrics and all. It has been the most popular track from the LP. It makes me not want to take credit for what the universe just put in my head that day.
From a lyrical standpoint, is there a common theme throughout the album?
Come to think about it, it’s probably “battling with the voice in your head” and “the power of honesty”.
Take us into your creative process. Where do you produce music? Does it happen on a computer or mainly with inputs from real instruments?
All recorded in my carpentry workshop where I also make the guitars that you can hear on the album. My creativity flows best at home where there’s no pressure, so my dusty shed is the perfect isolated creative place for me. Between the loud tools and my screaming, I hope I don’t bother my neighbours too much.
Lastly, what are your expectations for ‘The Aviation Station’? Any plans to perform it live somewhere?
I’m performing the LP in full, bar 2 tracks, at Sidmouth Fringe Festival on August 3rd. I’m hoping to plan a hometown show in the new year for a late launch celebration, but I’m currently in the process of not letting myself stress out about it.