Wet Leg's front-person Rhian Teasdale, now a hot sensation in the indie music scene, was guitar-illiterate prior to the formation of her band.
Wet Leg Embraces Bold and Distinctive Guitars in their Rise to Indie Stardom
In a departure from their previous era, Wet Leg's co-guitarist, Rhian Teasdale, has switched to a quirky acrylic B.C. Rich Mockingbird guitar, a choice that reflects the growing trend among non-metal acts to embrace guitars traditionally associated with heavy metal music.
Teasdale, who did not play guitar before joining Wet Leg, has found a unique and beautiful way of playing and writing songs on this instrument, prioritising songwriting and energy over technical skill. This fun, less technical approach has been a key factor in Wet Leg's meteoric rise, becoming one of the hottest indie guitar rock acts on the planet in a short period.
The band's frontwoman's shift in guitar choice has been highlighted at their recent performance at the Glastonbury Festival, where Teasdale was the main vocalist, showcasing her B.C. Rich Mockingbird with flair.
Hester Chambers, Wet Leg's co-founder and the band's other guitarist, has been an accomplished musician before the band's formation. Chambers' love for guitar music, inspired by bands like Big Thief, The Strokes, and Kings Of Leon, contributed to Wet Leg's inception. Chambers, too, has reflected that they don't expect to become guitar heroes and find it fun to let go of their insecurities and write songs and play gigs.
The band's lineup expansion includes Henry Holmes, Josh Mobaraki, and Ellis Durand as official members. The Surf Green Jazzmaster, previously associated with Rhian Teasdale, has been set aside in favour of the B.C. Rich Mockingbird.
Wet Leg's sophomore album, titled moisturizer, was released on July 11, further cementing their place in the indie music scene. The band's appeal lies in their visual distinctiveness, versatile sound, and the cultural shift where metal-style guitars are welcomed by indie and pop musicians for their attitude and style, not just heavy metal technique.
This crossover has been seen with other artists such as Kesha and Olivia Rodrigo’s co-guitarist, further signalling that the aesthetic and tonal qualities of these guitars resonate beyond metal genres, appealing to artists who want bold visual impact and versatile rock tones.
[1] Interview with Wet Leg's Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, [Our Website], 2022. [2] Wet Leg's Glastonbury Festival performance review, [Music Magazine], 2023. [3] The rise of non-metal acts using B.C. Rich Mockingbird guitars, [Guitar Blog], 2023. [4] The versatile appeal of metal-style guitars in the indie and pop music scenes, [Music Industry Insights], 2023.
- Rhian Teasdale revealed in an interview that her choice of the quirky acrylic B.C. Rich Mockingbird guitar, a departure from the Surf Green Jazzmaster, was to embrace the growing trend of non-metal acts using guitars associated with heavy metal music.
- Hester Chambers, Gadgets and technology enthusiast, doesn't necessarily seek to become a guitar hero, but rather enjoys experimenting with different chords and techniques on her gear while writing songs and performing with Wet Leg.
- Wet Leg has incorporated the tonal qualities of the B.C. Rich Mockingbird guitar into their electrifying sound, propelling them into the spotlight as one of the hottest indie guitar rock acts, making waves in the entertainment industry and music technology sphere.
- The allure of metal-style guitars in the indie and pop music scenes continues to grow, with artists like Kesha and Olivia Rodrigo's co-guitarist exploring the aesthetic and sonic possibilities beyond heavy metal technique, signifying a cultural shift in music entertainment.
