Homework are a band that never really set out to be a band in the traditional sense. They didn’t emerge from a polished plan or a scene with capital letters. No, Homework began as two blokes playing acoustic guitars in a public park during lockdown. It was lo-fi from day one. An act of quiet rebellion wrapped in rusted strings and awkward rhythms. Yet, what started as a pandemic pastime has grown into one of Glasgow’s most thrilling new indie outfits.
The group consists of Michael Newton (guitar and vocals), Santiago Taberna (guitar and vocals), Andrew Gordon (bass and vocals) and Lizzie Quirke (drums and percussion). They’re all fully committed slackers with proper jobs, and that tension, between the everyday and the transcendental, is written into every riff and rhythm. Theirs is a sound carved out in cramped practice spaces with cherished guitars and gear that works when it feels like it. This is fuzz pop held together with duct tape and dreams. It is volatile and warm, heartfelt and sarcastic. A band built by hand, in every sense.
Homework wear their love of Pavement, Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth and Teenage Fanclub proudly. These are reference points, sure, but they’re never just pastiche. This is not homage. It is inheritance. And for a band made up of adopted Glaswegians, that connection to the city is crucial. Glasgow is in the jokes, the gear failures, the offhand lyrics and the community. Their New Year’s Eve support slot for none other than Norman Blake of the Fanclub wasn’t just a gig. It was a quiet, weird triumph.
They are now two EPs deep and I think it’s fair to say Homework have created a world that feels immediately familiar but never boring. They have a very democratic band structure with no one claiming frontperson title and Santiago, Michael and Andrew all writing songs. No frontperson. No ego. Just beautifully democratic DIY chaos.
I asked the band what first brought them together.
“Pavement and our drummer friend Forbes who brought together the first band iteration, which included Michael and Santiago. After Covid hit, they both kept the project alive and eventually, through a series of connections via our web of Glasgow music, Lizzie and Andrew joined in consolidating the current quartet.”
“We’re also first and foremost pretty good friends that get along and love music, collaborating creatively and having a pint. Our sense of humour is shared, as is our drive to keep things scrappy, loose, yet heartfelt and fun. Slacker ethos we suppose.”
Their first release was an expression of that very ethos. The Homework EP was released back in 2023. Let’s dive in and give it a spin.
The opener ‘If You Believe Me is the perfect introduction to the band. Immediately you get the sense they’re not trying to impress anyone — but somehow, they do anyway. A woozy rhythm guitar lays the groundwork for a half-sung vocal that is all charm and feeling. The song feels intimate without being precious. The melodies wander slightly but never get lost. There’s real warmth here, the kind that lingers long after the last note fades. Not so much a handshake greeting but a big drunken hug of a song.
There’s something gloriously aimless about ‘Paper’, and I mean that in the best way. It lopes rather than drives, jangling along on a mid-tempo groove that feels like it might dissolve at any moment but never does. The guitars chime and curl lazily around each other, loose but locked in, giving off that slightly woozy quality that slacker pop thrives on. You can feel the Pavement influence but it doesn’t feel like mimicry. It’s more like they’ve soaked it in over years of late-night listening and let it seep into their bloodstream. What really stands out is the band’s restraint. ‘Paper’ doesn’t chase a payoff. It doesn’t build to a huge chorus or collapse into noise. Instead, it sits comfortably in its own skin, spinning its wheels just enough to let the atmosphere settle.
The closer ‘Don’t Tell Me To Sit’ is packed with attitude but still friendly enough to shout along with. The delivery has bite, but the overall tone is more playful than pissed off. The drumming drives this one forward with just the right amount of swing, punch and punctuation. The title feels like a mission statement and the hook is undeniable. There’s also that magic balance between fun and fury that makes great slacker pop so addictive.
So, one year later the band dropped the Easy Money EP. I asked them what they differently when recording this one.
“Easy Money is the first EP in which all the current members wrote all parts and felt very collaborative. The Homework EP included bass parts written by Tom (our first bassist) but played by Andrew. And in Easy Money we even got Andrew’s banging song Marina Bay Sands in, bringing more variety to just Santiago and Michael singing.”
“We also spent a bit more time in the little details like harmonies, trying to get weird cool sounds and experimenting with song structure. The first EP was probably closer to a live session whilst this EP feels more constructed and a conscious effort to expand the band’s sound palette. It was the first time we collaborated with Melissa Brisbane, who recorded us and is an absolute delight to work with.”
With those words ringing in our ears lets dive in to the Easy Money EP.
From the first note of ‘Dummy Run’ it lets you know that Homework are stepping it up. Not in a flashy way. They are still unpolished and charming, but the confidence is different now. The guitars hit harder, the vocals are more assured, and the groove sits just right. There is a sense of forward motion throughout this track. The chorus is proper catchy without ever feeling too composed. It is a song that tumbles forward with a grin on its face. You can feel the camaraderie through the speakers. This one is a winner.
Next ‘How Can You’ slows things down and opens a softer side of the band. Dreamy and a bit sad in that deeply satisfying way. It feels like a late-night walk with your thoughts. There is a real feeling of space and room in the mix here that gives the song a new kind of power. The vocals are on it and genuine. There are three killer melodies on show and each plays its part. Almost like if The Libertines were covering a lost ballad from The Pastels. Beautiful stuff.
Final track ‘Marina Bay Sands’ is easily one of the most intriguing songs in their catalogue so far. There’s a woozy sun drunk quality to this track. The melody is hazy and the production feels just a little off kilter, like it is leaning sideways. It is both escapist and grounded, like dreaming of holidays from the kitchen sink. The chorus is understated but earwormy. A brilliant closer that shows the full range of what Homework can do. You’ll hit repeat without even realising.
It’s rare to find a band this early in their life who already sound this comfortable in their own skin. Homework aren’t chasing trends. They’re not crafting songs for algorithm playlists or trying to go viral. What they are doing is building a discography filled with sincerity, humour, fuzz and heart. They are one of those rare groups that make you want to pick up a guitar and start your own band. Not because it looks easy, but because it looks like so much fun.
You can hear the rehearsal room in these tracks. The in jokes. The shared glances. The mistakes that turn into magic. There is no studio polish, no industry sheen — just four people making music they believe in, with just enough chaos to keep it thrilling. Isn’t that what it’s all about.
Both EPs are available now over on the Homework Bandcamp page.
You can follow Homework on social media here…
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