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by Beth White of Who Run the World

The Potentials: Shanaz, Holly and Zak

Can you describe your music in a few short words?

Holly: Buffy the Vampire Slayer themed queer diy pop
Shahnaz: chaotic, catchy funtimes for all
Zak: It’s queer, feminist pop punk. It’s all based in the Buffyverse but as with the show, everything is just an analogy for everything we experience in our daily life. Except maybe ‘Moloch’, that ones kinda specific to the show/90’s TV in general. (sorry that’s not a few or short words).

How did you all meet & decide to form The Potentials?
Holly: We met at a support group for people that can’t get over the 90s and decided we’d enable our Buffy obsession in a healthy way.
Shahnaz: It all began as an attempt to play the Buffy RPG, it turned out that was really hard because you’ve got to have a good DM and follow rules and stuff, so we instead we decided to channel our love of Buffy into some songs, and became the very band you see before you.
Zak: We all knew each other and ended up talking about Buffy awkwardly at parties, and then, as Shahnaz said, the RPG was too hard so we decided to try being a band! Worked out alright didn’t it!

Who are your influences?
Holly: Bruce Springsteen, Team Dresch, My Chemical Romance on repeat forever and ever.
Shahnaz: Az from ice shack in Manchester, and some bands.
Zak:

“Fags and dykes and queers and grrrls and wimmin and punx and all the weirdos.”

Keep being weird. (And The Spice Girls).

What exciting things did you get up to in the last year?
Holly: We recorded a new EP, made a pop video, went on tour, had a birthday party, had a spring fling, had our second annual Slayerfest, made a charity single, and rewatched all of Angel. It was bananas!
Zak: As above, so below PLUS we are an inordinate amount of hash browns.

What have we got to look forward to from The Potentials this year?
Holly: More songs, more tours, more hash browns for breakfast.
Shahnaz: A really good t-shirt with a cute animal on it!
Zak: PARAHOY (please Hayley?) plus loads of shows and feelings and new music!

(Assuming you are!) Why are you particularly looking forward to playing the Who Run the World/LOUD WOMEN show on 8th March for International Women’s Day?
Holly: One word: Charmpit.
Zak: All of it. Plus more Charmpit with everything please. LOUD WOMEN and Who Run The World have both been so supportive of us and so many good bands, so honestly, it’s gonna be the party to end all parties.

What is your take on the state of women’s representation in music right now?
Shahnaz: In the DIY scene women are properly doing it for themselves, I see oodles and caboodles of female bands making a start and making good. Unfortunately that doesn’t crossover into mainstream music, the handful of bands I see getting signed and getting representation still maintain the status quo in that they are mainly all male, and usually all white.
Zak: As a cis-but-sissy gay guy I won’t take up much space here except to say that all the women in the scene at the moment are REALLY FUCKING NAILING IT!!! Lots of pricks to continue to fight but you babes have been absolutely slaying (bad pun intended)