Succulents didn’t arrive with a grand plan or a neatly packaged origin story — they bloomed slowly, quietly, almost accidentally, the way the best indie projects often do. What began as Laurie Hulme’s years‑in‑the‑making lofi sketches eventually found their shape during lockdown, then found their voice when Lucy returned to Manchester and stepped into the frame. Together, they’ve built a duo that feels both deeply personal and wonderfully unpretentious: cassette‑backed, melody‑forward, and anchored in the kind of DIY charm that can only come from someone who’s spent decades obsessing over songs, tunings, and the strange magic of making music on your own terms.

You’ve arrived with a really distinctive lofi indie identity — how and when did Succulents first come together, and what sparked the decision to make music as a duo?

As a songwriter and music maker I work at a snail’s pace...The succulents stuff was written upwards of 8 years ago and I recorded the album during the first covid lockdown. Lucy and Poppy Holmes (who sings on a some songs) added their vocals a bit later. I’d wanted to play music with Lucy for a long time as can remember how captivating she was in her previous acts and we had some jams together in maybe 2018, then Lucy moved away from Manchester. After a few years tho Lucy moved back and with it taking so long to finish the record she gladly agreed to keep jamming so it was a good-things-come-to-those-who-wait situation for me! I thought about it making it a full band and then had the idea of playing live with the cassette backing track and realised that being a two piece was both slightly unusual and extremely practical for a man approaching 40!

Succulents is a wonderfully evocative name — where did it come from, and what does it say about the personality or ethos of the band?

I’m a big fan of flowers and plants in general and the name caught my eye! Thought it was suited for an twee/indie pop thing for years and years so this project got it. Also weirdly, whilst it was on my ‘maybe list’ I was round at Poppy’s (other singer on record) flat rehearsing some of the songs with her I noticed she had a giant succulents plant poster on her wall so I thought it was a sign!

If you could curate your own dream festival lineup using any artists, dead or alive, who’s on the bill — and why do those acts mean so much to you?

Wow what a question! I’m a total and utter music obsessive/nerd, listen to at least 3 new albums a week etc and love loads of music from all genres. The Laurie Hulme top list ever is something like:

Sonic Youth (My fave “rock” band, sooo many amazing albums and alternate tuning pioneers)
Smog (Way better than own name Bill Callahan IMO, the work of a unique and maybe unhinged genius )
Nick Drake (3 of the greatest albums ever and I feel like his stuff just hasn’t aged + my (acoustic) guitar hero – I feel like it wasn’t until the 90s that people caught up to him)
The Beatles (a once in a 500 year phenomenon)
The Fall (objectively the greatest band ever, 32 albums, 20ish of them totally amazing, no one can compete)
MIA (changed my life - the first artist I truly loved without a guitar in sight)
Kendrick Lamar (I was late to the party as ever but I think Good Kid, Butterfly and Damn are nearly flawless, diverse masterpieces that totally changed my perception of what was possible in hip hop)
Nirvana (loved them when I was 13, love them as much now – not many bands you can say that about)
Joanna Newsom – rare combination of truly gifted technical musician and a truly gifted and unique artist (similar to Nick Drake I guess) so many amazing songs...

Its really hard because my top albums are also by different bands

Husker Du – Zen Arcade

The Minutemen – Double Nickels...

Richard Dawson – Nothing Important

Jesus Lizard – Goat

Caroline Shaw – Orange

Lemonheads – Its A Shame About Ray

Dinosaur Jr - YLOAM

The Jeff Mangum All Tomorrow’s parties festival in 2012 was actually quite close to a dream festival line up for me on the Saturday I saw 6 of my top ever bands in a row!)

You’re in the midst of live dates with CUD and Coup Dur —how did those shows come about, and what can people expect from your set on this run?

The Cud thing was a total surprise just got an email from their manager asking if we would like to open for them from their lovely manager. We’ve been treated really well, with great audiences. Coup Dur was by the Manchester pop fest guys who are the beating heart of Manchester’s indie pop scene.

Your sound nods to Belle & Sebastian, The Moldy Peaches and cult indie touchstones like The Pastels and Yo La Tengo — who are the influences that shaped Succulents most profoundly?

This was the first band I have started where I had a firm idea of what i wanted it to sound like from the off. I made a playlist (see below) and my brother who mixed the album and I would dip in and ask if we were on the right track. Alls those bands you mentioned above but also stuff like: The Courtneys, The Clean, The Pains Of Being Pure at Heart, Sebadoh, Julia Jacklin, Unrest, Comet Gain, Juliana Hatfield etc

Laurie, the halfcapo trick is such a surreal thing, did you saw it in half or was it already in that state when you decided to experiment with it? (I can see a patent application being created)

Haha yes – I’ve always experimented with alt tunings and got seriously into weird capos for a while, I actually did the sawed off thing in 2005 (was using a Kyser Capo half on and just thought “I’ll saw it!”) and used it on my first band’s album (Beat The Radar – To The City From The Sea) but I also have Spider Capos and this really cool Shubb one that just does 3 strings in an (A major type shape or a Esus 4 – which you can put on any fret) which I used a on my folk band Songs For Walter’s stuff). Its a great way to generate ideas without having to restring the guitar etc

From All The Range to Manchester Popfest, you’ve quickly built a reputation for a distinctive live show — how is your stage setup evolving, and what do you want audiences to feel when they see Succulents perform?

ATM its just us two and a tape cassette deck with the backing on, which is a wonderfully practical thing for this stage of my life! Maybe at some point I will add more members – I think a drummer could be cool maybe in a Bobby Gillespie stood up snare and floor tom way!

Succulents may be a two‑piece for now, but there’s a whole world inside Laurie’s songwriting — one shaped by odd capos, treasured records, and the belief that music doesn’t need to be rushed to matter. As the live shows grow, the tape deck whirs on, and new audiences discover the band’s gentle eccentricity, it’s clear this project has found its moment. Succulents feel like a reminder that indie music can still be intimate, inventive, and quietly joyful — and that sometimes the most enduring ideas are the ones that take their time.

Keep up top date with the band’s whereabouts at INSTAGRAM