The old vicarage where Man/Woman/Chainsaw were born
Man/Woman/Chainsaw, a six-piece band, have progressed from teenagers seeking a place to play music to festival headliners with a debut album, thanks in large part to an old vicarage in North London that became central to their development. The band's story is notable for its organic growth, lacking any grand plan or record deal at the outset, but instead built on years of live performance and collaborative rehearsal.
The vicarage, discovered through band member Billy Ward's connections, provided the creative space where the six musicians—Ward, Clio Starwood, Emmie-Mae Avery, Lola Cherry, Billy Doyle and Vera Leppänen—worked out how their different styles could fit together in unison. Their first EP, Eazy Peazy, was released through Fat Possum Records in late 2024, with their debut album Cannonball following after years of development at the location. The vicarage's significance extends beyond its practical use, featuring in the 'Nosedive' music video and throughout the album artwork, making it integral to the record's physical identity.
- Six-piece band built reputation through years of live shows and rehearsal at a North London vicarage
- Released debut album Cannonball after working out their sound together at the location
- The vicarage remains visibly tied to their identity, appearing in their music videos and artwork
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Man/Woman/Chainsaw is a six-piece band that has risen from teenagers seeking a rehearsal space to festival headliners. An old vicarage in North London proved essential to their development, providing the creative environment where the six musicians learned to blend their different styles into a cohesive sound.
The band members—Billy Ward, Clio Starwood, Emmie-Mae Avery, Lola Cherry, Billy Doyle and Vera Leppänen—discovered the vicarage through Ward's personal contacts and made it their artistic home for years of collaborative work. Their growth lacked the conventional industry machinery; rather than starting with a record deal or master plan, they built their reputation through live performances before eventually signing to Fat Possum Records.
The vicarage has become part of the band's artistic presentation as well as their development. It features in their 'Nosedive' music video and throughout their debut album artwork, reflecting its importance to their creative journey.