Best Mate

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Teen classic Mean Girls has provided much inspiration for Pop Stars like Ariana Grande , Taylor Swift - and most recently, The Isle of Wight duo, Wet Leg.

Ariana Grande 's video is a homage to The Film , and there are references in Taylor Swift 's.

In Wet Leg's punchy debut single, Chaise Longue, you hear singer Rhian Teasdale say: " Would You like us to assign someone to butter your muffin? "

It's a nod to The Moment Lindsay Lohan 's character Cady gets a cringey chat-up from a jock when she walks into The School canteen.

" We're just having fun I guess, " says Rhian as she discusses the current hype around The Band .

Figure caption, Warning: Third Party content may contain adverts

For many, Chaise Longue arrived with a bang out of nowhere earlier this summer.

It's full of staccato lyrics, punchy guitars and a video which celebrates plaits and bonnets.

But - So Far - it's one of only two songs The Band have made available to stream (The Other is Wet Dream).

Despite that, they've already got support from Radio 1 's Jack Saunders , appeared on Jools Holland 's live Music Show and been named one of Vevo DSCVR's Artists to Watch 2022.

" It's all a bit surreal right now, " Rhian tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.

" I do find myself lost for words because it's so unbelievable. "

Wet Leg consists of Rhian and her Best Mate , Hestor Chambers, who both grew up on The Isle of Wight.

" There are so many beaches and there's just a slower pace of life, " says Rhian.

" Stepping off the ferry onto The Island is like stepping off a travellator. "

Loneliness and tears

The pair have been mates for a decade since college and decided to start a band in 2018.

Before that point, Rhian had been trying out a solo career But says she got too lonely On Tour and broke down in tears before a gig.

" I didn't want to do it anymore. But I still had some shows booked so I asked Hestor if she'd come On Stage to complete The Run of shows. "

They loved hanging out on and off stage, playing guitar Together - and it was a pairing that stuck.

" We never thought it would turn out like this, " Rhian says.

Rhian jokes that signing their record deal with Domino - who have the likes of Arctic Monkeys on their Books - was like the pair of them getting a marriage certificate.

They've had support slots with Declan Mckenna and Inhaler, and have already built up a dedicated fanbase.

" The reaction to those two songs has been so good and the opportunities we're receiving are unbelievable.

" I know that people are putting a lot of faith in us. "

Secret songs

For fans desperate for more songs, Rhian reveals they have A Secret folder with " about 30" tracks on - and her housemates have The Link .

" They're like embarrassing mums. Every time friends come over they say 'Do you want to hear some unreleased Wet Leg?' and I have to leave The Room .

" If you want to hear the exclusive then get a dinner invite from my housemates. "

Wet Leg have also been announced as ambassadors for 2022's Independent Venue Week, the annual event which celebrates music spaces around the country.

" We didn't have a music venue on The Isle of Wight Growing Up . But they're so important. They provide a community for people. "

Rhian is encouraging music fans to celebrate and support local venues, especially those still in recovery from months of closure during the pandemic.

" We've had a lot of weary mornings because we Keep Going out to gigs on school nights and getting really overexcited, " she says.

" We've been away from it for so long. "

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Source of news: bbc.com