Richard Mukuze
paper hats detail debut EP, Once was enough
London noise-rock outfit paper hats have announced their debut EP, Once was enough, and shared new single, "Tether".
Formed by Clemente Contreras (guitar, vocals), Sam Eccleston (guitar, vocals), Gabe Khitarishvili-Awde (bass, vocals) and Conn Perry (drums), paper hats have been playing across London's underground live circuit in support of the likes of Man/Woman/Chainsaw, The Orchestra (For Now), and UNIVERSITY, with their very first single "D'Artagnan" arriving last June.
"Tether" arrives as the band's first new music of 2026, and the first preview of their upcoming debut. Discussing the process behind making the track, Khitarishvili-Awde says: “For the climax, the squealing guitar amp alone maxed out the studio’s dB meter. Our guitarist Sam was twisting the guitar away from the amp to ring out all these different frequencies – you could hear it through all the sound padding in the control room. There’s this feeling that a zipper is being sharply pulled in your ears each time the rhythmic chords try to pierce a hole through the feedback.”
Ahead of the release, paper hats are scheduled for live shows at The Windmill, Brixton on 1 April, and The Lanes, Bristol, on 3 April, with Sheffield psych-grunge band, Femur.
Once was enough artwork
Once was enough is released on 26 May via state51
Sign up to Best Fit's Substack for regular dispatches from the world of pop culture