Really Big Really Clever began in 2023, rising from the ashes of beloved Brighton band Gender Roles. Poised for breakout success with a second album ready and a U.S. tour booked, the group imploded but singer-guitarists Jared Tomkins and Jordan Lilford wasted no time in setting up a new project. Teaming up with Chris Childs (bass) and Sam Perkins (drums) of local emo outfit H_ngm_n, they formed Really Big Really Clever and released their furious 19-minute self-titled debut that same year.

In August 2025, the band followed up with their cheekily titled second album …huh? released via local imprint Sugar-Free Records, capturing the rawness of their live sound while broadening their range, and was one of our top punk picks of the year, with acoustic confessions exploding into scathing riffs full of melodic grunge-punk hooks and cathartic shout-alongs. With two acclaimed albums under their belt, Really Big Really Clever are poised to carry Brighton’s DIY punk spirit to the wider world, epitomising the new wave of bands from the city who thrive on a balance of raucous fun and earnest catharsis. The south coast’s punk underground is alive and kicking with a combination of hardworking bands, community-driven labels and welcoming venues all creating a fertile ground for new talent, with RBRC looking much like figureheads of the movement. Punk rock’s future could be really big, really clever.

Really Big Really Clever’s debut arrived as if there was no pause at all after Gender Roles ended. Can you take us back to that moment and why you had such a quick momentum from the off?

Can you tell us about why Chris and Sam were the right choices for your new rhythm section?

Who are some of your biggest influences?

…huh? has a hell of a range to it, did you set out with the goal of making a broad and unpredictable record?

What would you say is the biggest difference between your debut and …huh??

The Brighton scene has been producing tons of great bands as of late, who are some of your favourite local legends and labels? Who should we be paying attention to?

What are the venues in Brighton that are helping to shape the sound of the city?

What do you think sets Brighton apart from other cities?

What’s on the horizon for the band?

What is the ultimate goal of Really Big Really Clever?