PVA

838 fans

South London band PVA’s stunning debut album BLUSH consolidates the beating pulse of electronic music with the raw energy of a life-affirming gig and reveals more about the trio than they’ve ever previously shared.

The eleven blistering tracks from the group, Ella Harris and Josh Baxter (who share lead vocals as well as handling synths, guitars and production) alongside drummer and percussionist Louis Satchell, are made from a formula of acid, disco, blistering synths, the release of the dancefloor and queer-coded sprechgesang post-punk.

The tight-knit trio began when Harris and Baxter began making what they dubbed “country-friend techno” together in 2017. One of their first songs was born from Harris dictating her dreams to her new bandmate and their first show, at night called Narcissistic Exhibitionism at The Five Bells pub in New Cross, took place just two weeks after they met. The night was curated by Harris and featured painting, sculpture and photography upstairs, and bands on the ground floor. She booked PVA as headliners.

After this early stage they then recruited Satchell to bring a new dimension to their live shows. These more muscular gigs helped PVA establish a cult reputation among London gig-goers, particularly as they barely put any music online. Seeing the live show was really the only option. They established themselves as key players in south London’s fervent indie scene alongside Squid, black midi and Black Country, New Road. This then led to slots at SXSW, Pitchfork Music Festival and Green Man as well as national tours with Shame, Dry Cleaning and Goat Girl. Even in their earliest iterations, however, their existence beyond the confines of a traditional band set-up were clear. It wasn’t unusual to be able to catch them twice in one night, once at Brixton sweatbox The Windmill and again in the early hours DJing at Deptford’s subterranean Bunker club.

The group released their debut single ‘Divine Intervention’ through Speedy Wunderground in late 2019 with debut EP ‘Toner’ arrived a year later via Ninja Tune, home to similarly iconoclastic acts including Young Fathers and Kae Tempest. The EP featured a remix of ‘Talks’ from Mura Masa that picked up a GRAMMY nomination in the category of Best Remixed Recording at the 2022 ceremony.

On their debut album PVA carry that same energy from the live circuit, while also building out a holistic world full of texture and heart. BLUSH is rich with industrial-sized beats that pack a heavyweight punch, jagged punk spirit, and moments of hushed contemplation from Harris’ poetic lyrics. It sprints tirelessly throughout, linking influences including Portishead, PC Music, Laurie Anderson, and cult rave-pop duo The Pom-Poms with ease.

“We wanted to surprise people and do something more than just get across how we sound at a gig,” explains drummer Louis. “It’s quite an anxious record sometimes that is relating to mental health issues but also an everyday anxiety of making the album. It’s been a rocky ride but we always pick ourselves up.”

This is the sound of a group pushing past expectations and delivering an album that opens up new worlds of possibility. Defying easy categorisation might be instinctive to PVA but BLUSH makes other elements of the band’s world clearer than ever before. During the past two years Ella has worked on solo material as Lime Zoda and written two collections of poetry, much of which she used as the basis for lyrics on BLUSH.

Album opener ‘Untethered’ is about “being in a straight relationship that is restrictive and closed off,” Ella explains. “It’s basically an expression of this really frustrated anger at masculinity and a resentment at being unable to free yourself from that heteronormative situation and explore the world.” ‘Untethered,’ meanwhile, is a moment of celebration born from achieving that very same kind of release. There is a frantic energy to the song that makes remaining static an impossibility while its themes of transition, joy, and reframing negative situations continue throughout BLUSH. Ella had “loads of therapy” during lockdown and came to terms with a lot of major life situations. “I just feel happier with myself and that was really important for the songs, too,” she says.

This is something Josh shares, too. “Vicariously, through Ella, I get to express my queerness, too.” He leads the vocals on both ‘Bunker’ and the saw-toothed industrial banger ‘The Individual,’ songs dealing with identity and the characters that we see within ourselves. ”This album is definitely exploring who we are as people,” Josh says. “We’ve all had this personal growth and the album is about us allowing us to be ourselves more and being comfortable with that.”

BLUSH was written during various lockdowns, a testing time for a band used to finding the limits of their sound live on stage. Adversity, clearly, doesn’t get the better of PVA, though. If anything, they feel some enforced distance strengthened their songwriting. Ella wrote poems and learned to produce music, Josh worked with other artists as a producer, and Louis continued his music course at City University, studying ancient African polyrhythms among other techniques. “We’d got apart from one another with what we were making and had to come back together,” Ella explains. “We could have just bashed the album out but I’m really happy we took our time with it. It feels a lot more us.”

The album was produced by the band alongside friends Ben Romans-Hopcraft and Jamie Neville over a two week period at Neville’s home studio in south London. They then mixed the record at FOLD, the club hidden away on a trading estate in Canning Town. One place intimate, another industrial; this is PVA’s world.

Creating a world in which these songs could exist, not as disparate entities but cohesively and connected, was key to PVA. Over time the songs have changed and grown, resulting in a record that is at once gargantuan and yet deeply personal; purpose built to ricochet off the walls of any major venue yet stitched with enough personality and individuality to make the epic feel easily grasped. “The album has taken on a life of its own,” Ella states. “It’s really become something we didn’t expect.” Having set out to surprise people they ended up shocking themselves. The result, however unpredicted, is nothing short of revelatory.

Top tracks

02
Welcome To My Island (PVA Remix)
Caroline Polachek
Welcome To My Island (Remix)
03:38
Composers: Caroline Polachek - Daniel Nigro - Jim-E Stack
03
Exhaust / Surroundings
PVA
Toner
05:40
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
03
Talks (Mura Masa Dub)
PVA
Talks (Remixes)
04:00
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
02
LIKE FATHER,LIKE SON (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE)
PVA
i ain’t scared of living (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE!)
01:32
Writer: PVA
01
PUBLIC SERVICE (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE)
PVA
i ain’t scared of living (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE!)
02:03
Writer: PVA
01
Divine Intervention
PVA
Divine Intervention
03:46
Composers: PVA
01
Bunker - Reeperbahn Festival Collide
PVA
Collide Session #11 - PVA
05:29
Writer: Josh Baxter - Louis Satchell - Ella Harris / Composers: Josh Baxter - Louis Satchell - Ella Harris
05
Bunker
PVA
BLUSH
05:20
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
01
Untethered
PVA
BLUSH
03:36
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
09
Transit
PVA
BLUSH
05:49
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
08
Bad Dad
PVA
BLUSH
03:40
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
02
Kim
PVA
BLUSH
03:54
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
01
Not (BBC Radio 1 Session)
PVA
Not (BBC Radio 1 Session)
04:41
Writer: Adrianne Elizabeth Lenker / Composers: Adrianne Elizabeth Lenker
10
Seven
PVA
BLUSH
03:45
Writer: Ella Harris - Tony Njoku / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
03
Drab Measure - Reeperbahn Festival Collide
PVA
Collide Session #11 - PVA
05:16
Writer: Zach Choy / Composers: Zach Choy
11
Soap
PVA
BLUSH
04:49
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
03
Hero Man
PVA
BLUSH
03:53
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
06
Comfort Eating
PVA
BLUSH
03:40
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
07
The Individual
PVA
BLUSH
03:50
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
02
Sleek Form
PVA
Toner
05:23
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter

Playlists

Similar artists

Rendez Vous
Rendez Vous
Whispering Sons
Whispering Sons
VoX LoW
VoX LoW
John Maus
John Maus
The KVB
The KVB
Bracco
Bracco
  • Discography
Albums
(P) 2025 JR label
20-06-2025
i ain’t scared of living (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE!)
01
PUBLIC SERVICE (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE)
PVA
i ain’t scared of living (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE!)
02:03
Writer: PVA
02
LIKE FATHER,LIKE SON (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE)
PVA
i ain’t scared of living (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE!)
01:32
Writer: PVA
03
I’M GOOD (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE)
PVA
i ain’t scared of living (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE!)
01:55
Writer: PVA
04
I AIN’T SCARED OF LIVING (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE)
PVA
i ain’t scared of living (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE!)
02:12
Writer: PVA
05
PERSONAL SPACE (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE)
PVA
i ain’t scared of living (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE!)
02:15
Writer: PVA
06
I MISS YOU BEING AROUND (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE)
PVA
i ain’t scared of living (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE!)
02:34
Writer: PVA
07
TO BE CONTINUE (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE)
PVA
i ain’t scared of living (PROD BY PVA WAS HERE!)
01:36
Writer: PVA
Access the complete album info (8 songs)
Ninja Tune
14-10-2022
BLUSH
01
Untethered
PVA
BLUSH
03:36
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
02
Kim
PVA
BLUSH
03:54
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
03
Hero Man
PVA
BLUSH
03:53
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
04
Interlude
PVA
BLUSH
00:48
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
05
Bunker
PVA
BLUSH
05:20
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
06
Comfort Eating
PVA
BLUSH
03:40
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
07
The Individual
PVA
BLUSH
03:50
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
EPs
Big Dada
20-11-2020
Toner
01
Talks
PVA
Toner
04:17
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
02
Sleek Form
PVA
Toner
05:23
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
03
Exhaust / Surroundings
PVA
Toner
05:40
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
04
Talks (Mura Masa Remix)
PVA
Toner
04:00
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
05
Talks (Lynks Remix)
PVA
Toner
03:12
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
06
Exhaust / Surroundings (Girl Band / Daniel Fox Remix)
PVA
Toner
07:27
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
Big Dada
20-10-2020
Talks (Remixes)
01
Talks (Mura Masa Remix)
PVA
Talks (Remixes)
04:00
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
02
Talks (Lynks Remix)
PVA
Talks (Remixes)
03:12
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
03
Talks (Mura Masa Dub)
PVA
Talks (Remixes)
04:00
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
04
Talks
PVA
Talks (Remixes)
04:17
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
Singles
2024 Sinderlyn
02-12-2024
It's Over (PVA Remix)
01
It's Over (PVA Remix)
TATYANA
It's Over (PVA Remix)
04:13
Composers: TATYANA - Tatyana Phillips
02
Down Bad (Technodaddy666 & Lynks Remix)
TATYANA
It's Over (PVA Remix)
02:56
Composers: TATYANA - Tatyana Phillips
03
It's Over
TATYANA
It's Over (PVA Remix)
04:12
Composers: Tatyana Phillips
℗ 2023 Reeperbahn Festival Collide
07-07-2023
Collide Session #11 - PVA
01
Bunker - Reeperbahn Festival Collide
PVA
Collide Session #11 - PVA
05:29
Writer: Josh Baxter - Louis Satchell - Ella Harris / Composers: Josh Baxter - Louis Satchell - Ella Harris
02
Kim - Reeperbahn Festival Collide
PVA
Collide Session #11 - PVA
04:00
Writer: Josh Baxter - Louis Satchell - Ella Harris / Composers: Josh Baxter - Louis Satchell - Ella Harris
03
Drab Measure - Reeperbahn Festival Collide
PVA
Collide Session #11 - PVA
05:16
Writer: Zach Choy / Composers: Zach Choy
2023 WHY Z MUSIC
07-04-2023
Диджей
01
Диджей
Koles & Paha
Диджей
01:56
Writer: Fomin Pavel Alekseevich - Lapukhin Nikolai Nikolaevich - Pritulenko Vladislav Andreevich / Composers: Fomin Pavel Alekseevich - Lapukhin Nikolai Nikolaevich - Pritulenko Vladislav Andreevich
2023 WHY Z MUSIC
23-12-2022
Тушите свет
01
Тушите свет
Koles & Paha
Тушите свет
02:18
Writer: Николай Лапухин - Павел Фомин / Composers: Николай Лапухин - Павел Фомин
Ninja Tune
02-11-2022
Not (BBC Radio 1 Session)
01
Not (BBC Radio 1 Session)
PVA
Not (BBC Radio 1 Session)
04:41
Writer: Adrianne Elizabeth Lenker / Composers: Adrianne Elizabeth Lenker
02
Hero Man
PVA
Not (BBC Radio 1 Session)
03:53
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
Ninja Tune
13-09-2022
Bunker
01
Bunker
PVA
Bunker
05:20
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
02
Bad Dad
PVA
Bunker
03:40
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
03
Hero Man
PVA
Bunker
03:53
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
04
Untethered
PVA
Bunker
03:36
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
05
Exhaust / Surroundings
PVA
Bunker
05:40
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
Ninja Tune
17-08-2022
Bad Dad
01
Bad Dad
PVA
Bad Dad
03:40
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
02
Hero Man
PVA
Bad Dad
03:53
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
03
Untethered
PVA
Bad Dad
03:36
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
04
Exhaust / Surroundings
PVA
Bad Dad
05:40
Writer: Louis Satchell - Ella Harris - Josh Baxter
Ninja Tune
19-07-2022
Hero Man
01
Hero Man
PVA
Hero Man
03:53
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
02
Untethered
PVA
Hero Man
03:36
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
Ninja Tune
24-05-2022
Untethered
01
Untethered
PVA
Untethered
03:36
Writer: Ella Harris / Composers: Louis Satchell - Josh Baxter
2025 Союз Мьюзик
26-10-2021
Забыть (Liberty Remix)
01
Забыть (Liberty Remix)
PVA
Забыть (Liberty Remix)
01:52
Writer: Притуленко Владислав / Composers: Гриценко Владислав
2025 Союз Мьюзик
11-10-2021
Забыть
01
Забыть
PVA
Забыть
01:58
Writer: Притуленко Влад / Composers: Притуленко Влад