Chvrches' Martin Doherty checks in with Music 101's Sam Wicks.
Chvrches. Photo: Supplied
As the most visible member of Glaswegian synth-pop trio Chvrches, front person Lauren Mayberry has found herself the frequent target of sexist online abuse.
The former journalist hasn’t shied away from speaking out about her experiences, including widely disseminated radio and television interviews, and a piece she penned for The Guardian. In it, she asks: “Is the casual sexual objectification of women so commonplace that we should all just suck it up, roll over and accept defeat?”
Chvrches’ line-up is completed by Iain Cook and Martin Doherty – both are keenly aware of the misogyny flung her way via social media.
“This is an ugly part of what we do, and it must be addressed, and we spend time addressing it,” says Doherty. “We’re not a political band, we don’t want it to overshadow what we do… but with the same token, we can’t allow our friend, our colleague, to be spoken to or threatened.”
Ahead of the group’s appearance at St Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2016, Doherty checks in from Chvrches’ basement HQ to explain how he’s supporting Mayberry’s very public battle.