Forrest Flowers - Officer Nigel
Words and Photography: Eerie Rose
One of 5.18’s favourites since they first graced our second print magazine cover back in 2019, Forrest Flowers are back with their first single in almost four years: ‘Officer Nigel.’ Released at a time where we are seeing serious political turmoil, the track covers themes of oppressive policing tactics and the outlawing of peaceful protest.
“Forrest Flowers are a London based DIY band combining post-punk, alt rock, indie, tango, ska and noise (yes). It is about the sonic journey, the hyperaware messages, and above all - community. They praise themselves for remaining entirely self produced (in bathrooms, bedrooms, village halls) and for cultivating a strong diverse community of people who have come to appreciate the raw ethos and emotional insights. Their live shows are an attempt to bring like-minded people together and create a space where queer and alternative people are able to enjoy the uninhibited energy of punk - not for the sake of violence, but for the honest output of emotion.
The band have made a considerable name for themselves in the underground scene in the UK, working their way independently from basement shows in London to supporting Tokky Horror in Bristol and London in 2023 and playing their first headline in Brighton last year. A bunch of very different, unlikely friends (vocalist Noel Oganyan - he/him, guitarist Sunny Robertson - he/him, bassist Ayu Mesi - she/her and drummer Ciara Clarke - they/he) that found each other in their late teens, they have been like family ever since, recording music in bathrooms and hallways, and living together in different amalgamations in South East London. Forrest Flowers has been more of a cult than it has been a band, amassing a serious following from the London queer punk scene, and forming connections that have reached beyond simply the music. The band has found new energy through their new member, Ciara Clarke, bassist from queer punk band The Oozes - and have been recording and writing new material. “
‘Officer Nigel,’ released today on all streaming platforms, is the first single from an upcoming EP that will be released later this year. With its political commentary, the track couldn't come at a better time - referencing policing in Russia in 2020, where in response to peaceful protest, people were arrested simply for seeming like they might be "intending to commit crimes." Frontman Noel, who was born in Moscow and spent all of his childhood and teenage years there, noted this as a major step in the country becoming more authoritarian and oppressive. It's absolutely the right time for ‘Officer Nigel’ to make its way out into the world - given that this intense policing is beginning to happen more frequently here in the UK, with a young person sitting with a blank placard arrested outside of the BBC building this week.
In vocalist and lyricist Noel's own words:
"Officer Nigel was conceived as a direct response to the events of 2020, and not the most obvious one.
Back home, in Russia, as a response to peaceful protests, police had started arresting people under the suspicion that “they might be intending to commit crimes"; which has also become one of the first steps of complete collapse into the shamelessly authoritarian and oppressive state that Russia is currently.
The song was born as a POV story of one of those officers from a fictional department of ‘Criminal Plans and Intentions’ - he has to look out for potential protesters in citizens and arrest them if he senses the rebellious intentions in them: whether from a ‘sparkle in the eye’, or a walk, or a lack of national symbolism, and other very normal things. There’s a lot of focus on details, we made him a mindlessly patriotic yet paranoid caricature which is a very specific combination of traits that’s been plaguing many countries’ authority systems.
Musically, the song was born as a result of a lockdown jam session. I remember all of us sitting in our living room playing around with silly riffs, one of them was that initial progression of guitar chords. I was skeptical at first of putting what I had considered intense lyrics over the riff that sounded almost goofy, but then it made sense conceptually, as it was supposed to be a caricature at the end of the day. If it were to make fun of the protagonist - it had to sound appropriate. First time we played it live, I performed it in a stripper police uniform. Everything made sense in our world, evidently. We have recorded the entire song in a rehearsal room and Sunny, our guitar player, has sweated day and night to mix it. Mastered by Felix from Metropolis Studios. And here we are - what a strange, intense, bizarre creation. I hope people like it!"
Officer Nigel Lyrics
(Officer Nigel, of the ‘Criminal Plans and Intentions’ department)
A citizen is walking.
Doesn't stoop or sweat,
Without external bias,
But has many thoughts inside himself
On the device of riots.
At a briefing today, I was given a guide
about Freud -
Turns out, we are all shit inside.
No sowing or reaping,
No hammer or sickle -
I need to detain him
In case he fails to act civil.
Just so there wouldn’t be crime
from the sparkle in the bastard's eye -
There’s a special division to identify
Intentions brewing at the bottom of minds,
at the bottom of minds.
You’d say ‘but if theres no plans to protest or riot…?’
If they’re not us, then they better stay quiet!
Back to beginning ...
There is a man:
Walking and talking like he’s almost perfect.
Where is he going?
Has unknown intent…
And what’s unlawful we need to prevent!
The crux of the matter
Are the tools of his crimes:
His legs, his arms and his call to action.
Life’s not fair, I don’t get all this hate.
Why spoil our country, it’s already great!
Just so there wouldn’t be crime
from the sparkle in the bastard's eye -
There’s a special division to identify
Intentions brewing at the bottom of minds,
at the bottom of minds.
You’d say ‘but if theres no plans to protest or riot…?’
If they’re not us, then they better stay quiet!
And this one! And that one! And god, look at those!
Just walking? Really? Come on!
A fine for starters, if they oppose -
This mysterious circle of conceptual artists!
It’s all very clear for the rest of us, beholders:
Deliver to the station, let them figure it out.
After all, if there’s a head on your shoulders,
Immoral thoughts for sure will be found.
