Jocasta

Comprising vocalist Tim Arnold, guitarist Jack Reynolds, bass player Andy Lewis, and drummer Adrian Meehan, U.K. indie pop band Jocasta appeared on numerous industry "tip sheets" toward the close of 1995. Arnold, whose early years unfolded across London, Yorkshire, France, and Spain, first crossed paths with Reynolds at the school they both attended, their initial encounter occurring during a Greek mythology class. The pair later adopted the name Jocasta—taken from the mother of Oedipus—for their project. Following Arnold’s return to Spain, the two reconnected through music, and in 1994 Arnold relocated to Soho, London, where Reynolds joined him. They worked daytime as chef and doorman at an illegal drinking club, where Lewis and Meehan became acquainted with them over drinks at the same venue. An unmarked envelope containing 20,000 yen, slipped mysteriously through Meehan’s door, reportedly funded the band’s earliest demos. Those recordings promptly landed an American deal, though Jocasta declined multiple other offers to remain independent on their own V4 Records in the U.K. Their debut single, “Go,” showcased an energetic songwriting style that juxtaposed Britpop harmonies against a propulsive rhythmic force reminiscent of the Smashing Pumpkins. The follow-up album, No Coincidence, however, positioned the group as a more conventional Britpop act, and its lukewarm reception precipitated the band’s dissolution in 1999. Arnold subsequently pursued a solo career.