The Kut is a London-based alternative rock project, assembled by frontwoman and self-taught multi-instrumentalist Princess Maha. They have received extensive radio and music press coverage including from Planet Rock, BBC Introducing, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Big Cheese, Q Magazine and Classic Rock Magazine The debut album Valley of Thorns reached No. 7 in the UK Rock Albums Chart and No. 18 in the UK Independent Albums Chart and re-entered with the Digital and Vinyl release week ending 9 Nov 2018. Starting as a vocalist, pianist and later drummer, bass player and guitarist, The Kut sound is typified by Maha's song arrangements, contrasting smooth and raw vocals, choppy riffs and the dynamic guitar solos that secured her a full endorsement deal with Marshall Amplification. Influenced by the 1990s tones of Deftones, L7, Nirvana, The Distillers, Hole, Lunachicks, Incubus, Placebo as well as solo projects like Prince and Nine Inch Nails, The Kut is currently active on the UK and European grunge rockmusic scene, with live performances delivered by an all female cast of highly accomplished musicians. Usually performing as an all female trio, the live set up consists of Maha on vocals / guitar, bass / vocals and drums. The debut EPPoisonest was released in 2005, although later deleted. In 2009, The Kut released two singles through Maha's independent label Criminal Records UK and Universal Records. This was followed by label interest from Warner Bros. Records but the experience led to a waiting period and eventual release hiatus. In this time however, The Kut continued to perform live at UK underground shows as well as high-profile events including London 2012 Olympics and London 2012 Paralympics as selected by the Teenage Rampage Foundation. At the end of 2013, The Kut was voted in to the winning spots of the MTV Brand New Unsigned Poll for 2014. The Kut soon released the first official record in approximately three years. The Make Up EP, featured the two previous singles and three new tracks produced by James LeRock Loughrey, known for his work with Skindred, White Zombine, Def Leppard, Bjork and My Vitriol. Lead single "No Trace" was featured by Kerrang! Radio, BBC Introducing with the music video featured by Scuzz in the 'Most Wanted Rock Charts' reaching No. 4. Rock Paper Scissors was the 2015 follow up EP, featuring four new tracks and a grittier heavier sound. Both EPs were released by Maha's independent record labelCriminal Records UK and have since sold out. The records were supported heavily by the rock press and radio, including Planet Rock, BBC Introducing, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Big Cheese, Q Magazine and Classic Rock Magazine. A number of music videos gained heavy rotation on Scuzz TV, with additional playlist by AXS TV and MTV-U USA. The videos for singles "I Don't Need Therapy" and "Bad Man" were premièred by Kerrang!. In 2015, The Kut played the 'Dog's Bed Stage' at Download Festival 2015 and were voted as one of the best two acts appearing on that stage. 2015 also saw them open the main stages of Glastonbudget and Strummercamp Festival, alongside a stream of tour dates. In 2016 the band have performed a number of UK shows, including Glastonbudget, Camden Rocks Festival and Rebellion Festival alongside 37 summer UK tour dates. At the end of 2016, The Kut also performed their first international shows in Germany with four concerts during December, and in January were featured in Kerrang! Magazine's Breakthrough Acts of 2017 List. 2017 touring activity includes a tour of six countries in April 2017. The Spring Tour 2017 saw the live outfit travel to and perform in Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and back for shows on UK home soil. The Kut released The Kut EP on 500 limited edition picture disc vinyls for Record Store Day on 22 April 2017 through Criminal Records UK and Cargo Records. The record was featured at number 4 in Kerrang! Magazines Top 10 Record Store Day Releases, alongside Mallory Knox, Babymetal, Bullet For My Valentine, Pearl Jam, Ginger Wildheart, Gerard Way, Against Me and more. Princess Maha is the only consistent recording and touring member of The Kut. Having studied psychosis-related illness at University of Roehampton alongside The Kut, she earned a PhD in Positive Schizotypy related research in January 2019. Her first publication was in the Journal of Personality and Individual Differences] and discussed new measures for positive schizotypy. Long term touring drummers have included Fidan Hassan and Diana Bartmann. Long term touring bass players; Elvira Zaera and Alison Wood, Stella Vie and a number of additional female bass players who stood in for tours during Alison's pregnancies: Dany Jones, Hannah Cooper, Jennifer Sanin. There have also been one off bass performances by Joy Guest, Sid Rose, Eli Karali and honorary female, Kevin O'Shea. Pre-2009 drummers have included Nuria Glendal, Jade Wilson, Christina Borgi, Amil Smith and session drummers, Violet Stow, Amanda Dal, Lauren O'Donnell and Robert O'Shea. In 2011, The Kut performed an 'Unplugged Tour' featuring Stacey Douglas on acoustic guitar, and Sophie Haynes on cello. On this set of UK dates Maha often switched between playing guitar and drums.
