Five Favourites: Sir Jude

Having had previous singles featured in popular TV shows such as ‘Catfish’ and ‘The A List’, Australian artist Sir Jude has now announced the release of her upcoming debut album, Revelations, and shared a sweeping new single with the world. Propelled by a stirring, glitchy energy ‘Madonna‘ reflects on the dichotomy of the Madonna concept – the virgin and the whore. As her rich vocals soar over a gritty electro-infused soundscape, an instantly catchy cinematic alt-pop anthem is created.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate the release of ‘Madonna’ and the upcoming debut album, we caught up with Sir Jude to ask about the music that has inspired her the most. See below for her choices of her five favourite songs.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers – ‘Wet Sand’ 
Growing up, I was such a big Chili Peppers fan. Still am of course. It was the soundtrack to many defining moments, particularly my first love. My journey to discovering them as a band was led by pure intrigue – none of my friends listened to them and I was mesmerised by the sound of psychedelic rock. The lyric in this track – “you don’t form in the wet sand” – I thought was so delicate and beautiful. Despite it feeling like a song about lightness, there is this sense of tragedy and vulnerability. I think Anthony Kiedis mastered that; most of their songs have this wonderful element of dichotomy. Later I watched an interview of Flea talking about how the song for him is a special love song, about the darkness of love, and I deeply resonate with that.  

Imogen Heap – ‘Hide and Seek’
This song was a staple for my teen years! I had first heard this on my favourite show at the time – which I’m admitting was The OC. I think for most people, it was unlike anything else they’d heard before. For me, I wanted to know more. I think Imogen Heap is one of the most talented composers and is an absolute force for women in music. I’m so grateful to her for being so authentic and bold in everything she does. This song inspired a whole era of songs I set to write at 13 or 14 (most of which were terrible). But one song it inspired, titled ‘Sailor Ships’, was the very song that brought me to Abbey Road Studios in London, with my friend and collaborator Bryce Jacobs, and that moment was so special.  

Arctic Monkeys – ‘I Wanna Be Yours’ 
This song gets most of its lyrics from the John Cooper Clark poem of the same name. I first heard this and gasped. I’m not the most romantic person, but for the first time I felt like these words were ones I could understand. It’s honestly a little creepy when you read it aloud, but I think at the heart of the song it’s about loving someone so deep that you want to know and be with every single part of them, and that’s pretty beautiful. I feel like such a sap admitting that, but it’s just lovely.  

Kavinsky ft. Lovefoxxx – ‘Nightcall’
I had heard this song before seeing it in Drive. The movie and the scorpion jacket only added to the iconic etch it made in my mind. The way the album, Out Run, opens is so epic; it paints this glorious mental movie soundtrack that is otherworldly and genius and just so cool. It’s the best nighttime driving song there is. Again, there is this sense of love and tragedy that I resonated with because the concept of the album itself felt so tangible.  

The Naked and Famous – ‘The Sun’
I lean very heavily towards songs that make me feel as though I can cut a quick movie montage of my life in my head. Every time this song plays, I feel so empowered and capable – like something is about to happen. It’s dramatic and aggressive and the lyrics bring about a feeling of frustration, like this person is about to explode; like they’re finally at a turning point. The line “and what the hell have I done” inspired my own song – ‘What the Hell Have You Done’. I just remember feeling so heard in that line. It does something to me every time I hear it. And the whole album is a classic; I think there are a lot of people that can listen to a song from that album and have it take them back somewhere years ago.  

Massive thanks to Sir Jude for sharing her Five Favourites with us!

‘Madonna’ is out now, and Revelations, the upcoming debut album from Sir Jude, is set for release soon!

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Track Of The Day: Well Yeah – ‘Ritmo’

As a fan of instrumental act Los Bitchos, I was excited to discover Well Yeah – a band led by their former guitarist Carolina Faruolo. Describing their latest release ‘Ritmo’ as “Manchester meets Latin America”, I was intrigued. It’s their second single since their debut ‘Hello’, a track combining atmospheric guitar lines and a classic latin pop rhythm. 

‘Ritmo’ starts with a lush synth pad and Santana-style guitar lead, making the Latin American feel immediately obvious. Flowing with a lounge-inspired, chilled out energy, it provides the perfect accompaniment for the the unusually warm English weather we’re having right now. 

As the opening two minutes introduce you to the track’s swirling refrain, it soon builds as Well Yeah cleverly and subtly give us a change in tempo and energy, bringing the song fully to life in a burst of vibrant musicality. The bass steps up to a funkier and more energetic groove, the drums intensify and a rich Hammond organ enters, creating a funk-fuelled retro vibe reminiscent of ’90s rave culture and ’60s psychedelia. 

The song continues at this pace before a moment of quiet where just the bass plays, before hitting us with an colourful climax of synth horns, funky bass and latin rhythms all fused together with polished production. The animated drive of the track brings to mind a fun-filled amalgamation of Primal Scream’s ‘Loaded’, The Happy Mondays, and Peruvian Cumbia band Los Detellos.

Ultimately, instrumental music needs to work harder to keep people engaged, and Well Yeah are certainly a band who can pull it off. If you like this track, give their B-side ‘Magic’ a listen too and cross your fingers to for some gigs in the near future!   

‘Ritmo‘ is out now via Strong Island Recordings and was recorded live in Well Yeah’s own studio in Brunswick Mill, Manchester.

Ella Patenall
@ellapatenall

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EP: deep tan – ‘diamond horsetail’

Infectiously off-kilter, Hackney-based queer punk trio deep tan have re-emerged with their sophomore extended play, diamond horsetail; five minimalistic DIY tracks of uncompromising post post-punk. Following the shimmering psychedelic pop of 2019 singles ‘Air’ and ‘Shimmer’, and the haunting discordant hooks of their subversive debut EP – 2021’s creeping speedwells – diamond horsetail propels deep tan’s otherworldly sound into the exosphere through dissonant guitar riffs, eccentric bass-lines, syncopated rhythm, and intimate vocals. Embracing the seductive allure of their swirling sound, guitarist/vocalist Wafah Dufour, bassist Celeste Guinness and drummer Lucy Rushton will hypnotise listeners into questioning their identity.

Hitting hard with opener ‘beginners’ krav maga’, deep tan explore angular arrangement on a track that is as aggressive as its own namesake; contact combat! Juxtaposed over an irresistible twangy groove, Wafah’s soft, dexterous, and often critical vocals remind us that learning self-defence will unfortunately not help most women feel safe walking alone at night (male violence is an epidemic) – “I stand outside / I bide my time / Wait for the mood to pass / Night-time checklist / Keys in a fist / In the dark can’t relax.”

Inserting itself into your brain, ‘device devotion’ follows as an ode to deep tan’s browser history; the trio share their fascination with (and critique of) internet subcultures – from lobster erotica to vore-porn subreddits – hooking you in with delicate vocal notes and erratic instrumentation. The presence of the world wide web also influences ‘gender expansion pack’, a mostly instrumental track utilising WikiHow hypnosis through subliminal messaging. Underlying spoken word is low-pitched to a subliminal frequency allowing deep tan to challenge cis-het men – “the demographic that buys most of our vinyl” – into exploring their gender.

Caught with his hands down his pants, Rudy Giuliani’s public image melts under deep tan’s sardonic black humour during the “diss track you never asked for” ‘rudy ya ya ya’ – “We’re seeking law advice / ‘Cause he’s a legal eagle supersized / A considerable adversary / Rudy ya ya ya / Giuli ya ya ya!” – before the cathartic title track disturbs with abrasive outbursts of ancient and justified rage.

Maintaining their intensity, deep tan crescendo into a cataclysm of obliterating melody and anthemic vitriol; channelling the chaos of The KLF, the defiant attitude of The Slits, and the gloomy new wave of Joy Division. And yet diamond horsetail isn’t constricted by influence. Every detail has been carefully considered in the creation of deep tan’s strangely addictive sound, further developing their identity through ceaseless DIY punk energy.

diamond horsetail is out now via Practise Music.

Ken Wynne
@Ken_Wynne

Photo Credit: Alex Matraxia

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Track Of The Day: Electric Pets – ‘That Way’

‘That Way’, the second single from Electric Pets’ debut EP is a bold, empowering battle-cry for anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t fit in. Opening with the raw power of Emma Buckley’s unwavering vocal, the lyrics defiantly tell us who Buckley is and dismiss what others tell her she should be.   

But the song’s intimate, confessional tone soon steps up, buoyed by scuzzy, swaggering guitars, to become a proper garage-infused rock ‘n’ roll banger. Buckley sings: “Maybe I should bite my tongue and try to play the game?” But we know she won’t. This is a front-person – and a band – that doesn’t play by the rules. Of the track, Buckley explains:

“You could say ‘That Way’ is my autobiographical ‘f**k you’ to the music industry. I spent so long being too much of something to someone and not enough of the same thing for someone else. I needed to remind myself who I was.” 

And it really is the perfect redemption song. With its sassy, grown-up pop polish and uncompromising lyrics, ‘That Way’ is a great introduction to a band that are brave and completely badass. More please!

https://open.spotify.com/track/6F5FcWiqbtNzxcPPSpu9mt?si=04458fb72cf94c1a

Vic Conway
@thepicsofvic

‘That Way’ is taken from Electric Pets’ Rhinoceros EP, which is out soon on Reckless Yes records. 

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