The Get In Her Ears team have put together another marvellous mix of new music for your listening pleasure! Our August Playlist features plenty of eclectic alt-pop tunes, DIY punk anthems, alternative riffs, indie & alt-folk musings, as well as some experimental and electronic sounds. We’ve also included some tributes to the late Dolly Parton and L7 bassist Jennifer Finch. Make sure you scroll through and read all about our recommendations below.
In order to best support the female, LGBTQIA+ and non-binary artists that we love here at GIHE, we’ve moved away from using Spotify. We now have an account on TIDAL, so please follow us on there. We’ve also included YouTube or bandcamp links for all of the tracks below, so there’s plenty of ways for you to get your new music fix.
You can still access our GIHE profile on Spotify (which we do not have a paid subscription for) but we urge you to use TIDAL, bandcamp or YouTube instead.
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Dolly Parton – ‘Coat Of Many Colours’
Like probably everyone who follows us, I was heartbroken to hear the news of Queen Dolly passing away this week. Although it may seem odd to grieve someone you never knew personally, I think it was easy to feel a connection with Dolly and a resonance to her radiant infectious joy and spirit. She really was such a huge inspiration – not only an incredible songwriter, performer and iconic woman until the very end – but such a wonderful advocate and supporter of marginalised communities. She was also the perfect example of how you don’t have to give birth to a child to be a mother figure. She cared for and actively helped so many children and young people throughout her life. I feel incredibly lucky and honoured to have seen her live at Glastonbury in 2014, a completely joyous experience and life highlight that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. She performed with such a playful energy and sweetness and her cheeky humour and incredible talent shone throughout, especially when she played the Benny Hill theme song on her mini saxophone!.
(Mari Lane – Managing Editor)
Aether Speaker – ‘Golden Hour’
A gorgeous piece of indie electro-pop here from London-based band Aether Speaker. ‘Golden Hour’ is full of front-person Yel’s soft, breathy vocals, underscored by hazy synths and gentle beats. The band explain that their psychedelic new offering is “poised between one world and the next, between soothing words and the truth” – delighting in ambiguity and lingering in the romantic ether. (Kate Crudgington – Features Editor)
Squirrel Flower – ‘Cleveland’
A beautiful ode to its namesake and the comfort of domesticity, ‘Cleveland’ is the latest single from Chicago based artist Ella Williams, aka Squirrel Flower. A song originally written with her her family band (the brilliantly named ‘uncommon rat’), it oozes a twinkling sentimentality and sense of nostalgia as Williams’ rich distinctive vocals flow, creating a heartfelt slice of Americana. Say A Prayer To The Gods Of Getting Going, the new album from Squirrel Flower, is out now via Polyvinyl Record Co. (ML)
Grandmas House – ‘Dance’
Congratulations to long-time GIHE faves Grandmas House on the release of their debut album! The Bristol band’s LP Baby You’re A Winner, released via Brace Yourself Records, is a superb amalgamation of their skill for writing urgent, cathartic anthems which reflect both the “light and dark” of the times that we live in. This track ‘Dance’ encapsulates that theme deftly, with Yasmin Berndt’s uniquely raspy vocals leading the charge as the band urge listeners to dance the pain away. (KC)
GRAVE GOODS – ‘Grit’
Based between Manchester and Dublin, experimental duo GRAVE GOODS create distinctive, primal sounds that examine the grind of modern existence. On this track ‘Grit’, Lois Macdonald (Guitar/vocals) and Sarah Grimes (drums/vocals) reflect on the the “existential disgust” that comes from separating the animalistic parts of ourselves in order to fit in with societal expectations. It’s a fascinating concoction of spoken-word-style vocals, contrasting beats and quirky riffs. The track also features the eponymous lyric of GRAVE GOODS’ upcoming album, Reality, Swallow Me., which was written and recorded to analogue tape at Analogue Catalogue Studios, with engineer and producer Julie McLarnon (Brighde Chaimbeul, The Altered Hours, Lankum). The LP is due for release on 25th September via bandcamp. (KC)
Trusselina – ‘Gastro’ / ‘Trusselina Archimboldi’
Philadelphia-based duo Trusselina are a new experimental pop project, formed of Mikaela Oppenheimer (Hello Mary) and Hayden McGarvey (Bleary Eyed). Together, they create jagged, intriguing soundscapes that blend acoustic and electronic elements, incorporating their love of ground-breaking literature, collaboration, and even their experience of food poisoning – which their double single release confidently covers. ‘Trusselina Archimboldi’ is inspired by a passage from Djuna Barnes’ acclaimed 1930s novel Nightwood, which is considered a prominent piece of early lesbian literature. The beat for ‘Gastro’ was concocted when Hayden was in the midst of an episode of food poisoning whilst on tour in France. I’m enjoying the eclectic nature of Trusselina’s sound and look forward to hearing more from the duo soon. (KC)
Emma Ruth Rundle – ‘Enough’
Another deeply emotive, powerful single from multi-instrumentalist Emma Ruth Rundle here. Inspired by both ‘The Man Who Sold The World’ and the story of Elijah – in which Emma explains she “imagines [Elijah] as an Elon Musk type figure” – ‘Enough’ is an epic reflection on modern wealth, greed, and a poetic cry for us to rise up against the powers that continue to benefit from this inequality. ‘Enough’ features on her upcoming sixth album, These Killing Times, which is set for release on 18th September via her own imprint Errant Child. (KC)
Tanzana – ‘Without A Sound’
Having been a big fan of Glasgow’s Tanzana since being spellbound by the soaring energy of last year’s ‘Covet’, I’m excited to hear that they’ll be releasing their debut EP in October. Ahead of the EP, they’ve now shared a powerful new single. Rippling with a dark majestic splendour and building with a fierce impassioned energy, ‘Without A Sound’ offers a reflection on the cathartic process of making art, as well as the frustration that can be felt when we reach our limit. An insight into the captivating and poignant genre-defying soundscapes the band are able to create. Etched In, the debut EP from Tanzana, is out on 9th October via SO Recordings & Hideous Mink Records. (ML)
Desperate Journalist – ‘Terrible Years’
Having just announced that their sixth album will be released in November, longtime favourites Desperate Journalist have now shared its lead single. Propelled by a gritty force and front woman Jo Bevan’s impassioned vocals, ‘Terrible Years’ offers a fierce post-punk anthem. Lyrically told from the perspective of someone in denial about how much they miss the excitement of youth, it captures the band’s ability to fuse a ‘90s-tinged hooks with a fresh raging energy that is distinctly their own. Gilding The Lily, the upcoming album from Desperate Journalist, is out on 20th November via Fierce Panda Records. (ML)
Rose Fatale – ‘Hole In The Head’
Belfast punks Rose Fatale embrace their softer, sapphic side on their latest single ‘Hole In The Head’. Leaning into alt-rock sensibilities, they blend impassioned vocals, earnest lyrics and driving riffs to create a melancholic whirl of noise. The band recently performed on Belfast Pride’s City Hall stage and are planning to play more gigs soon. (KC)
Team Dresch – ‘Growing Underground’
When queercorre legends Team Dresch announced their return a couple of months ago, I was beyond excited, having been a mega fan since first hearing them when I was at uni 20 years ago. Now, ahead of their new album, Furthermore, which is set for release on 18th September, they’ve shared a powerful new anthem; a fierce call to action to resist the hegemonic, hateful systems which continue to oppress marginalised voices, its driving riotous energy celebrates collective, intersectional values and offers a defiant sense of unity and a hope that a brighter future is possible: “The song imagines shared communities becoming the very thing that nurtures future life. Love is embodied through chosen families, interconnected communities, and the networks that have always sustained one another.” I never thought I’d get to see Team Dresch live, and so I can’t wait to finally catch them downstairs at The Dome on 30th September. They had to move to a bigger venue than The Lexington due to high demand! (ML)
Tender Claws – ‘Tear Him To Pieces’
Having just released her debut EP, Belfast born Tess Corr aka Tender Claws creates haunting, immersive goth-inspired soundscapes, driven by a fiercely dark energy. The EP’s title track, ‘Tear Him To Pieces’, showcases her rich ethereal allure as rich, impassioned vocals soar over swirling expansive hooks. (ML)
Eilis Frawley – ‘Guilt’
We love all of the musical endeavours that drummer and songwriter Eilis Frawley undertakes here at GIHE, and we’re excited that she’s back releasing new music. This track ‘Guilt’ is the first offering from her upcoming second album, and it’s an apt reflection on the frightening and polarising times we’re living in. Led by her distinctive spoken-word vocals and gritty beats, ‘Guilt’ is an urgent reminder to engage with the world in a meaningful way and not to be desensitized by the carefully curated algorithms on our social media accounts. Eilis explains the track’s context further: “I have my own guilt, you open Instagram, in one moment you can witness a child being blown to pieces, and then the next minute someone’s trying to sell you an over priced bag or tell you how to optimise your life. I find the western world’s response petrifying to what’s happening in Gaza, and Lebanon, and Sudan, and the Congo. No reason will make a good enough reason for the amount of civilians killed, and traumatised”. (KC)
GOOD GRIEF – ‘Lucy’
Following on from their feisty debut single ‘Bait Shop’, Seattle-based duo GOOD GRIEF are back with this tender ode to unrequited love during queer adolescence. ‘Lucy’ is a track that “sparkles with curiosity – but not naivete,” reflecting on the poignancy of budding queer romantic feelings whilst softly reminding listeners of their beauty and validity. Inspired by grief, rage and love, GOOD GRIEF are currently working on their debut album, the aptly titled Not Over It, so keep your eyes peeled for more info about that in the near future! (KC)
Railcard – ‘Flanelette’
Consisting of current members of Heavenly and ex-members of Dolly Mixture and Death In Vegas, I’d definitely class Railcard as an indie-pop supergroup – and their new single is pretty super too. Showcasing their swooning honey-sweet vocals and lilting uplifting melodies perfectly, ‘Flanelette’ is taken from their upcoming debut album, Two Steps At A Time, which is set for release on 18th September via Skep Wax Records. (ML)
R Loomes – ‘The Self Demands a Reckoning’
A hypnotic offering from Sheffield-based musician R Loomes here. ‘The Self Demands a Reckoning’ is a potent piece of doom-folk that she describes as “a sort of personal prayer”, in which she attempts to sever the link between mind and body and “navigate the world [as a] free spirit.” As with her previous single ‘Passerine’, the track blends her beguiling vocals and richly atmospheric riffs to create a determined and fluid sound. ‘The Self Demands a Reckoning’ is taken from R Loomes upcoming debut album, Another Sip of the Divine Specific, which is set for release on 30th September. (KC)
Clara Mann – ‘News From Home’
A truly spellbinding soundscape, ‘News From Home’ is the new single from London based multi-disciplinary artist Clara Mann. Taken from her upcoming, literary-inspired, album Wishbone, it offers an immersive expansive musicality alongside the sparkling emotion of her resonant vocals as she reflects on how our feelings towards where we’re from can change and develop over time. Wishbone is out on 23rd October via state51. (ML)
YELF. – ‘flesh’
‘flesh’ is the second offering from London-based, British-Swedish artist YELF., who I am a big fan of. It’s a sultry reflection on lust and longing, inspired by the ebb and flow of the ocean. It’s a “neo-psychedelic ode to desire, fantasy and the brain-body connection,” as YELF. explains, underscored by her yearning vocals, immersive electronics and poetic lyricism. ‘flesh’ was also produced and mixed in Brighton (literally by the sea!) by Michael Baker and includes harp played by Fior Anderson and even the tinkling sound of glasses from Baker’s kitchen cupboards too. (KC)
Selkie – ‘Lick The Sun’
Today (28th July), Glasgow-based songwriter and producer Selkie has shared her debut EP, inWaves, which this single ‘Lick The Sun’ features on. Full of her tender vocals and considered instrumentation, she has created an atmospheric collection of tracks that beautifully melt into each other. She’ll be celebrating her debut release with a small UK tour in October and a showcase performance at Aberdeen Music Week too. (KC)
Marina Yozora – ‘Snow Heat’ (Acoustic)
We’re big fans of Japanese-born, London-based songwriter Marina Yozora here at GIHE, and we love how she’s continuing to share different evolutions of her poignant track ‘Snow Heat’. It’s a poetic rumination on a brief connection with someone that now exists only in Marina’s mind, and to honour the intensity of this fleeting moment, Marina released a lyric video to accompany the original single, and now she has shared a beautiful acoustic version of the track too. She also plans to reveal the official video for ‘Snow Heat’ on the one year anniversary of the track’s release, which we are eagerly anticipating. (KC)
Mother Church – ‘Wait To Kiss Me Until Heaven’
An unlikely collaboration between a founding member of HMLTD and an ordained priest, Mother Church create their own unique brand of alternative folk, drawing on an eclectic range of literary and theological influences. A stirring reflection on the pleasures and contradictions of virtue and temptation, ‘Wait To Kiss Me Until Heaven’ oozes a captivating mystical allure alongside its lilting folk-strewn musicality. Yolk, the debut album from Mother Church, is set for release in November via Trapped Animal Records. The band will be playing a special release show at St Pancras Old Church on 13th November. (ML)
BERTY – ‘Take For Granted’
Inspired by the power of unconditional love in our meaningful relationships, songwriter and producer BERTY penned this track ‘Take For Granted’. It’s an earnest refection on the Forest of Dean-based artist’s feelings about human connection, showcasing her intuitive nature as a songwriter. BERTY is currently working on a new EP, which she is set to release in the near future. (KC)
Brennan Wedl – ‘High Priestess’
Having just released her self-titled new album, Nashville based artist Brennan Wedl has been a favourite of mine for a couple of years now. I’m a big fan of her wonderfully self-labelled “grungetry” sound (a perfect fusion of grunge and country, in case you were wondering!) and raw Sheryl Crow-reminiscent vocals. The final single to be taken from the album, ‘High Priestess’ reflects on the otherworldly intuition of the tarot card and the thoughts and feelings that can swirl around our heads when trying to face reality head on.(ML)
The Genes – ‘Charlotte’
I first became a fan of awesome Coventry band The Genes after seeing them at Decolonise Festival in 2025, and then loved having them play for us supporting WIDGET earlier this year. Now, they’ve released their first proper single and it’s pretty great. Self-described as a “high energy punk anthem with a uniquely British story”, ‘Charlotte’ is a love letter to the Ford Transit. Inspired by years of DIY touring, late-night motorway drives and the vans that somehow survive gig after gig, the song celebrates the unsung hero that’s carried countless independent bands across the UK. I love the track’s playful tongue-in-cheek energy and scuzzy hooks and can’t wait to hear more from this unique band. (ML)
L7 – ‘Shitlist’
Another incredibly inspirational woman that we tragically lost earlier this month was Jennifer Finch, the bassist from legendary grunge-punk band L7. At just the age of 59, it seems extremely unfair that she should be gone already. Anyone who’s ever been to a GIHE gig is probably aware of how much we love L7, as I include either ‘Shitlist’ or ‘Wargasm’ on most of our pre-band playlists – their tunes have never failed to energise and motivate me, and seem like the perfect way to get people psyched up for the amazing bands who play for us. I was lucky enough to see L7 live in Camden in 2015 for their first UK gig since initially breaking up in 2001, and I remember being utterly blown away by Finch’s immense fierce energy and presence and the way her swirling life-force and booming hooks reverberated into the crowd. (ML)
Bugeye – ‘This Is What I Want’
Following the release of their recent second album, The Shape Of Things, and support slots with big names such as The Datsuns and Loose Articles, longtime faves Bugeye have now shared an empowering new single. Offering a middle finger to the outdated expectations of women that still prevail within society, ‘This Is What I Want’ oozes a sultry playful allure and danceable groove-laden hooks whilst raging against the “toxic manosphere”. Of the track, front woman Angela Martin says that it’s dedicated to “every woman who’s ever been told to know her place. Here’s the truth: your place is wherever you choose to stand. Stand tall, stand loud, and never apologise for demanding the respect you’ve always deserved.” (ML)
Four Degrees Colder – ‘Reminisce’
‘Reminisce’ is the opening track from Four Degrees Colder’s debut album, Nothing To Do. Released in July, the St. Louis-based alternative pop-rock duo take their listeners on a captivating, track-by-track journey through a decaying factory overtaken by artificial intelligence. Propelled by their clear vocals, driving riffs and electronic textures, the pair aim to inspire a sense of hope and persistence throughout their LP, ultimately refusing to succumb to the “the fear of becoming obsolete.” (KC)
Tiiva – ‘I Keep Falling In Love’
We’re big fans of producer and sound & game designer Tiiva here at GIHE, so I’m chuffed to see they’re back with a new single and a new record. ‘I Keep Falling In Love’ is lifted from the Lake District alt-pop artist’s upcoming album, This Could Be A Start, which is set for release on 25th September. It’s a euphoric swirl of buoyant electronics, floaty vocals and glitchy beats. “The story throughout the album is how we as humans navigate love, neurodivergence, AI interactions, and our desire to be everywhere all at once; in the mountains, in the city,” Tiiva explains. “Each song represents an internal character – the optimist, the party kid, the recovering addict, the loner, the nostalgic. Some of the songs could read as romantic but in reality we are all looking for connection, and we find it in not always the most obvious places.” Tiiva will be celebrating the release of their new LP with an immersive headline show at Spanners in South London on 30th September. See you there! (KC)
Sidney Packard – ‘Acer Tree’
Non-binary, alt-pop artist Sidney Packard envelops their listeners in dark atmospheric electronics and soft vocals on their latest single, ‘Acer Tree’. The London-based musician penned the track as an ode to the plant they really adore, which are more commonly known as Japanese Maple trees and are known for their distinctive leaf shape and red foliage.
Sidney will be playing a gig in London – which coincides with their birthday! – on Saturday 12th September at The Phoenix. (KC)
Maria Uzor – ‘Cyclops’
We’re super excited that GIHE mega fave Maria Uzor will be releasing her second album, Fantasyland, on 3rd September. Showcasing Uzor’s unique ability to seemingly effortlessly fuse together genres ranging from grunge to techno, the album explores notions of escapism in a world that appears increasingly unpredictable. Taken from the album, recent single ‘Cyclops’ pulsates with immense glitchy beats as the seductive power of Uzor’s vocals takes hold, and an immersive dub-inspired energy propels you onto the dancefloor. Keep your eyes peeled for a special interview with Maria on the website over the next couple of weeks. (ML)
NAMELESS TWIN – ‘Neon Machine Gun’
I love everything about this haunting new single from industrial-electronic duo Alicia Rei Kim (Dokoe) and Ryan Osterman (Holy Fawn) aka NAMELESS TWIN. They’ve only released a handful of tracks to date, but all of them have been a perfect blend of their dramatic volume shifts and dark, dreamy electronics. ‘Neon Machine Gun’ is their first new release since 2023, but I hope they’ll be sharing more of their ominous sounds in the near future. (KC)
Ladybug 2 (The Bug, Friday Night Plans) – ‘Miss U’
Under the moniker of Ladybug, UK-based producer The Bug has launched a new collaborative series via his own imprint PRESSURE. The project sees him work alongside different female vocalists to explore new sonic territory, and this track features the voice of one of his personal favourites: Japanese songwriter Friday Night Plans. ‘Miss U’ is another heady, cell-tingling offering from the eclectic collaborators, and if you can’t get enough of the original, the duo have also shared five accompanying “alternate” versions that you can sink your teeth into, available on bandcamp now. (KC)
Missperception – ‘Into The Glitch’
By combining her love of electronic music, jazz elements and cinematic soundscapes, Yorkshire-based independent artist Missperception creates an infectiously glitchy atmosphere with her music. This aptly titles track ‘Into The Glitch’ is lifted from her recent EP, Static Symphony, which she says is formed of “Four rooms…four transmissions…a signal from the edge, where melody frays into static.” (KC)
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