Promoting and Supporting Women in Music
The latest in our ‘Comic Reviews’ feature – where illustrator Sally-Anne responds to a new track with her wonderfully unique drawings – we checked out the jangly scuzz of Welsh band Seazoo‘s new single, ‘Throw It Up’.
‘Throw It Up’ is out now, have a listen below. And, if you’re at End Of The Road Festival this weekend, catch Seazoo live on Sunday, 1st September.
Sally-Anne Hickman
@sallyshinystars
Following her debut EP Ghosts back in 2015, Freja Frances is now set to release her debut album next month. Having previously charmed ears at a number of Sofar Sounds gigs, she has now shared a poignant new taster of what to expect from the upcoming release.
Flowing with an emotion-strewn splendour, ‘Catching Fire’ showcases Frances’ talent for creating bewitching soundscapes with a stirring ethereal beauty. A truly heartfelt offering oozing delicate melodies and the majestic subtle power of her vocals, it’s a slice of twinkling folk-pop that will pull at the heart strings in all the right ways. Of the track, Frances explains:
“‘Catching Fire’ was the first song I wrote for this album, it sets the theme of a struggle with depression and a difficult relationship. It’s about finding someone who I felt able to relate to in the sense of mental illness for the first time, but also getting scared of the intensity of the relationship and constantly trying to pull away. My feelings at the time were a strange combination of both comfort and danger – we understood each other but we weren’t good for each other.”
Listen to ‘Catching Fire’, for the first time, here:
‘Catching Fire’ is out on Saturday, 31st August. And The Funeral, the upcoming debut album from Freja Frances, is out 13th September via ShimmerSun Music. Catch Freja live at her album launch at The Malborough, Brigton, on on 14th September.
Mari Lane
@marimindles
Long term faves, Toronto-based Dearly Beloved, make a welcome return to our ears with a brand new video to accompany the announcement of their upcoming new album, set for release in October.
Propelled by a racing, driving energy, ‘Race To The Bottom’ is an ode to the family-run businesses of the band’s first-generation immigrant grandparents. As the gritty howl of Rob Higgins accompanies the searing passion of Niva Chow’s vocals, relentless beats and raging hooks build, creating a gutsy slice of anthemic rock ‘n’ roll. Of the track, Higgins explains:
“The song is a tribute to our grandmothers, who both ran convenience stores that Niva and I worked in as kids growing up. Their stories and achievements as immigrants to Canada that could barely speak English are even more incredible when you put them in the context of 2019.”
Watch the trippy new video for ‘Race To The Bottom’ here:
Times Square Discount, the upcoming new album from Dearly Beloved, is out 25th October via Aporia Records. Catch Dearly Beloved live (I highly recommend doing this!) when they’re over in the UK this Autumn:
28th September – Patterns, Brighton
29th September – Scala, London
1st October – Fleece, Bristol
2nd October – O2 Academy 2, Birmingham
3rd October – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
4th October – Broadcast, Glasgow
5th October – O2 Academy 2, Manchester
Mari Lane
@marimindles
Set to release their debut album next month, LA band The Paranoyds have been treating our ears to singles such as ‘Carnage Bargain’, ‘Hungry Sam’ and ‘Trade Our Sins’ throughout this year, cementing us as firm fans who cannot wait for the full length release. Delivering striking grunge-fuelled anthems filled with scathing lyrical observations and languid, insouciant vocals, we just can’t get enough of The Paranoyds’ raucous rock grit and sunny, punk-pop energy.
We think one of the best ways to get to know a new band/artist is by asking them what music inspired them to write in the first place. We caught up with Lexi, Staz and Laila from The Paranoyds to talk about her ‘Five Favourites’ – five songs or albums that have influenced their songwriting techniques, or simply take them back to a specific feeling or time. Check out their choices below, and make sure you watch the band’s latest video for ‘Carnage Bargain’ at the end of this post.
Built to Spill – There’s Nothing Wrong with Love
We love Built to Spill! Staz and I went through a huge phase of non-stop listening to them in 2014. This album is so good, the songs are so friggin’ catchy. I think it’s impossible to listen to it and not belt out the lyrics. I love that indie, strat tone and how the guitars complement but also play off with each other. The tracks are misleading too, on the surface they seem like simple, straight-forward songs, but there are a lot of layers. Favourite song, ‘Car’
– Lexi
X – WILD GIFT and UNDER THE BIG BLACK SUN
Every track is a banger on both of these iconic albums. I would throw Los Angeles, X’s first born in a lineup of legends, but I want to give these other records some love. You will always remember the time and place you got into X. These records forever hold that time in your life captive like a spell. I put on ‘The Once Over Twice’ and there I am 13 years old in my friends exhausted bedroom wondering if I’ll ever make anything that’ll sound this good and last this long, coming to life as soon as the right circuits touch. Those perfect imperfect harmonies, Chuck Berry guitar licks making sense with vulgar lyrics. And those keys! Good god! Some things last a long time and my love for X may last forever!
– Staz
DEVO – Are We Not Men?
DEVO is a benchmark for The Paranoyds. When we’re writing songs, the thought running through our heads is “is this as weird and strange as a DEVO song?” Lexi and I first saw DEVO when we were 16 through a fence in Brooklyn and we were undoubtedly blown away. Staz often describes their live set as seeing lightning strike. I feel the same way listening to this album. It’s a rare piece of art that you can’t recreate, and you find something new in it with each listen.
– Laila
The Strokes – Is This It?
We love this album like a guilty pleasure. It’s become a sort of tour tradition to blast the whole album in the van and have a group sing-a-long. These songs have the catchiest melodies and you can’t help but belt out the songs like you’re a teenager in your bedroom. What I love most is that all the tracks have the grit of classic rock and roll, but they also have the upbeat feel-good vibes of a disco song. It’s such a solid album that I always come back to. For me, it’s timeless and I’ll never get tired of it!
– Laila
Massive thanks to The Paranoyds for talking about their five favourite albums with us!
Carnage Bargain, the upcoming debut album from The Paranoyds, is out 13th September via Suicide Squeeze. Watch the video for the title track here:
Get In Her Ears 