LIVE (Photos): Tokyo Taboo @ Camden Fest, 29.11.18

GIHE faves Tokyo Taboo have long been blowing us away with their immense, riotous live performances and seething energy, and so we’re extremely excited that their new single ‘No Pleasure Only Pain’ is out today. Raging with the band’s trademark ferocity as whirring hooks race alongside tremendous beats, it’s the perfect example of the soaring power of front-woman Dolly Daggerz’ vocals.

To celebrate the single’s release, Tokyo Taboo held an immense launch party last night at Fest Camden, along with fellow favourites Thunder On The Left, Bugeye, HAWXX and newcomers Bled The Fifth. Our Jon Mo was there to capture all the action…

Bled The Fifth:

Bugeye:

HAWXX:

Thunder On The Left:

Tokyo Taboo:

Photo Credit: Jon Mo / @jonmophoto

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ALBUM: Big Joanie – ‘Sistahs’

A mix of the personal and political underscored by riotous rhythms and a sistah-hood ethos, DIY punks Big Joanie have released their highly anticipated debut album Sistahs today. Recorded at Hermitage Works Studio with producer Margo Broom and released via Thurston Moore & Eva Prinz’s new label The Daydream Library Series, Sistahs is a strong debut from a band who have been actively working on and off-stage within London’s DIY scene for years.

Together, Steph, Estella & Chardine have been busy running the Decolonise Fest for punks of colour, volunteering at Girls Rock Camp and leading the Stop Rainbow Racism campaign, which works to stop racist performances in LGBTQ venues. Their combined pro-active efforts have resulted in the creation of 11 songs that tackle issues of self-motivation, race, equality, and letting go of unhealthy relationships.

The pensive and highly relatable opening track ‘New Year’ brims with a quiet yearning to kick start something, to stop waiting. It’s followed by ‘Fall Asleep’ with its infectious bass lines and wicked guitar riffs. The introduction of electronics 1:44 minutes in is ultra cool, and was inspired by the likes of Joy Division and New Order (which is why Producer Margo added a wall of synths and drum beats.)

‘Used To Be Friends’ is an anthem everyone can sing with confidence with a sarcastic smile and no real sense of aggro – just the care-free attitude of someone who’s shed the skin of an unhealthy acquaintance. ‘Eyes’ is a cacophony of guitars, percussion and recorder. It’s one of the first songs guitarist Steph wrote aged nineteen, inspired by her disdain for “working a part-time job handing out over-priced artisan bread at Waitrose”.

‘Way Out’ is a wonderful, reverb-soaked, 90s-esque tune, whilst the brief ‘Down Down’ spirals along with its driving percussion for just shy of two minutes, before the surf-pop-style ‘Tell A Lie’ lifts listeners up again. Much like ‘Used To Be Friends’, ‘Token’ laments an unhealthy friendship, although this time it’s about the feeling of ‘tokenism’ experienced by people of colour when middle class white people decide to befriend them as a poor act of liberalism.

‘It’s You’ was born from a bad situation. After the lead singer from Steph’s first band (My Therapist Says Hot Damn) left just three days before their next gig – ‘It’s You’ was one of the many songs she had to write from scratch to play at the show. The penultimate ‘How Could You Love Me’ will have you swaying from side-to-side as it rings out in 60s girl group style, whilst closing track ‘Cut Your Hair’ is a vulnerable but optimistic ode to predicting a relationship is over before you or your partner are willing to admit it.

Despite their breezy, confident nature, the contexts of Big Joanie’s songs on Sistahs are powerful because the relay the struggles of everyday. Whether that’s having your mind turned to mush by a boring job, falling out with yourself, or others around you, they’re three women of colour talking about their life experiences to the backdrop of marching beats and punk-inspired riffs. That’s something the world needs plenty more of in our opinion.

Order your copy of Sistahs here. Follow Big Joanie on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Introducing Interview: Bellhouse

Having received acclaim from the likes of Clash and Earmilk, Swedish electro-pop artist Emma-Lee Andersson – aka Bellhouse – has just released her shimmering new single ‘Like You Loved Us’. A flowing celestial soundscape filled with Andersson’s impassioned soulful vocals, it’s a majestic alt-pop gem.

We caught up with Bellhouse to find out more…

Hi Bellhouse, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Thank you so much! I create powerful pop-music from the heart that I think can give people all kinds of different emotions, which is the purpose of music!

Your new single ‘Like You Loved Us’ is out now – can you tell us what it’s all about?
For sure! It’s about this pure (and sometimes not very pretty) uncontrollable desperation when two people who used to be everything to each other try to convince themselves that they can move on and remain friends when they are clearly not over it. Desperate enough to hold on, even at the cost of hurting the other.


You’ve been compared to the likes of Allie X and Zella Day, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
That’s great to hear, I love ‘Paper Love! It varies a lot, and I get inspired by new artists all the time, but I’ve looked up to and gotten inspired by Stromae and Purity Ring for a long time even if my music is pretty different from theirs.

How is your local music scene? Do you go to see lots of live music?
Unfortunately I don’t at the moment, but I love to do it, so that must change!

And what can fans expect from your live shows?
They can expect me and an amazing band who goes all in since this is what we love most to do. Hopefully the fun we have on stage catches onto the audience!

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any new/upcoming bands or artists you’d recommend we check out?
There are so many amazing new bands and artists, but I recently discovered GRANT who I think is simply amazing.

And how do you feel the music industry is for new bands at the moment – would you say it’s difficult to get noticed?
There is so so so much music coming out everyday so it’s definitely difficult to get noticed, and it’s really important to have something unique that makes you stand out, but if you know who you are and where you want to go, you just need to keep fighting. Sometimes it takes a bit of time, but if you really are a great, original musician, I think you will get there!

Finally, what does the rest of 2018 have in store for Bellhouse?
I will be writing new music and keep getting it out there!

Huge thanks to Bellhouse for answering our questions!

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