Tonight Tash and Mari had a jam-packed show full of new music from the likes of Chinah, Planningtorock, Projector, Hussy, Fightmilk and Piney Gir.
Tash also had a chat with Sophie from Austrian duo LEYYA.
Listen back here:
Five Favourites: Arc Iris
With their new album Icon of Ego released this month via Ba Da Bing Records, Providence trio Arc Iris, fronted by Jocie Adams (formerly of The Low Anthem) have been busy sharing their brand new sounds far and wide. We caught up with Jocie to ask her about her “Five Favourites” – Five artists or albums that have influenced her songwriting technique. Check out her responses below…
1. John Martyn – Bless the Weather
This record is the Five Leaves Left that never found it’s spotlight in America. The simple musicality on this record is wholly inspiring. The interplay between the bass and guitar is moving. John Martyn’s singing is incredibly human and musical.
Bless the Weather is a perfect record minus one. For some reason the British folk artists had a habit of ruining their perfect records with one electric blues tune. John Martyn did it (with Sugar Lump), Fairport Convention did it, Sandy Denny did it….
2. Yes – Close to the Edge
A classic that we have shared as a band since day one. Zach and Ray had to learn this record as teenagers when they toured with Jon Anderson, but Zach was a die hard Yes fan well before that moment came about. In addition, Rick Wakeman was Zach’s number one keyboard influence as a kid. It’s hard to talk about this record. You should go listen to it, if you haven’t already. You will either love it, or hate it. It might take 2 or 3 tries to make sense.
3. Joni Mitchell – Blue
This year we re-imagined and released all of Joni Mitchell’s Blue under the name Foggy Lullaby. Learning and re-imagining these songs has had a big influence on the growth of our band. Joni Mitchell’s songwriting taught me a lot about the line between loose and tight when it comes to lyric writing and rhythm in singing. She is a melodic queen. Lastly, Joni’s attitude towards creating art as art rather than art as a part of trending pop culture is inspiring. Of course, she wouldn’t like me saying that because I don’t think she takes well to people trying to summarize her opinions.
4. DJ Shadow – Endtroducing….
Our immediate love for the sonic landscape on this record is paramount to the incorporation of samples into our set. Zach uses samples from my clarinet or his or my voice doing whacky things for both live purposes and the writing process. We have also started doubling drums with sampled drums on a lot of tunes.
5. Stevie Wonder – Innervisions
Stevie is another wildly influential artist for all of us. Strangely, his biggest influence on our band is likely his left hand bass playing. Zach learns a lot from his melodic bass choices, groove and tones. This record is undeniably a classic on so many levels. The fluidity and ease that Stevie carries while playing keys and singing and even playing the drums is inspiring for us all as musicians. The songwriting is beautiful. The arrangements are simple and effective. It’s just great.
Thanks to Jocie for sharing her favourites! Follow Arc Iris on Facebook for more updates.
Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut
EP: Barrie – ‘Singles’
The list of famous Barries in pop music essentially extends to one very short (if pretty successful) list of Messrs White, Manilow and Gibb. Newly added to that list are the five people who make up synth-rock combo Barrie, led by songwriter and lead vocalist Barrie Lindsay. Although based in New York, the group are a diverse bunch with three Americans (Barrie, Spurge and Noah), a Brit (drummer Dom, formerly of Is Tropical) and Brazilian (bassist Sabine). Originating from the songs written by Barrie as a solo performer, the group largely came together through Brooklyn’s The Lot online radio – before finding Sabine through an ad on a dating app. Their new EP, released on sky-blue 12” and tape cassette, brings together the bands’ three singles to date, coupled with remixes by FaltyDL and Shura (‘Canyons’), and Brother Michael (‘Michigan’).
First single, ‘Canyons’, originally released in February, kicks things off. Drops of bass act as a counter-point to funk guitar and sparkling top-note synths that dovetail with Barrie’s icicle vocals. As the track’s instrumentation spins into multiple layers, the sounds move towards shimmering dream-pop but with something chilly underpinning it, like an autumn evening on a beach.
Second single ‘Tal Uno’ follows, arpeggiated and sweet, like an ’80s prom-night slowie, conjuring up images of frilly dresses and spinning glitter-balls. The key, again, is the gentle synths and their blend, contrasting with the song’s vocals – although here the rhythm section step up to flow closer to pop territory. If Tiffany had a cool older sister who made synthwave, then ‘Tal Uno’ is what she’d sound like. ‘Michigan’ completes the move into pop, verging on soft-rock with its nagging, hooky drum-machine and picked guitar. The synths are used here to offer a background melody, with vocals that are warmer, breathier and more vibrant on top.
In interviews, Barrie have said that their sound is a “future longing for hopeful nostalgia” and a reflection of the band’s qualities as “eclectic, accomplished [and] confident”. And it’s hard to disagree when the group’s first EP arrives sounding quite so polished and ice-cool. Between the chill vocals and imagist lyrics by their lead singer, the multiple layers of intricate percussion and infectious melodies, the group’s chill-synth soft-rock stylings prove that Barrie are truly ready to enter the pantheon of pop.
Singles is out now via Winspear.
John McGovern
@etinsuburbiaego
Introducing Interview: Cryptic Street
Maltese rockers Cryptic Street are fast becoming known in the UK for their immense, riotous live performances, and we cannot wait for them to headline for us at The Five Bells on 26th October!
We caught up with the band before the head on over to blow our minds! So, get to know all about Cryptic Street here…
Hi Cryptic Street, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourselves and what you do?
Hi! We are so looking forward to performing for your Get in Her Ears event on 26th October! We are Cryptic Street – a psychedelic punk band ready to rock your patriarchal ears and mess with your brain. We’re serving alternative madness fresh out of a DIY framework, straight outta Malta!
How did you all initially get together and start creating music?
Leona (vocalist) and Janelle (guitarist) initially met in an all-girls school and founded Cryptic Street 8 years ago for a school project. After several lineup changes and a lot of ups and downs, we decided that it was something we want to pursue in a serious and professional way, and we are working to do just that!
We love your soaring post-punk energy, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
We have a wide range of musical influences, but our music and lyrics mostly channel an emotion or an experience that we would be going through at that point in time. Rather than pinpointing specific artists, Cryptic Street’s music is like a sponge – absorbing everyday life and personal troubles to create something cathartic and meaningful.
We can’t wait for you to headline for us at The Five Bells on 26th October, but would you say there’s been a particular gig you’ve played so far that stands out as a highlight for you?
All performances are special to us. Performing in Malta is heart warming since we’re performing for our home crowd and for people who have seen us grow. On the other hand, every time performing abroad is a different challenge since we have to prove ourselves again and again, and that itself is very invigorating and makes us want to push and challenge ourselves both musically and personally. However, supporting Acid Mothers Temple and PINS last year were definitely special gigs for us!
How is the music scene in Malta? Do you go to see much live music?
Malta’s music scene is small but blooming. There are projects ranging across the musical spectrum, and live music is something that is happening constantly all year round. The music community is a tight knit one, and you always manage to find a fellow musician that will help you out in some way or another. Everyone knows everyone, and obviously that has its advantages and disadvantages. There’s a lot of talent… But little international exposure. We hope to continue pushing the boundaries and promote Malta as a musical hot spot whenever we tour.
As we’re a new music focused site, are there any other new upcoming bands/artists who that you’d recommend we check out?
We would definitely recommend Emme Woods from Scotland – she’s amazing, and of course, the amazing bands we’re performing with for your wonderful event (HAWXX, Worst Place, Panic Pocket). We would also recommend Maltese artists such as Beesqueeze, nosnow/noalps, and all the other cool bands and artists hailing from Malta… too many to mention everyone!
And how do you feel the industry is for new bands at the moment – would you say it’s difficult to get noticed?
Coming from a tiny island, we definitely have to push harder and harder to get noticed and to get gigs abroad. There are so many amazing bands, for example in the UK, especially in our niche of Riot Grrrl punk, that you constantly have to push yourself in all aspects. Doing it DIY, like so many bands out there at the moment, is both rewarding and stressful at the same time – apart from the music we have to cater for everything, ranging from admin work to design to social media etc. We even organise our own parties in order to fund band stuff! Bands nowadays have to think of themselves as brands and that really pushes people involved in bands to develop different skill sets. On the other hand, we really want to advocate the importance of taking care of your mental well being – being a musician is tough work, and you really need to be mentally strong to navigate through all the rejections and obstacles that the industry throws at you. That’s something that really spills over in our lyrics too!
Finally, what does the rest of 2018 have in store for Cryptic Street?
First of all, we have our upcoming UK Tour – totally DIY, totally fun, and supported by Girls Against and Women that Rock. We really wanted to support female talent during this tour and promote safe inclusive spaces where everyone, irrespective of their differences, can enjoy a night out without the fear of being harassed or mocked. That’s something we REALLY believe in. Therefore we are collaborating with a lot of feminist/non-binary promoters and we’re performing alongside a lot of inspiring, innovative artists. So check us out cause we’re coming for ya! We will also have our unique merch pieces as well as our Titty Monster album on sale during each performance so make sure you come and grab them here. We will be spending the rest of 2018 writing new music, developing the band and our vision, and becoming even more kick ass!
Huge thanks to Cryptic Street for answering our questions! Catch them live headlining our gig at The Five Bells, New Cross on 26th October!
They’re also playing the following dates for their End Of The Titty Monster Tour:
26th October – London, The Five Bells (for Get In Her Ears!)
27th October – London The Good Mixer
28th October – Cardiff, The Moon
29th October – Exeter, The Cavern Club
30th October – Bristol, Venue TBA
31st October – Brighton, Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar
1st November – London, The Windmill
2nd November – Brighton, The Green Door Store
3rd November – Sheffield, HER FEST//Picture House Social
Have a listen to Cryptic Street on Soundcloud and Spotify, and give them a follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Photo Credit: Matthew Attard
Get In Her Ears 