Video Premiere: Voice Of Aiko – ‘Prescription Dream’

In collaboration with Voice Of Aiko, Arts Council England and charities REST, MIND and APRIL, Enya Belak Gupta has made a powerful film to tackle a global problem with prescription drugs. A creative collective of musicians, artists and filmmakers, Voice Of Aiko is dedicated to campaigning for change and raising awareness of important issues.

A chilling insight into the terrible impact that prescription drugs can cause, ‘Prescription Dream’ oozes a dark, unnerving energy reflecting the helplessness and confusion that addiction can often cause. As vibrant, explicit visuals are accompanied by flowing glitchy beats and soaring Beth Gibbons-esque vocals, an unnerving, warped soundscape is created, interweaving shades of trip-hop and electronica to captivating effect.

Of the video, Voice Of Aiko founder Calista explains:

“What drove us to launch this project was hearing the shocking statistics and stories about what potential harm medications prescribed by the doctor can cause and how easily this can be helped by us just talking about it more, allowing people to make informed choices. We hope that with this emotional song, Enya’s stunning video, the artistic workshops and the weekly vlog we can raise awareness on this very important subject.”

Watch the poignant video for ‘Prescription Dream’ here:

‘Prescription Dream’ is out tomorrow 17th October. Voice Of Aiko is grateful to be supported using public funding by The National Lottery through Arts Council England.

 

Mari Lane
@marimindles

 

 

 

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Track Of The Day: Laura Gibson – ‘Domestication’

Following beautiful tracks such as ‘Empire Builder’ and ‘Damn Sure’, acclaimed artist Laura Gibson is now ready to release her new album Goners later this month. In the meantime she has shared a poignant new single, ‘Domestication’.

Questioning the things we are presumed to desire from womanhood, ‘Domestication’ oozes a delicate emotion as folk-strewn twinkling melodies flow alongside Gibson’s raw, soaring vocals. With the addition of sweeping strings, it’s filled with a rich musicality and subtle passion, creating a sparkling, cinematic splendour that is truly spellbinding.

Of the track, Gibson explains:

“… at times, though I know better, I’ll catch myself thinking in terms of what I should desire of womanhood instead of what I actually desire. I catch myself feeling I am failing at something, at some ideal I was never actually aiming for. I finished these lyrics a year ago. It’s strange to release the song now, when it feels so much is coming to a head. So much has cracked open for women, in the year since writing ‘Domestication.’ So much remains the same… Though I’d meant ‘domestication’ in the animal sense, when it came time to make the video, I liked the idea of using the term in the homemaking sense. I’d been obsessed with this photo I’d found of the pastel women of the FLDS cult, and wanted to build a world and a story around the aesthetic, something like the speculative societies of Margaret Atwood or Ursula Le Guin. At the end of the story, I wanted the women to act like wolves.”

Watch the eerily poignant new video (co-directed by Gibson and Alicia Rose) for ‘Domestication’ here:

Goners, the upcoming album from Laura Gibson, is out 26th October via City Slang.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

 

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Get In Her Ears Live @ The Finsbury w/ Peach Club, 12.10.18

Following a host of super amazing bands playing for us recently – including Wendy Rae Fowler, Witch Fever, The Magnettes, The Empty Page, The Menstrual Cramps and Thunder On The Left  – we were back at The Finsbury on Friday for another jam-packed night of the best new music, and to celebrate exactly two years of hosting gigs at the venue!

Kicking off the celebrations is the brooding grunge-infused power of Concrete Bones. Alongside luscious sweeping vocals, they deliver fuzzy reverb-strewn riffs and pummelling beats, oozing a dark, gritty power, and marking themselves out as definite ones to watch.

Next up, The Muffinheads take to the stage, instantly blasting out their immense, raging force. Having really honed their sound since first playing for us in March last year, the Essex band ooze their ferocious, fiery energy as frenzied riffs and tremendous beats race alongside the seething growl of front-woman Bex. And, with Bex even coming off stage to have a little dance with next band Pussyliquor, it’s a totally engrossing head-banger of a set.

Penultimate band of the night, Pussyliquor, bring their pure, uncensored female rage with a wild, punk-fuelled passion. Immediately filling the venue with the heaving bodies of an army of moshing fans, their intense riotous power, tongue-in-cheek wit and empowering messages of equality are delivered with a fierce energy and searing, colossal force.

Norwich band Peach Club close the night with a total dream of a headline set. With a raw ferocity, thrashing hooks and driving beats, they channel their anger at the patriarchy into a wonderful outpouring of raucous energy, and spot-on, exceptionally poignant lyrics. Telling us the story behind each of the tracks (from the disgusting ‘boys in bands’ who take advantage of young girls, to the patronising way they – as females in a band – are treated by men in the industry), vocalist Katie’s raw, impassioned power brings to mind the engaging spirit of Riot Grrrl pioneer Kathleen Hanna, as the band’s seething force and racing sense of urgency are just the motivation we need to speak out and be heard at a time when we need to more than ever.

HUGE thanks to the four wonderful bands who played for us on Friday! As it’s our birthday month, we actually have another gig on 26th October at The Five Bells with Cryptic Street headlining, and our next gig at The Finsbury is 9th November with Brighton duo Sit Down. See you there!

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Jon Mo / @jonmophoto

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Introducing Interview: Jo Marches

Set to release their new EP Day In Day Out later this month, Utrecht band Jo Marches deliver captivating electronic soundscapes, propelled by the soaring, dreamy vocals of front-woman Johanneke Kranendonk.

We caught up with Kranendonk to find out more…

Hi Jo Marches, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about the band?
We’re a band from the Netherlands playing synth drenched psychedelic pop music. We released our first single and EP in 2016.

How did you initially all get together and start creating music?
It all started with me looking for a new approach to my songs and sound. I was playing with a band that had a more singer-songwriter approach, and I kind of missed the loudness of my first bands. I was really looking for a way to combine pop melodies in songs and a strong sound, but I wanted to stay away from the use of heavy guitar and drum sounds. At a showcase festival I was then introduced to David Hoogerheide. His ideas on producing really spoke to me, so we decided to spend a day in my home studio. We finished our first single that day and so we started working on the EPs. The live band was formed after the recordings.

Your new EP Day In Day Out is out very soon – can you tell us what it’s all about? Are there any themes running throughout the EP?
The EP is about letting go of old ideas and the fight to create room for development. There are so many ways in which we all limit ourselves because of common ideas on how we should be dealing with life. I was seeing people around me desperately looking for meaning but at the same time stubbornly holding on to old ideas or habits, addictions, scary religious stuff, depression and loss. For example ‘Clearing’ is about a discussion I had with a friend about inequality between men and women. I really tried to open his eyes on this subject but he kept referring to scary, nearly religious, self help stuff, making the whole conversation impossible. It freaked me out and I kind of got obsessed by reading and watching everything I could find on cults and religious sects. So that’s all in there, in one song, haha.

You’ve been compared to the likes of Tame Impala and Bat For Lashes, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
We definitely were a fan of the Tame Impala records! Other influences are Broadcast, Blonde Redhead, Caribou, The Dø and Portishead.

How is your local music scene? Do you go to see lots of live music?
I live in Utrecht but the other band members live in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Holland is quite small so you can easily get to another town for an event.

And what can fans expect from your live shows?
Loud synthesizers, melancholic swaying and dimmed lights.

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any new/upcoming bands or artists you’d recommend we check out?
Ooo, where to begin?!  I love Munya from Montreal! And you should check out Kalulu from The Netherlands. L CON from Toronto has just released a wonderful record too! And if you have the chance to see Blue Crime live go see their show – they’re an awesome band!

And how do you feel the music industry is for new bands at the moment – would you say it’s difficult to get noticed?
In a way it is difficult to get noticed but I love the opportunities that online streaming services such as Spotify create for DIY artists. It’s easy to share your music with people all over the world and that’s pretty cool!

Finally, what does the rest of 2018 have in store for Jo Marches?
Foremost the release of the EP and next video. And I’m leaving for Berlin next week to start recordings for our first album. At the end of the year we’ll also be doing a few shows opening for a really cool band. Really excited about that!

Huge thanks to Jo Marches for answering our questions!

Day In Day Out, the upcoming EP from Jo Marches, is out 26th October.

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