LISTEN: GIHE on Soho Radio with BLAB 25.08.21

Tash & Kate were back on Soho Radio‘s airwaves playing a mix of golden oldies – including an iconic 90s rager from Alanis Morissette – and new music tunes from some of their favourite women, non-binary and LGBTQ+ artists.

Southend-based musician BLAB aka Frances Murray also joined them to talk about the release of her new single ‘Insurance’ on Cool Thing Records, what it’s like recording in the studio with Sam Duckworth (Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly), being inspired by Bikini Kill/The Punk Singer & re-defining what it means to be an Essex Girl.

Listen back below:

 

Tracklist
Alanis Morissette – You Oughta Know
Little Annie – I think of you
Lion Babe – Frida Kahlo
Beorma – Her
ARXX – Not Alone But Not With You
Serena Isioma – Really, Really
Emma Bradley – I’ll Be Outside
Mumble Tide – Good 4 Me
Bleach Lab – Real Thing
BABii – Shadow
Anna Prior – Thank You For Nothing
Flossing – Switch
Moor Mother ft. lojii – Shekere
BEBELUNA – Drunk
Nilufer Yanya – Day 7.05093 (keiyaa Remix)
BLAB – Insurance
**BLAB interview**
Jaz Beeson – Coffee Machine Sounds
Grandmas House – Golden
John Glacier – Icing
DROWND – Sinner (KANGA remix)
Meggie Brown – Dusty Smells
Joon – Just Can’t Get Enough
Yay Maria ft. Franx – Template
Tinashe ft. Ms Banks – Die A Little Bit
Olivia Dean – Slowly
Lizzo ft. Cardi B – Rumors

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WATCH: Taraka – ‘PSYCHOCASTLE’

Set to release her first solo album in October, former Prince Rama front-woman Taraka has now shared the advance single from her debut. ‘Psychocastle‘ was released last week and, if it’s any indication of things to come, the upcoming album – Welcome to Paradise Lost – promises a grunge laden, visceral departure from the psych-dance stylings of Prince Rama.

Welcome to Paradise Lost was conceived by Taraka whilst she was attempting a return to a pre-internet Eden by living in solitary confinement in a hot Texas gallery with a live serpent. ‘Psychocastle’ certainly sounds like someone struggling with their own company in an overheated space. Lyrics swing from love to hate in the same breath, moaning guitar hooks wail over a distorted vocal. The overall effect is deliciously uncomfortable, a sort of Courtney Love/Hole for the post-pandemic generation – those same grunge sensibilities, but with less earwig chorus hooks and more sprinkles of inertia, confusion, distress and stasis.

An accompanying music video (directed by Matthew Hoffman and Taraka and shot on 8mm) juxtaposes brutalist tumbledown city apartment blocks with salubrious, bucolic scenery. Taraka is pictured against both landscapes predominantly attached to a bed that she seems doomed to take everywhere with her. The aesthetics hark back to the old saying “you made your, bed you lie in it” (used memorably by Love as part of ‘Miss World’), and perhaps allude to feminist politics – in particular Emma Sulkowicz’ performance art piece ‘Mattress Performance (Carry That Weight)’. Taraka plays with ideas of reality and escape with a colourful, quirky charisma as she is filmed in a leotard depicting internal organs, muscles and skeletal structure whilst a bloodied tampon swings joyfully between her legs – a powerfully arresting image. 

To quote from the artist directly: “Ever try to consult your inner self, but inside your skin is merely a rotting corpse? Ever feel like every path you take is just another mobius strip leading you back to where you first began? Congratulations, welcome to the Psychocastle.”

‘Psychocastle’ is out now, and is taken from Taraka’s debut album Welcome to Paradise Lost – due out 8th October via her label Rage Peace.

Kate Sullivan
@katesullo

Photo Credit: Matthew Hoffman

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LIVE (Photos): Berries @ The Grace, London, 12.08.21

It’s been a long eighteen months, but gigs as we know and love them are slowly starting to return… Our photographer Jon Mo ventured out to his first live event in a long while last Thursday to catch GIHE faves Berries at North London venue The Grace; and what better way to dive back into things?!

Kicking off the night was the gritty, swirling energy and frenzied electro-rock sounds of Wyse.

Next up was friends of GIHE, Tiger Mimic. Blasting out thrashing beats, racing riffs and the soaring sleek vocals of front woman Jess, they never fail to energise the crowd.

Celebrating the release of their dazzling new single, ‘The Expert’, headliners Berries consistently deliver a fun-filled energy and sparkling charisma with each of their performances. With front woman Holly’s distinctive spiky vocals and an all-encompassing life-affirming sense of unity, the trio don’t disappoint, with their admirable raw passion and uplifting spirit.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo / @jonmophoto

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Comic Review: ARXX – ‘Not Alone But Not With You’

The latest in our ‘Comic Reviews’ feature – where illustrator Sally-Anne responds to a new release with her wonderfully unique drawings – we check out the brand new single from total faves, Brighton duo ARXX. Following acclaim from the likes of John Kennedy, BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders and BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq for latest catchy alt-pop anthem ‘Deep’, they have now shared another gritty, yet reflective, and unapologetically honest offering – ‘Not Alone But Not With You‘.

Arxx

Of the track, vocalist/guitarist Hanni explains:

“You know that sadness or guilt you feel when you’re surrounded by people you love but you are just missing that other person? Maybe it’s a loved one you’ve lost, maybe it’s a friend, maybe it’s a partner. This last year has been different for everyone but we’ve all had people we’ve missed.” 

‘Not Alone But Not With You’ is out now. Catch ARXX on their upcoming UK tour – tickets here.

Sally-Anne Hickman
@sallyshinystars

Photo Credit: Bridie Florence

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