Track Of The Day: Maja Lena – ‘The Keeper’

Maja Lena is the latest moniker of Marianne Parish, formerly of Low Chimes. Following bewitching singles ‘Sacred Practice’ and ‘Birch’, she has now shared new offering ‘The Keeper’ – the title track from her debut solo album, set for release this summer. 

Maja Lena’s music is ethereal and beautiful, led by a haunting and unpredictable vocal melody. The song is meditative and introspective, as Parish explains: “…the song name ‘The Keeper’ to me resembles the keeper of the self…” She adds that it “… is about our relationship to ourselves and how we view ourselves. Whether we hold trust in ourselves and if the way in which we strive can ultimately lead to us feeling less satisfied in life.”

The instrumentation is folk-inspired, with nylon and acoustic guitars in conversation with an eerie double bass. Rachael Dadd’s backing vocals weave together with Parish’s lead, culminating in a psychedelic mantra-like chant. Rob Pemberton’s synth, warm and warbling, complements the classic folk sound alongside the haunting dissonance from the cymbals. Together, it creates a serene and natural ambiance oozing a spellbinding magic.

The video, with a witchy charm, was made together with Parish’s husband Luke Oakley-Smith and filmed on a ’90s VHS camcorder to reflect an eerie nostalgia. Abundant with pastoral imagery, beautiful animals and Kate Bush-like dancing, it captivates and reflects the introspection and curiosity inherent of the song.


The Keeper is out 23rd July via Chiverin Records. Save / pre-order the album here to find out what other magical realms it will take us to.

Jazmine Kelly
@surfjaz

Photo Credit: Aloha Bonser-Shaw

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

LISTEN: GIHE debut Soho Radio show with Noga Erez 05.05.21

After 6 years of presenting on Hoxton Radio, the GIHE team are thrilled to announce that we’ve moved over to the NYC & Culture channel on Soho Radio! For our debut show, we played a mix of iconic feminist punk anthems and new music tunes from some of our favourite women and non-binary artists.

Tel Aviv-based pop renegade Noga Erez also spoke to us about her brilliant second album KIDS, working alongside her creative & life partner Ori, and we circled back on some of the interesting things she said the first time we met her back in 2019.

Listen below:

Tracklist
Bikini Kill – Rebel Girl
Noname – Blaxploitation
PÁULA, POVOA & JERGE – Primavera
Sans Soucis – I’m On
ARXX – DEEP
Grandmas House – Always Happy
Shy Girl – Tasty
Catherine Moan – Fools (Depeche Mode Cover)
Currls – Let Down
SOPHIE – BIPP (Autechre Mx)
Tiece – Nowhere Now Here (Tiiva Remix)
Nun Habit – Righteous Jerk
Bitch Hunt – Eau Claire
Noga Erez – VIEWS
Noga Erez – You So Done
**Noga Erez Interview**
Fousheé – Deep End
Tirzah – Send Me
Fears – Fabric
Beckie Margaret – FF
Mykki Blanco – Free Ride
New Pagans – Yellow Room
Fightmilk – Overbite
pink suits – Fake Great Britain
Thigh High – Because The Night (Patti Smith Cover)
Naz and Ella – No (Doesn’t Mean Convince Me)
X-Ray Spex – Oh Bondage, Up Yours!

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

GIHE Illustrated: Celebrating Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Following on from our International Women’s Day feature about PJ Harvey, illustrator Sally-Anne Hickman has continued her focus on ‘sheroes’ by looking at the ‘black queer mother of rock ‘n’ roll’, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Listen to some of her pivotal performances, and find out more about just how innovative an artist she was through Sally-Anne’s wonderful illustrations.

Sally-Anne Hickman
@sallyshinystars

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Oh Baby – ‘Cruel Intention’

‘Cruel Intention’ is the first single from synth pop duo Oh Baby’s forthcoming album Hey Genius, due for release in July. The track is a cool swagger of slick synths and drum loops with an eighties sensibility that will have you reaching for your finest pair of shoulder pads.

Lyrically, ‘Cruel Intention’ takes the perspective of a lover hopelessly doomed to return to the arms of a person determined to set everything on fire. Jen Devereaux’s vocal has hints of Alison Goldfrapp and saunters stylishly over Rick Hornby’s staccato synth basslines like a clubgoer sliding onto the dancefloor hoping to shake it all off. The despondent refrain “I knew you would” perfectly captures the lover’s expected disappointment and lingers long after the track has finished like a metaphorical earwig for the lovelorn.

The track’s synth textures are peppered with counterpoint guitar melody and build in waves throughout, culminating with the lover asking “if I go to the ocean, will you follow me?”. As the foreboding track title suggests, we all know how this one ends. The rejected lover aims for disconnection instead and the song’s instrumental outro is capped off with one final, muffled “I knew you would”.

Whilst the subject matter of ‘Cruel Intention’ isn’t overly joyous, the track is certainly no dirge. Oh Baby’s sound is reminiscent of Chvrches, Purity Ring, and eighties synth pop heroes Depeche Mode and the Human League – their sonic stylings practically drip with gold lamé and would be perfected placed on a John Hughes soundtrack. ‘Cruel Intention’ is best served with a bourbon on the rocks and a desire to detach from the one who’s no good for you. 

‘Cruel Intention’ is taken from Oh Baby’s second album Hey Genius set for release on 23rd July via Burning Witches Records.

Kate Sullivan

Photo Credit: Karen Hornby

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment