VIDEO PREMIERE: Party Fears – ‘Time in Space’

A gentle, hazy musing on trying to stay afloat in an unpredictable time, Northern Irish born, Berlin-based artist Party Fears (aka Maggie Devlin) has shared a new video to accompany her latest single ‘Time in Space’. Shot by and featuring Devlin herself and edited by James Byrne, the visuals reflect the track’s day-dreamy nature, giving listeners further insight Devlin’s ruminations on what it means to question your instincts.

“’Time in Space’ is a song about prioritising security over authenticity; not necessarily bad, but sometimes hard,” Devlin explains. “For this song, I did a bit of projecting, imagining selves beyond this self; maybe some of them more authentic than the me imagining them. It’s a weird year that calls for some light astral projection.” Released via Babywoman Records, ‘Time in Space’ is an other-worldly offering that stretches the boundaries of self-perception, but in true Party Fears style it remains charmingly optimistic.

“I see me living a lie / You see me doing alright” Devlin sings, gently exposing the duality that comes with living your best life online vs the struggle of day-to-day existence. Devlin’s close-ups and still-life-like shots in the video reflect this perfectly, as she muses about being somewhere else in the solar system – a thought many of us have most likely had throughout 2020.

Watch the video for ‘Time in Space’ below.

Follow Party Fears on bandcamp, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

Photo Credit: James Byrne

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: ZAND – ‘Inappropriate’

An industrial-tinged pop tune that revels in the idea of not fitting the mould, Blackpool-based dark pop artist ZAND has shared their latest single ‘Inappropriate’. Lifted from their brand new EP UGLY POP (released today), the track is another stellar example of ZAND’s talent when it comes to creating savage yet sweet “ugly pop” gems.

“’Inappropriate’ is taking one of the words that has been used to patronise and belittle artists like myself who don’t fit a friendly, cookie cutter manufactured stereotype,” ZAND explains about the track. “[It’s] putting a sarcastic, embracive spin on it laced with a bit of irony. It’s a vent for the judgement I have faced in this industry by certain people. I’ve really enjoyed taunting those same people with my music.”

ZAND’s wit and defiance in the face of their critics shines through in their candid lyricism and polished, yet punishing beats. Produced by ZAND and DJ/producer Daktyl (Major Lazer, Halsey) and mixed by Thomas Mitchener (Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, La Roux), ‘Inappropriate’, like the other four tracks on the UGLY POP EP, is a delightfully wicked tune that celebrates self-autonomy and persevering in an industry that often tries to soften an artist’s unique edge.

“UGLY POP is a very intimate project to me, with it being the first body of work centred around my own genre as an ‘ugly popstar’” ZAND continues. “This EP acts as a little taster for this, and what UP represents. I’m stoked to be birthing this little batsh*t part of me out into the world” – and we’re stoked to be listening to more of ZAND’s warped and wonderful beats.

Watch the video for ‘Inappropriate’ below.

Follow ZAND on Twitter, Instagram & Spotify for more updates.

Photo Credit: Sophie Thompson

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Clara Byrne – ‘Conflict Bound’

A poignant reflection on the pressures and contradictions we encounter living under capitalism, Irish songwriter Clara Byrne has shared her debut single ‘Conflict Bound’. Lifted from her upcoming debut album Handstitched, Byrne finds refuge from these overwhelming thoughts via her atmospheric alt-folk guitar sounds and patient vocal delivery.

“In a world filled with juxtaposed opinions and clashing ideals, it is getting progressively harder to know where to stand,” Byrne explains about her new track. “It can be nearly impossible not to get bogged down in fighting the opposition or slaving towards winning small mercies. It all seems so vast, so utterly impossible to grasp. But there are rare occasions when a clearing appears through the density. These moments when everything is laid out in its most digestible form, are worth waiting for.”

Through her sincere lyrics and rich vocals, Byrne navigates through “sheltered point(s) of view” and appeals to her listeners, asking them not to turn away from “systemic flaws”, but to unite together to dismantle them. The track is also accompanied by a video created by Rachel Noble, formed of scenes from global protests, deprived buildings and busy urban landscapes.

Listen to ‘Conflict Bound’ below.

 

Follow Clara Byrne on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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FIVE FAVOURITES: anrimeal

“I never gave gender much thought before this album,” Porto-born, London-based artist anrimeal explains about her new release, Could Divine. Described as a “computer folk” record exploring the use of texture, limitation and repetition, anrimeal’s new record is inspired by the work of Eva Hesse and other women artists who pioneered the post-minimalism movement.

“I’d always felt alienated by concepts of womanhood, especially the notion that women exist under nature’s control,” anrimeal continues. “[But] seeing women use nature at the forefront of their work, not afraid to create art that could be seen as messy or dirty helped me reconcile those feelings, and motivated me to explore the less conventionally beautiful side of things.” Written, performed, mixed and mastered by anrimeal from home, Could Divine is a beautiful insight into the mind of a flourishing new artist.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspired them to write in the first place. We caught up with anrimeal to ask about her “Five Favourites” – five albums that have inspired her song-writing techniques. Speaking about her choices, anrimeal explains: “These are far from deep cuts, but really albums that not only do I know front to back, but also signposted some or other pivotal moments in my life.”

Check out her favourite albums below and scroll down to listen to anrimeal’s latest single ‘Encaustic Witches’ at the end of this post. You can also catch anrimeal and her musical collaborator Freda D’Souza performing a live improv session from home on Youtube at 6pm tonight. (Link here)

 

1. James Blake – James Blake
I remember buying this album on CD when i was 17 and spending entire days during Easter break lying down in my bedroom, looking at the ceiling and just listening. I think it was my first proper introduction to ambience in music, to a sound landscape that was as rich as the actual songwriting. And one of those things I just couldn’t unlisten. From then on, texture became the most important thing to me in music, a language of its own. There was something so personal about the sonic world James built in this album. I don’t think I’d been exposed to a truly DIY record before this one, and it really changed my perception of music as a medium, and ended up informing the way I like to create music today.

2. Grouper – The Man Who Died In His Boat
Liz Harris, I mean – her music changed my life. Listening to The Man Who Died In His Boat for the first time was like being shown the inside of my brain. The album was sent to me along with Animal Collective’s Sung Tongs with a message of this sort “if you like delay, then you might like these”. This was an even deeper dive into ambient music, and maybe the first time I felt like I could fully relate to what an artist was trying to put out. There’s a dark gentleness in her records, that I’ve only ever felt with music made by women. A kind of understated submerged darkness that is constant and calm. Not depressing nor effusive, just constant.

3. Animal Collective – Sung Tongs
Animal Collective!!!! Field recordings, adaptations of the aesthetics and energy of traditional music, beautifully poetic but slightly absurd lyrics, moments of chaos and of quiet introspection. Seriously, what does this album not have? I can’t say Sung Tongs reflects me exactly, but I think it showed me a side of life that I wasn’t very familiar with before. Having been educated in a strict classical music setting, I needed Animal Collective to show me that there was a fun side to music after all. The clouds opened to the sun like eyelids, and I owe it to this album. I’ve since become a devoted fan of Avey Tare’s catalogue, and I carry this upbeat and earthy world very dearly with me, as a kind of companion.

4. Kanye West – Yeezus
I was so arrested by this album, the first time I listened to it I was petrified and started sweating. It was completely different from anything I’d ever listened to before, it was so bold and genre-bending. I think I use this record a lot to remind me that I can do anything I want with my music. I very much appreciate Kanye’s commitment to art and unhindered self-expression.

5. Sufjan Stevens – Age Of Adz
Even though I was a fan of Sufjan for a long time, Age Of Adz was definitely an acquired taste, an album that sunk in really slowly with time. Again, it’s such a bold piece of work, so well crafted that its existence almost seems impossible to me. There are almost no words to describe this album, maybe just to say that it is a testament to true passion for the art of songwriting. If anything, Sufjan’s music makes me want to experience life with more care, so that I can find his detail in my own reality.

Thanks to anrimeal for sharing her favourites with us.
Listen to her new single ‘Encaustic Witches’ below.

Follow anrimeal on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for more updates.

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