LISTEN: Blue Loop ft. Shakira Stellar – ‘Before It Begins’

An atmospheric, sharply produced debut offering, London-based electronic artist Blue Loop has shared her new single ‘Before It Begins’. Taken from her upcoming EP Grand Illusion, the track is a tentative, ambient piece of “poetronica” featuring the soothing spoken words of poet Shakira Stellar.

Dedicated to sharing the joy of music and encouraging others to do the same, Blue Loop has worked alongside organisations including Girls Rock London, Music Empowerment and Mobility Exchange and ROLI in an effort to demystify all things music & tech.

Born from a collaboration between herself and Stellar when they met during a Girls Rock London showcase at New River Studios in North London in 2019, ‘Before It Begins’ is a shimmering downtempo, expansive soundscape. Filled with intoxicating clicks, beguiling electronics and Stellar’s considered words, Blue Loop’s debut single is an insightful introduction into the new producer’s world.

Watch the video for the single below and follow Blue Loop on Spotify & Instagram for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: LIME – ‘Fever’

A fuzzy, disco-infused indie tune that softly probes at the absurdity of modern life, Brighton-based band LIME have shared their latest single ‘Fever’. Filled with dance-able beats and catchy lyrics, the track is a dive into the mind of generation Z, playfully questioning their efforts to impress each other via jangly guitars and grooving bass lines.

“Why should I get up when I’d rather be in bed?” asks LIME’s lead vocalist Chloe Howard at the beginning of the song. It’s a sentiment that resonates stronger during the current UK lockdown, but the slinky saxophone and jazzy electronics soothe the sting of this reality. Howard’s rhetorical questions – “Why should I do my make-up when it’s all inside my head?” and “Why should I be up when the rest of us are down?” – have a relatable buzz, and her sardonic delivery is underscored by the band’s buoyant percussion.

Formed of Howard (vocals/guitar), Leila Deeley (guitar), Tippi Morgan (bass) and Annabel Whittle (drums), LIME met whilst studying in Brighton. Like many bands, their plans to play shows to crowds this November have been cancelled, but they will be sharing a live session alongside Katy J Pearson recorded at the Battersea Arts Centre for The Close Encounter Club on 19th November (more details on how to subscribe here.)

Listen to ‘Fever’ below.

 

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

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Get In Her Ears w/ Lucy O’Brien 05.11.20

Kate and Tash were back in the Hoxton Radio studio this week with a playlist full of tunes from women & non-binary artists. Tash caught up with author of She Bop Lucy O’Brien to talk about the 25th anniversary reissue of her book (which includes a mention of GIHE!) and her amazing experiences as a music journalist. You can order a copy of Lucy’s new book here.

Listen back:

Tracklist
Mazzy Star – Fade Into You
Scrounge – Etch
Technoir – II Male
Girlhood – It Might Take A Woman
Blonde Maze – Not All Flowers Bloom
CATBEAR – Girl Crush
Julia-Sophie – Breathe
Lido Pimienta – Eso Que Tu Haces
Seraphina Simone – O.M.D.
Amparo feat. AgesWild – Coral Eyes
Jessica Winter – Sad Music
Bitch Falcon – How Did I Know
Sister Ghost – Season Of The Witch
Cyndi Lauper – She Bop
**Interview with Lucy O’Brien**
Two Tribes – Cruel Sensuality
GRAMN. – Minimum
Tokky Horror – Sleeper
Screaming Toenail – Get Cute
Lizzy Laurance – Famous
Wallice – Punching Bag
Noga Erez – NO News On TV
Nina Simone – Ain’t Got No, I Got Life

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Track Of The Day: CATBEAR – ‘Who Are You?’

A heady, retro-pop tune about the breath-taking nature of new found lust, London-based duo CATBEAR have shared their latest single ‘Who Are You?’. Full of lush synth sounds and snappy yet danceable beats, the track is an aural flirtation designed to provide a moment of joy during uncertain times.

“This was so much fun to write,” explains band member Zoe Konez. “I came up with the first half of the song on a train during my commute on one of the last days before [the first] lockdown and we developed it during those first few long weeks of quarantine where making music kept us going.” Along with bandmate Sarah Smith, Konez wrote, recorded and produced CATBEAR’s new music fromhome over the summer, an achievement that’s made even more impressive by the fact that Smith worked on the frontline in A&E for the NHS throughout the pandemic, and that Konez runs a music programme in a mental health hospital.

‘Who Are You?’ is a wonderfully upbeat escape from the pressures of the duo’s daily routine, brimming with that infectious and overwhelming feeling of attraction when you find your thoughts spiralling over a new crush. Listen to the new single below and follow CATBEAR on bandcamp, Facebook and Spotify for more updates.

 

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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