LISTEN: Deaf Surf – ‘Strangers’

“Loneliness is a feeling / not a state of mind” Deaf Surf‘s vocalist Manon frantically repeats on the band’s latest single ‘Strangers’, echoing what many of us are experiencing in a post-lockdown world. Filled with frenzied riffs and crashing percussion, the Brighton-based band tackle feelings of isolation and alienation on their new track.

Recorded & produced by Boe Weaver at Studio Humbug on the Isle of Wight, Deaf Surf have shared their second single to remind listeners that even in a world of Zoom gigs and Instagram Lives, we don’t have to be ‘Strangers’ while the music industry is suffering under the restrictions imposed by the covid-19 pandemic.

The single also touches on Brexit (remember that?) and the desperation that comes with not feeling like you belong anywhere. “It’s all in my head” sings Manon, tapping in to feelings of pure confusion in the face of unexpected adversity.

Listen to ‘Strangers’ below and follow Deaf Surf on Facebook & Bandcamp for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Get In Her Ears Returns 30.07.20

Tash & Kate were back in the studio together for the first time since the covid-19 lockdown began! They played loads of new tunes from wxmen in music and had a chat about how the pandemic has affected the live music industry to date.

Listen back here:

Tracklist
Primal Scream – Movin’ On Up (in memory of Denise Johnson)
Nadine Shah – Kitchen Sink
Seraphina Simone – Cherry
Aislinn Logan – What Everybody’s After
fears – _two (Kobina Remix)
PELA – South Of
Brown Belt – Lamplight
Beabadoobee – Care
Nijuu – Blue
Jealous Of The Birds – Young Neanderthal
REWS – Today We’re Warriors
Suzie Stapleton – The Plague
Lorana – Countless First Times
Grizzly Coast – Lonely Planet
Tina Boonstra – Out Of My Depth
GIRLHOOD – The Love I Need
Tokky Horror – Girlracer
Nova Twins – Vortex
Chinwe – Sin
Otta – Just like the rain
Aphty Khéa – Pengvibe
The C33s – Harpurhey Hostility
Hawxx – Dogma
LibraLibra – Loverboy
Mieko Shimizu – Lazy Light
Sunday Driver – Time Machine
Notelle – Bugs
Amy Winehouse – Tears Dry On Their Own

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PREMIERE: The Dead Zoo – ‘Mother’

Filled with buoyant guitar sounds and dream-pop beats, London-based band The Dead Zoo are set to share their debut single ‘Mother’ tomorrow on 31st July, but you can listen to it exclusively today on GIHE.

Released via Rock Noir Recordings, the track is a cover of 90s J-Pop duo PUFFY AmiYumi‘s popular single, and has been shared to help raise funds for the #saveourvenues fundraiser.

The Dead Zoo recorded and mixed ‘Mother’ whilst separated during the early days of the covid-19 lockdown period. Sung by front-woman Kaoru in her native language of Japanese, the track is a gentle “mood-lifter” with its jangly guitar sounds and sweet melodies. Kaoru and the band are keen to use this single release to raise awareness about the grass roots music venues who are currently struggling to cope under the restrictions of the covid-19 pandemic.

Kaoru explains the band’s motivations further: “Our version [of ‘Mother’] has gone down really well in our live shows to date. Without the existence of smaller venues and promoters, we would literally not have even been able to get a start. We mustn’t forget that pretty much every UK artist that we now know and love got their start in the sort of places that are now in grave peril.”

All proceeds from sales of the single on The Dead Zoo’s bandcamp page will be donated to the Save Our Venues fundraiser from The Music Venue Trust. You can also pre-save the track here.

 

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: ALA.NI – ‘Lament for Emmett Till’

A poignant, deeply moving recognition of enduring grief and racial injustice, Paris-based, London-born artist ALA.NI has shared ‘Lament for Emmett Till’ to help mark the 65th anniversary of the 14 year old African-American boy’s death. Her pensive vocals and gentle instrumentation allow listeners to revisit the tragedy of Till’s story, and to question why racial injustice still has such a frighteningly profound presence in modern society.

Taking its title and lyrics from a 1955 poem of the same name by the radical activist, journalist and organiser of the first Notting Hill Carnival, Claudia Jones, ‘Lament for Emmett Till’ explores the brutal kidnapping and lynching of the 14 year old after he was wrongfully accused of sexually harassing Carolyn Bryant, a white female clerk, at a Mississippi grocery store.

When his murderers were acquitted of the crime – despite confessing their guilt in a paid magazine interview only months later – Till’s mother decided to have an open casket funeral so others could see the horrifying violence he’d endured, which lead to him becoming a posthumous symbol of The Civil Rights Movement.

The FBI have since reopened the case and are seeking to make lynching a federal crime, but a Republican senator is controversially blocking the bill and Carolyn Bryant herself admitted in a 2007 interview that she had lied about the events that led to Till’s murder. There has still been no formal apology, no compensation, and no conviction for Till’s murder.

ALA.NI’s single acknowledges this injustice, and is supported by the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, which she is an official ambassador of. The foundation is currently asking the public to sign a petition demanding justice for Till and, specifically, that the FBI release the findings of their recent re-investigation into his murder as a matter of urgency. ALA.NI’s track is accompanied by a monochrome video that shows pictures and press clippings from the time of Till’s murder, and will prompt listeners to sign the petition (which you can do here).

“We find ourselves at a pivotal point in world history, where we must act now and fast, before all is too late. This is our last chance to fight for rightful equalities before the fascists take over,” ALA.NI explains. “I’m reaching out to the people to seek justice for Emmett Till. Knowing the power of music, I hope it can be used as an effective tool to bring the much needed awareness to this long-overdue murder case. Justice for Emmett Till will set a president for the systematic reform that must take place, that we can no longer afford to ignore and wait patiently for.”

Watch the video for ‘Lament for Emmett Till’ below.

Follow ALA.NI on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

Photo Credit: Alice Dellal

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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