#ThrowbackThursday: GIHE w/ Girls Rock London 28.11.19

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, we’re unable to make it in to the Hoxton Radio studio to broadcast our weekly live new music show from 7-9pm. Instead, we’re sharing previous show recordings as #ThrowbackThursday sessions, so you can still enjoy 2 hours of new music & chats with some of our favourite artists & allies each week.

Today, we’ve picked our November 2019 show with the wonderful Alex & Jodi from Girls Rock London. They joined Kate and guest-host Beth White live in the studio to chat about the amazing work they do with the global organisation, which encourages girls and young women to create the music they want to hear. You can find out more about the initiative at www.girlsrocklondon.com

Listen back to the show here:

Featured Artists
Bjork
ESYA
TELGATE
Peach Club
SASSY 009
Imogen Heap
Hinako Omori
Freya Beer
MeMe Detroit
The Menstrual Cramps
I SEE RIVERS
Neev
Ghum
Nova Twins
Tiberius B.
Personal Best
God Colony feat. Samirah Raheem
ARXX
Sink Ya Teeth
Suggested Friends
Glacier Veins
Lazybones
Jelly Cleaver ft. Isatta Sheriff
Mari Dangerfield
Bikini Kill

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Track Of The Day: Dehd – ‘Flood’

A captivating observation on the volatile nature of love; Dehd have shared their latest single, ‘Flood’. Lifted from their upcoming album Flower of Devotion, set for release via Fire Talk on 17th July, the track is a sultry blend of brooding bass lines, emotive vocals and melodic guitar riffs.

Based in Chicago, Dehd are formed of Emily Kempf (vocals/bass), Jason Balla (vocals/guitar), and Eric McGrady (drums). The trio explored how minimal they could make their sounds on previous album Water, but on Flower of Devotion they’ve leaned more towards the ethos of making something “that’s really powerful”, whether that’s minimalistic or not. This seems to be the case on ‘Flood’, which explores the strength and vulnerability that comes with opening yourself up to new love.

“Falling in love with someone is like becoming water” explains vocalist Kempf. “A flood is powerful, uncontrollable, devastating. Water can nourish or destroy.” These themes are reflected in the accompanying video to ‘Flood’, directed & choreographed by Kempf and Andrew Miller. The cinematic visuals show Kempf by the sea, adorned in a beautiful white dress and gracefully moving in and out of the water.

Watch the video for ‘Flood’ below and follow Dehd on Instagram & bandcamp for more updates.

Photo Credit: Alexa Viscius

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Dott – ‘Extra Introvert’

A tender, buoyant guitar tune that helps to playfully shake off feelings of social anxiety; Dott have shared their latest single, ‘Extra Introvert’. Self-described as a “sombre summer bop”, the track confronts the “Lockdown Anxiety” many of us have been dealing with during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Galway-based dream-poppers Dott were in the middle of recording their third album, the follow up to 2018’s Heart Swell, when the pandemic put an abrupt stop to proceedings. ‘Extra Introvert’ was recorded in a cottage in Leitrim with Frankie Pollard (Oh Boland) and mastered by Steve Fallone (The Breeders, Alvvays), and provides a breath of fresh air for anyone who’s been feeling apprehensive about re-joining their social circles.

The accompanying video features the band’s vocalist Anna using her smart phone to interact with friends again, and by “friends” we mean some very, very cute dogs. Most people have been extra reliant on their devices to help them socialise during the lockdown period, so the video is shot vertically and best appreciated on a phone screen. The visuals compliment the upbeat nature of the track perfectly, proving there’s still space for joy and distraction even when you’re not feeling your best.

Watch the video for ‘Extra Introvert’ below and follow Dott on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

Photo Credit: Kim McCafferty

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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EP: Elsa Hewitt – ‘Ghostcats’

Whatever your mood, electronic artist & producer Elsa Hewitt has a tune to diffuse it. What she achieves through improvisation many would struggle to create with the most calculated intentions and her dizzying blend of looped synths & vocals on new EP Ghostcats beautifully showcases her intuitive talent.

Described by Hewitt as an “opener” for her next release Lupa (due later this year), Ghostcats is a collection of minimal electronic compositions that have a soothing, almost translucent quality to them. Filled with celestial looping vocal harmonies, the ambient ‘Godly’ opens the EP, followed by the equally ethereal ‘Massive Charade’. It meanders in to brief but beautiful tracks ‘Wave State’ and ‘Mounting Up’. On each of her tracks, Hewitt’s breathy vocals and spacious synthesizers merge together to create a soothing, fuzzy atmosphere reminiscent of a lucid dream.

There’s a pleasantly jarring quality to tracks ‘Still’, ‘Kevlar’ and ‘Easy’, whilst ‘Raspberry’ is sweet and breezy. On ‘Velvet Scrunchy’, it feels like Hewitt is toying with the soft accessory the track is named after; gently opening and closing her palm around the garment. The twinkling sound of ‘Rebird’ closes the EP, which from the opening loop provides a soothing sonic head rush.

A much needed distraction in these strange times, Elsa Hewitt’s Ghostcats is a blissful electronic offering, designed to leave you reassuringly lightheaded.

 

Buy your limited edition Ghostcats cassette via Bandcamp here.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment