LISTEN: Fears – ‘two_’

**Content Warning: Talk of self harm and mental health issues.**

A poignant meditation on some of her darkest hours, Constance Keane aka Fears has shared her latest single ‘two_’. The experimental pop artist has transformed her struggles with self-harm into a gentle, cathartic new offering, specially commissioned for the Northern Ireland Mental Health Arts Festival.

Today marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week here in the UK & Northern Ireland and Fears is helping to raise awareness of this with the self-directed accompanying video for her track. The visuals feature repurposed footage of Fears and her family, depicting the non-linear path of recovery from trauma. She tenderly confesses in her lyrics “If not for my family / I’d never have healed,” a sentiment that’s reflected in the footage she’s chosen to share.

Two years on from receiving inpatient treatment in a hospital in Dublin, Fears now uses her musical creations as a form of therapy. “Creativity was, and still is, such a huge part of recovery for me,” she explains. “So to be part of a festival showcasing the creativity of people with mental health issues is incredible. I think when it comes to budget cuts for the mental health sector, creative resources are too often the first to go, so it’s great to see a group celebrating the significance of being creative in maintaining positive mental health.”

For many who suffer with mental health issues, the road to recovery requires immense amounts of patience and a huge shift in perspective. Fears extrapolates on this further: “For me, there is no final point where I’ve ‘gotten better’. I am better than I was before, but ‘better’ isn’t a destination. It’s about learning, maintenance and forging trust in myself.”

“It’s important for me to discuss the topic of self harm; it’s something I’ve been trying to figure out how to approach for a while now. I don’t endorse self harm. It’s an unhealthy coping mechanism when you’re distressed; but it’s also incredibly common. Within the improving awareness and discussion around mental health, I feel self harm still carries the weight of secrecy and shame. I have lines on my leg from hurting myself a few years ago. They’re most likely going to be there for a very long time. I want to wear shorts in summer. I’m going to wear shorts in summer.”

Fears’ determination and honesty in the face of adversity makes listening to ‘two_’ all the more poignant and necessary. If you’ve been affected by any of the issues discussed in this post, please reach out to Mind or other mental health charities.

Follow Fears on Spotify & Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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PREMIERE: Novaa – ‘Universe Lullaby’

A tender ode to the unconditional nature of paternal love; Novaa has shared her latest single ‘Universe Lullaby’. Taken from her upcoming album, The Futurist (due in September), the track is a subtle blend of earnest vocals and minimal electronics that allow Novaa’s moving sentiments to take centre stage.

Based in Berlin, Novaa’s sound is influenced by many things: new technologies, the neutrality of shared experience, and even physics. On her upcoming album, she wants to “break down really complicated matters into something more understandable and emotional”, and ‘Universe Lullaby’ is a fine example of this. Its polished production allows Novaa’s  humble lyrics to reassure listeners that it’s important to appreciate being loved, but also to love yourself at the same time.

She explains the context of the track further: “My dad is my hero. Not because of all the crazy and self-less things that he does for me. But because more than anything he wants me to trust in myself. I wrote ‘Universe Lullaby’ as a birthday present for him. The night before I wrote the song I remember having a mental breakdown after I came home from work. I was tired, worn-out, crying and couldn’t move. I called my dad and without saying a lot, he managed to calm me down and help me to get up again. The next day ‘Universe Lullaby’ came into being. I wrote the whole song acapella. So keeping the production sparse and minimalist felt right and natural. When I produced it I only added the vocoder, some choir and harmonies and the song was finished.”

Novaa’s understated creation transcends the context of her own experience, making ‘Universal Lullaby’ a comforting listen in times of self doubt. Listen to the track below and follow Novaa on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

 

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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#ThrowbackThursday: GIHE w/ ESYA (Ayse Hassan) 11.07.19

Due to the current lockdown/coronavirus situation, 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 each week.

Today, we’ve picked our July 2019 show with ESYA, the solo project of Ayse Hassan (Savages, Kite Base, 180db). She spoke to Kate & Mari about her second EP, Absurdity Of ATCG (I), and her upcoming gig supporting Bo Ningen at The Shacklewell Arms in August 2019. If you are able to support ESYA during this difficult time, you can buy merch from her bandcamp page.

Listen back to the show here:

Featured Artists
X Ray Spex
Beckie Margaret
NIMMO
Petite Meller
Grawl!x
Pongo
Deep Deep Water
The Eyelids
Duck
Grapefruit
Life Is Better Blonde
Dude York
Zamilska
ESYA
Giungla
Jenny Hval
Salad
Gauche
Smaller Hearts
Atelier Blue
Mauno
Emma McGrath
GEISTE
HEALTH (feat. Soccer Mommy)
Zola Jesus
Planningtorock

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Track Of The Day: Hex Poseur – ‘Quiet’

A scathing retaliation aimed at all those who’ve tried to silence her; Hex Poseur has shared her latest single, ‘Quiet’. Filled with brooding bass lines and snarling lyrics, she tackles the ways in which women and girls try to minimise their behaviours when they’re affected by consistently negative opinions.

Although she’s predominantly a solo artist, Hex Poseur works with session musicians Holly Osborne (bass) and Billy Mattock (drums) to create her punk-infused sounds. The band’s name and sound are heavily inspired by 70s punk icon Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex, with the word ‘Poseur’ taken from their track ‘I Am A Poseur’, which makes fun of people who label others as “not real” punks.

Hex Poseur describes her single ‘Quiet’ as an “incredibly personal” song, as it reflects on her own experiences of bullying and feeling like an outsider. “[I went] from being an outgoing child to a shy, reserved teenager due to bullying and the social politics of secondary school. This was something that stuck with me for ages and only recently have I started to feel more confident and outgoing again.” This confidence boost is certainly present during ‘Quiet’ with its distorted riffs and riotous chorus.

“Growing up, I dealt more and more with being silenced by men and witnessing other women being silenced, which was another battle that I, and most (if not all) women have struggled with.” Hex Poser continues. “Especially in music, women are often encouraged to stick to soft and inoffensive music, and rock is seen as much more masculine. The end of ‘Quiet’ is basically a massive “fuck you”, telling all these people that I’m here whether they like it or not.”

Hex Poseur’s cathartic single sends out a message of strength and solidarity to women who are tired of being quiet. Listen to the track below and follow Hex Poseur on Spotify and Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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