Kate Crudgington

LISTEN: Nat Vazer – ‘For A Moment’

A gentle, lo-fi reflection on loves past and present; Nat Vazer has shared her latest single, ‘For a Moment’. Taken from her second album, Is This Offensive And Loud?, which is set for release on 29th May via Hotel Motel Records, the track quietly broods with nostalgic tenderness.

Since the release of her 2018 EP, We Used To Have Real Conversations, Vazer has toured with Lime Cordiale and supported the likes of Last Dinosaurs, #1 Dads, Carla Geneve and The Magic Numbers. Her understated but infectious indie melodies, coupled with her smooth vocals mean Vazer’s tracks radiate with a humble indie buzz; and ‘For a Moment’ is another shining example of this.

“[The track] is a love song about an ex-work colleague,” Vazer explains. “There is a strange time-warping feeling you get sometimes when you fall for someone hard, where time can appear to stand still while everything around you seems like a blur. ‘For A Moment’ indulges in that fantasy. It’s about chasing something forbidden, a longing for someone you can’t really be with and the overwhelming fear of the possibility.”

Vazer’s blending of fantasy and fear is something we find very easy to indulge in. Listen to ‘For A Moment’ below and follow Nat Vazer on Spotify & Facebook for more updates.

Is This Offensive And Loud? is now available for pre-order on vinyl, digital and CD via Bandcamp here.”

Photo Credit: Jay Donohue

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

April 30, 2020May 1, 2020

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Painted Zeros – ‘Break’

“I always felt I loved you more than you returned / a lesson learned” confesses Katie Lau – aka Painted Zeros – on her latest single, ‘Break’. The Brooklyn-based musician & sound engineer blends reverb-strewn guitar with her tentative vocals to communicate the emptiness left behind by a past love.

Lifted from her second album, When You Found Forever, set for release on 29th May via Don Giovanni Records, ‘Break’ is a poignant, bittersweet reflection on the grief caused by a painful breakup. “It’s a little bit about being broken hearted over a girl,” Lau admits, “But it’s more about the interior experience of being hurt — of feeling completely alone in the universe, that state of despair where you feel loveless and abandoned by all earthly and non-earthly things.”

Lau’s lyrics reflect the unfairness of this despair. Her soft vocals make lines like “I always hoped the one day it would be my turn / to give the hate” seem less spiteful, and more painfully honest. Towards the close of the track, when Lau sings the eponymous lyric, there’s a sense of relief and closure, underscored by more of her woozy, spiralling guitar sounds.

‘Break’ is accompanied by a video, shot and directed by Lau. The footage is full of springtime blossoms, birds, and sunshine; providing a bright contrast to the song’s underlying message of sadness, and showing that there’s still life after heartbreak. Watch the video below, and follow Painted Zeros on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

April 30, 2020April 30, 2020

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

LISTEN: Ganser – ‘Lucky’

An abrasive jest at the futility of forcing self-growth; Chicago-based Ganser have shared their latest single, ‘Lucky’. Taken from their upcoming album, Just Look at That Sky, which is set for release on 31st July via Felte Records, the track is a brooding cacophony of post-punk noise.

Formed of Nadia Garofalo (keyboards/vocals), Alicia Gaines (bass/vocals), Charlie Landsman (guitar) and Brian Cundiff (drums); Ganser’s music has garnered comparisons to 90s noise-makers like Fugazi, Shellac, and Sonic Youth. Their jolting rhythms, confrontational vocals, and manic riffs fuse together to create defiant, jarring tunes; and new single ‘Lucky’ is a sturdy example of this.

“It’s a commentary on personal feelings of inadequacy, and how these feelings can often result in unhealthy or extreme behaviors.” explains Garofalo. “Especially now, as we are in a time of uncertainty, it feels like we have even less control over what is happening to and around us. Isn’t it shitty when things don’t work out the way we’d hoped?!” The exasperated repetition of lyric “Hell of a day kid” communicates this perfectly.

Ganser took on directing duties for the accompanying video to ‘Lucky’, which blends monochrome footage of the band, along with shots of a volatile encounter between two characters. Watch the video below and follow Ganser on Spotify & Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

April 29, 2020April 29, 2020

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

LISTEN: Fran Lobo – ‘Brave’

An atmospheric ode to women who thrive in the face of adversity; Fran Lobo has shared her latest single, ‘Brave’. Lifted from her EP of the same name, which is set for release on 19th June via Slow Dance Records, Lobo blends electronic and orchestral elements together to create her stirring soundscape.

A singer, songwriter, producer, DJ, choral composer & sound artist; Lobo has extensive and impressive experience in multiple areas of the music industry. The North East London artist takes inspiration from both the club scene and the choral scene to create her own music, and ‘Brave’ is a strong example of how she seamlessly mixes these genres together.

Speaking about her new single, Lobo explains: “This was a mantra to myself, to stay brave because there is no other choice in the face of our world and diminishing relationships. The world moves on and we have no choice but to move with it. It is also a comment on the intense expectations on women; what to be and what not to be.”

Her message also applies to the current crisis we are all living through: “I wanted to dedicate this track to key workers and those working hard to keep us safe. My Dad works in a care home where there has been little PPE and going to work has felt like an everyday risk, to honour the brave people working in these conditions, I’m donating 50% of band camp revenue to Age UK.”

We’re impressed by Lobo’s kindness and positive energy during this difficult time. Listen to ‘Brave’ below and download the track from bandcamp in order to donate to Age UK.