LISTEN: Lunar Sounds – ‘Reputation’

Inspired by the dark side of modern dating, Leeds-based riot grrrls Lunar Sounds have shared their debut single ‘Reputation’. Filled with thumping beats and defiant vocals, the track pushes back against the patriarchal pressures women face when it comes to their appearance and their behavior on dating apps.

Formed of Chesca Henderson-Cox, Anna Reed and Caris Shekell, Lunar Sounds began making music together in early 2018, and releasied their debut EP The Void in September of the same year. The band launched their new single with a hometown gig last week, supported by Sheffield synth-pop heroes DUCK, and Leeds’ scuzz-pop duo Bad Idea.

Produced by band member Anna Reed, and mixed Brighton based engineer Katie Tavini, ‘Reputation’ is a raw slice of riot grrrl attitude and a welcome antidote to the often toxic results of trying to form romantic connections in the digital age. Band member Chesca explains further: “The song questions how men view women, and how women often feel like they need to portray some ideal version of themselves to be found attractive”.

We’re glad to see this trio challenging these insecurities, and having fun in the process too. Listen to ‘Reputation’ below, and follow Lunar Sounds on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Get In Her Ears w/ Hari Debi 10.10.19

Tash & Kate played out some of their fave new music from the likes of Shari Vari, Baby Taylah, SHHE, Sunflower Thieves and HAVVK.

The lovely Hari Debi popped into the studio for a chat about their upcoming single ‘Sick 9due Oct 25th) and what the rest of 2019 has in store for them.

Listen back:

@getinherears
@KCBobCut
@maudeandtrevor

Tracklist
SIA – Chandelier
Audrey – Paper
Girl Ray – Show Me More
Dream Nails – Corporate Realness
Blood Red Shoes & Queen Kwong – Kids Don’t Be So Shy
GRIMES – Violence
Projector – Superstar
Les Flair – Fence
Foundlings – I Love You All
Lande Hekt – The Future
The Leaf Library – Hissing Waves
Sunflower Thieves – Heavy Weight
Grizzly Coast – High Functioning
Hari Debi – Sick
Thyla – Two Sense
REYKO – Hierba Mala
Baby Taylah – Reclaim
Minor Pieces – This House
Shari Vari – Dance Alone
SHHE – BOY
HAVVK – 52
Healy Maye – 5 Months
Majia Sofia – The Glitter
Lady Gaga – Til It Happens To You

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Arlo Parks – ‘Second Guessing’

Confessional, gentle, and refreshingly honest: Arlo Parks‘ latest single ‘Second Guessing’ will strike a chord with anxious hearts who are overwhelmed with the fear that they might not be good enough.

The 19 year old London poet, singer and producer is not one to shy away from the difficulties of life, and on ‘Second Guessing’ she combines her beautiful vocals with lo-fi beats to get her important message across. The track is taken from her second EP, details of which will be released later in the year.

Speaking about the track, Arlo Parks explains: “‘Second Guessing’ is an exploration of the existential misery that comes from a desire to be successful in a way that pleases everyone. However, it’s also a song about strength and the possibility of self fulfillment”.

We’re happy to let Arlo Parks’ smooth voice build us up again. Listen to ‘Second Guessing’ below and follow her on Facebook for more updates.

Arlo Parks Live Dates 2019
Oct 08 – Academy, Dublin, IE *
Oct 10 – The Mill, Birmingham, UK *
Oct 11 – Academy 2, Manchester, UK *
Oct 12 – Uni Stylus, Leeds, UK *
Oct 15 – Trinity, Bristol, UK *
Oct 16 – Concorde, Brighton, UK *
Oct 18 – Roundhouse, London, UK *
Oct 25 – Guardian Live presents: Arlo Parks
*Supporting Jordan Rakei

Photo Credit: Charlie Cummings

Kate Crudgington
@kcbobcut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

LIVE: Dream Nails – Old Blue Last, London 07.10.19

“You are not your job! Work is not your life!” belts lead vocalist Janey from feminist punk band Dream Nails – a validating statement that has their sold out crowd at Old Blue Last shouting back in agreement. Celebrating the release of their new single ‘Corporate Realness’ (from which the lyrics are taken); Janey, guitarist Anya, drummer Lucy, and bassist Mimi lit up the stage with their defiant anthems.

Get In Her Ears have been to many a Dream Nails gig, and we keep returning to see them for the same reasons: empowerment, solidarity, and comfort. Their songs about avoiding creepy grief thieves (‘Tourist’) and getting ghosted (‘Chirpse Degree Burns’) use humour to deflect from the stresses of navigating everyday life, but their ability to switch between the silly and the serious is what makes their live performances so vital.

Delivering their familiar and necessary chant of “women and non-binary people to the front, men to the back” three songs in, the band present an unshakable confidence as they blitz through their 40 minute set. Janey’s voice soars over the perfectly curated noise that Anya, Lucy & Mimi create, and is equally as commanding when she speaks about worthy causes and shameful statistics between songs.

Championing the cause of Solidarity Not Silence, Janey shouts out to the first support act of the night, Nadia Javed of The Tuts. She encourages the crowd to believe and support women who speak out against their abusers, and to follow the campaign that Nadia and other female musicians are a part of.

The band’s collective rage boils over during ‘Joke Choke’, a song that takes down people who think rape jokes are funny in a country where two women a week are killed by a current or former partner. It’s two minutes of frenzied guitar and crashing percussion, and a cathartic burst of righteous energy.

Much like second support act The Baby Seals – whose frontwoman Kerry described her sweat level as “bio-hazard” – Dream Nails know how to get their crowd working out. During their song ‘Jillian’, which is dedicated to cult fitness coach Jillian Michaels, the band ask everyone to squat down for a few moments, before leaping back up to join them in their poppy ode to the health guru.

It wouldn’t be a proper Dream Nails gig without renditions of iconic singles ‘DIY’ and ‘Deep Heat’. The first arrives mid-way through the set, with the crowd screaming back “Do It Yourself!” at all the right intervals. The latter closes the band’s set in furious style, proving that the band’s hex on Donald Trump and his British counterpart Boris Johnson is still as potent as ever.

With their militant mindset and knockout delivery, Dream Nails set at Old Blue Last was a reminder to all to keep fighting in the face of adversity, and to have a fucking good laugh whilst you’re doing it.

Follow Dream Nails on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Chloe Hashemi & Emily Barker

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment