Track Of The Day: Adia Victoria – ‘The Needle’s Eye’

An atmospheric, introspective exploration of personal exile; Adia Victoria‘s latest single ‘The Needle’s Eye’ is a slow-burning confrontation between one woman and her anxieties. The track is taken from her forthcoming album Silences, set to be released on 22nd February via Canvasback.

Two years after the release of her debut LP Beyond the Bloodhounds and after an extended period on tour and in the spotlight, Victoria turned her vision inward. She explains: “I found when I went back home that the thing that disturbed me the most was the lack of activity. Having to deal with myself once again on an intimate level.” Reading and literature helped her counteract this feeling of discomfort, and tracks like ‘The Needle’s Eye’ are the result of this honest period of soul-searching.

Speaking about the new single, Victoria explains: “I decided to look my fears head on – fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of the unknown. I understood that hitherto that moment, I had been avoiding all the small terrors tugging at my heart. ‘The Needle’s Eye’ is the result of allowing all the exiled parts of myself their due, to dance with warring drums. To allow every part of myself to be seen, felt, and heard.”

If the rest of Silences – which was produced by The National’s Aaron Dessner – is as poignant and intriguing as ‘The Needle’s Eye’, then 2019 is set to be a successful year for Adia Victoria. Listen to the new track below and follow her on Facebook for more updates.

Adia Victoria European Tour Dates 2019

23rd March – Paris, France – Le Pop Up du Label
24th March – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Cinetol
26th March – Berlin, Germany – Auster Club
27th March – Hamburg, Germany – Nochtspeicher
28th March – Cologne, Germany- Artheater
29th March – Antwerp, Belgium – De Roma (Foyer)
2nd April – London, UK – Electrowerkz

Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Yawners – ‘Please Please Please’

Influenced by the sounds of 90s grunge and garage pop-punk, Madrid-based duo Yawners have shared their single ‘Please Please Please’. The track is taken from their debut album Just Calm Down, which is set for release on 22nd March via La Castanya.

Formed of vocalist & guitarist Elena Nieto and drummer Martin Muñoz, Yawners began life in Elena’s home town of Salamanca, survived a move to Germany, and have now settled in Madrid. Fluent in Spanish, German and English, Elena is a translator by day and Yawners’ talented frontwoman by night.

‘Please Please Please’ is filled with Elena & Martin’s overlapping dual melodies, with elevating guitar parts underscoring themes of being lost and lovelorn. It’s an impressive lead single from the Spanish duo who will playing in the US for the first time at 2019’s SXSW, with further dates in Europe to follow later in the year.

Listen to ‘Please Please Please’ below and follow Yawners on Facebook more more updates.

Yawners’ debut album Just Calm Down is vailable to pre-order here.

Photo Credit: Mariano Regidor

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Northwest – ‘London’

Although duo Northwest physically released their debut album – simply titled I – in June 2018, they only recently decided to publish it online. Why? well, it was part of the band’s manifesto (which they published on their website) where they decided to give away the digital version of their record to who anybody who personally requested it.

Since then, Northwest have sent 460 hand-written postcards all over the world, each one with an individual code to access the record online. It’s a bold approach to take for a DIY band in the age of the internet, but it’s one that has clearly paid off for the pair. They’ve now shared a music video for ‘London’ their “favourite” track on the album as a celebration of their efforts.

Directed by Ignacio Simón (one half of Northwest) and featuring images from photographer & artist Álvaro Gómez-Pidal, ‘London’ is a beautifully executed, intriguing set of visuals. “This is probably the hardest we’ve ever worked on a song and in a video, and we hope you like it as much as we do” explain the duo, and we’re sure their fans certainly will. Watch the video below…

Photo Credit: Ignacio Hergueta

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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ALBUM: Queen Zee – ‘Queen Zee’

Making weirdness in to wonderful, inclusive, explosive new tunes; GIHEs favourites Queen Zee have shared their debut self-titled album and it’s every bit as glorious as we’d hoped. Released via their own label Sasstone Records, the group have created ten tracks that gleefully cut down any of the forces that attempt to stand in the way of equality.

The tongue-in-cheek ‘Loner’ opens the record, and it’s an in-your-face anthem taking the piss out of being a solitary, socially inept loser. Zee’s vocals dominate the track as swirling guitar and non-stop percussion keep the riot going. It’s followed by the equally punchy ‘Lucy Fur’ and ‘Sissy Fists’, which are belting fusions of grunge & punk. The latter smashes apart any associations of weakness and is a proper hardcore two minutes of pure adrenaline.

‘Idle Crown’ is a riotously executed piece of Marilyn Manson-esque pop sleaze. The narrative centers around two LGBTQ+ characters trapped in a toxic heteronormative relationship, who are unable to live as their true selves. It’s hard to resist screaming along to the chorus of ‘Porno’ and ‘Victim Age’, both of which will have you kicking and screeching around a dance floor.

The album’s standout track is undoubtedly ‘Boy’. It’s an anthem for trans-gender rockers and their allies who refuse to be ignored, or oppressed by transphobic or homophobic attitudes. “You can try and bury my head in the sand, but that won’t make the body at the surface a man’s” sings Zee, as manic guitar and heart-pounding drums smash out for just shy of five minutes. ‘Hunger Pains’ follows with Zee’s ravenous screeching and more trademark corkscrew guitar riffs, whereas the brief interlude ‘Anxiety’ is a mellow yet candid admission to not feeling well.

Whether you admit to it or not, we can all relate to closing track ‘I Hate Your New Boyfriend’. It’s a hilariously vicious take-down of a misogynistic partner who drains your friend and by default drains you too. Turn it up extra loud anytime you know said antagonist is in the vicinity. With their punk attitude and ability to write abrasive and infectious tracks, there’s no danger of Queen Zee being melted in to a “masculine mould” – and we’re rejoicing in support of this “whipping girl born into a big man’s world”. What a debut, invest immediately.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo Photography

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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