NEW TRACK: BLAB – ‘Hate Love, Make Love’

Following on from her 2022 single ‘Age Gracefully’ – a lo-fi musing on toxic beauty standards – Southend based multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer Frances Murray, aka BLAB, has shared her new single ‘Hate Love, Make Love’. Released via Cool Thing Records and self-described as “Something silly and funny and not too serious,” the track explores the burnout that comes with trying to keep up with the requirements of modern day dating, romance and self-love.

After taking a year off from publicly sharing her music, BLAB has returned to reaffirm her staunchly DIY attitude and anti-establishment, anti-ego message. On ‘Hate Love, Make Love’, she playfully confronts the difficulties that come with seeking genuine romantic connections via her glitchy, punchy ’80s synth sounds and direct lyrics: “Being in love is really hard / loving myself is even harder”.

“This song was super fun and quick to write and record for me,” explains BLAB about the new track. “I think the whole thing only took about two days total. I have this Yamaha PS-20 from the ’80s that my friend sold to me, and it’s got so many wacky sounds on it. It has a built-in bass arp and as soon as I tried that out, I knew I was onto a finished song. I kind of wanted to write a song that felt like it could be on the Austin Powers soundtrack, a pastiche of the ’60s but with a Ramones-eque bite to it.”

BLAB has been busy writing and recording her debut album, which is set for release next year. She will be playing a show at The Old Blue Last in East London on Friday 10th November, as part of a Cool Thing Records label night supporting Asylums and A Cause In Distress. Grab a ticket on DICE.

Listen to ‘Hate Love, Make Love’ below.

Follow BLAB on SpotifyTikTok, InstagramTwitter (X) & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

LISTEN: GIHE x Morning Glory takeover on Soho Radio ft. NYX Drone Choir and Brenda (21.09.23)

Tash and Kate were back on Soho Radio’s airwaves for a second time this month, taking over their Morning Glory show – LIVE from the studio! They played an eclectic mix of new music from some of their favourite female, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ artists and Mari offered some of her “musical musings” too. The pair also had a “spotlight” section dedicated to tunes from bands and artists who have been a part of the GIHE journey from the early years, featuring ARXX, Big Joanie, Nova Twins, Problem Patterns, Fraulein and Maria Uzor.

There were two guests on the three hour takeover show. In the first half, Tash played her chat with Glasgow newcomer Litty, who fronts Brenda. Litty spoke about the inspiration for the band’s recent single ‘Pigs Pigs Pigs’ and shared many funny anecdotes about how they originally came together to form Brenda.

In the second half of the show, Alicia and Philippa from the NYX electronic drone choir came into the studio to chat live on air. They spoke to Kate and Tash about their collaborative album Deep England, their contribution to the Diablo IV video game soundtrack, and the instinctive ways in which they use technology to enhance the power of the human voice. They also set aside plenty of time to fangirl over Gazelle Twin too.

Listen back to the show below:

 

We’ll be back on Soho Radio on Monday 16th October from 12-2pm!

Tracklist
Jackie Shane – Sticks and Stones
Rainy Miller ft. Mica Levi – Maybe Time To Lay Down The Arms
1000 Beasts & Tomike – Cherry Delight
Midwife ft. Nyxy Nyx – it’s okay 2 lie 2 me
NewDad – Angel
Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra – Empty Envelope
Baby Rose – Stop the Bleeding
Mitski – my love mine all mine
Brenda – Pigs
**Interview with Litty from Brenda**
Erasure – I Want To Be With You
Bee Asha – Shy Guy
Baby Cool – The Sea (Qubuz Track Of The Day)
Afromerm – held
Nova Twins – Choose Your Fighter
Problem Patterns – Lesbo 3000
Problem Patterns – Poverty Tourist
ARXX – Ride Or Die
Fraulein – Big Cool
Big Joanie – Fall Asleep
Maria Uzor – Sometimes They Look At You
CIRCE – Riot Of Sunlight
AVR – A Closer Touch, A Plan Of Art
Trouble Wanted – Lonely Cowgirl
CMAT – Stay For Something
SPRINTS – Up And Comer
Hot Wax – Phone Machine
Lauren Auder – The Ripple
Gazelle Twin & NYX Drone Choir – Deep England
**Interview with Alicia and Philippa from NYX Drone Choir**
Gazelle Twin – Black Dog
TSHA ft. Ell Murphy – Bloom
Yay Maria – L’Appel Du Vide
Small Crush – Rumblin’ Tummy
Panic Pocket – Get Me
The Vanity Project – Eureka!
Julia-Sophie – dial your number
And Is Phi – Double Pink
Scrounge – Starve
O Hell – I Watch The Women
Noga Erez – NAILS

LISTEN: GIHE on Soho Radio with Mykki Blanco (18.09.23)

Tash and Kate were back on Soho Radio’s airwaves playing loads of new music from some of their favourite female, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ artists! Mari offered some of her “musical musings” too. Artists featured on the eclectic playlist included Tirzah, Coolgirl, Maria Uzor, O Hell, CLT DRP, Divorce, English Teacher, Brenda and Touch Excellent.

Tash also caught up with queer pioneer and innovative artist Mykki Blanco to talk about their upcoming EP, Postcards From Italia, which is set for release via Transgressive Records on 22nd September. Fresh from celebrating Copenhagen Pride, Mykki spoke to Tash about the context of their new record, how the music industry has changed over the last decade, their queer inspirations and more.

Listen back to the show below:

 

We’ll be back on Soho Radio this Thursday 21st September, LIVE in the studio covering the Morning Glory show from 9am-12pm. Make sure you tune in via www.sohoradiolondon.com

Tracklist
Sinead O’Connor – Mandinka
Tirzah – F22
Maria Uzor – Sometimes They Look At You
O Hell – hard times
Coolgirl – High Altar
CLT DRP – I See My Body Through You
Say She She – Astral Plane
Brenda – Microscopic Babe
shaene – june
Whitelands – The Prophet and I
English Teacher – The World’s Biggest Paving Slab
Separatr – Deadstock
Divorce – Scratch Your Metal
Maria BC – Amber
Ideal Host – The Resolution
NESS NÖST – MAID 4 U
Gabriella Cohen – Clever Cheese
Mykki Blanco – Holidays in the Sun
**Interview with Mykki Blanco**
ZHU, Devault – Take My Soul
Touch Excellent – Couch Song
Becca Mancari – Over and Over
Louisa Rowley – Love Me For All of My Flaws
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps

NEW TRACK: NewDad – ‘Angel’

A magnetic, heady guitar tune exploring noxious behaviours in romantic relationships, Galway alt-rock four piece NewDad have shared their latest single ‘Angel’. Taken from their upcoming debut album, Madra, which is set for release on 26th January 2024 via Fair Youth/Atlantic Records, the track is inspired by the destructive relationship between characters Rue and Jules in hit TV show Euphoria.

Initially guided by the sounds of Pixies, The Cure and Slowdive, NewDad blend cinematic influences with personal epiphanies to create their bittersweet shoegaze sounds. Their debut full length record Madra – which means “dog” in Irish – is a culmination of these inspirations, centered around reflections on self-sabotage, self-medication and depression, whilst finding catharsis in being openly vulnerable about these issues.

Written in their home city of Galway, before the band relocated to London this year, Madra was produced by NewDad’s long-time collaborator Chris W Ryan (Just Mustard) and mixed by Alan Moulder (The Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Wet Leg). Vocalist and guitarist Julie explains more about the themes behind the band’s upcoming record: “Madra explores various difficult parts of the human condition and the idea of the title is that these feelings that come up are sometimes ones you can’t escape – feelings that follow you around like a dog. We had an amazing team around us who helped bring these songs to life and we’re so excited for this album to be out in the world. We hope that people connect with the songs and that Madra can be a comfort to everyone who listens.”

Opening single ‘Angel’ is a culmination of these elements. Fuelled by hypnotic riffs, brooding bass lines and Julie’s distinctive, lullaby-like vocals, it’s a melodic musing on the spiralling nature of toxic romance. Listen to ‘Angel’ below.

NewDad UK & Ireland Tour Dates 2023 & 2024
1 Dec 2023 – Galway, Roisin Dubh
24 Feb 2024 – Leeds, Belgrave Music Hall
25 Feb 2024 – Manchester, Band On The Wall
26 Feb 2024 – Glasgow, St Luke’s
28 Feb 2024 – Dublin, Button Factory
2 March 2024 – Birmingham, O2 Institute
3 March 2024 – Bristol, Trinity
5 March 2024 – London, Koko

Follow NewDad on bandcamp, Spotify, TikTok, Twitter (X), Facebook & Instagram

Photo Credit: Zyanya-Lorenzo

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut