EP: Indian Queens – ‘You When I Close My Eyes’

The ever cool Indian Queens have shared their debut EP You When I Close My Eyes, and it’s an atmospheric, driving compilation of sounds that prove the Hackney trio are set for big things. Released via Cool Thing Records, the EP is filled with hazy guitars, mesmeric vocals, and brooding percussion; making it the perfect soundtrack for an autumnal evening in London.

The record opens with title track ‘You When I Close My Eyes’, which was inspired by the binary opposites of “ugly and beautiful”. Jennifer O’Neill’s clear, strong vocals permeate the track, alongside sultry bass lines and grungy guitar riffs. ‘Wish You Well’ follows, blushing with an intense romantic need to be next to a lover, with its hushed vocals and catchy chorus.

The band’s first single ‘I Get No Rest’ – written during the midst of a massive political shift (Brexit, the general election) and in the wake of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire – is a response to the inescapable feeling that (as Jennifer puts it) “rich ‘important’ people were taking the piss out of our lives”. The song’s steady percussion and moody bass lines create a jaded, but seductively atmospheric tune that remains in the mind long after it stops spinning.

Equal parts driving and delicate, ‘Pretty Little Thing’ is as attractive to the ears as its name suggests. It’s an infectious blur of hypnotic vocals and shoe gaze guitar sounds, inspired by a childhood memory of being safe and happy in a Grandparent’s garden. This nostalgic undertone makes the track ring out with warmth and understated joy, before closing track ‘Us Against The World’ proves that Indian Queens have the potential to produce original, magnetic, meaningful sounds.

Together, Jennifer, Katherine, and Matt have created an EP that warrants all the praise it’s been receiving from critics and fans alike. It’s no surprise the band received a standing ovation earlier this year after their set at Robert Smith’s Meltdown Festival – You When I Close My Eyes is a stunning debut from this compelling trio.

Download Indian Queens’ debut EP here. Follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Five Favourites: Annabel Allum

After seeing Annabel Allum support Australian songwriter Stella Donnelly earlier this year at The Lexington, we knew her talent would take her to the places she wanted to be. She’s been gigging relentlessly this year, with spots at Reading Festival, BBC Radio 1’s Biggest Weekend, The Great Escape and Boardmasters and more, and now she’s heading out on a headline tour of the UK.

We caught up with Annabel to ask her about her “Five Favourites” – Five artists or albums that have influenced her songwriting technique. Check out her responses below and make sure you head down to one of her tour dates too.

1. ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’ 
The sounds, the experimental element of it. Just the whole feel of this record stands very close to me. It always has done. Every track has a very vivid memory or feeling.

2. Janis Joplin
Her energy and freedom inspire me to let go, her attitude does too. What a woman. And her voice- fucking hell. Not gonna try and use words to explain that one.

3. The XX – ‘XX’
This record always reminds me that less can be more. Space in music is valid, and I don’t always need to fill it.

4. The Mouldy Peaches
Haha, I don’t care what any of my musician friends say, I fucking love the Mouldy Peaches. They remind me to stop taking myself so fucking seriously and singing about real life tiny funny experiences is good. And being loose as a band can be fucking cool too. They’re brilliant.

5. Jimi Hendrix – ‘Are You Experienced?’
Because it reminds me to stop thinking about what is musically correct. I know fuck all music theory, but I know what sounds and feels good.

Annabel Allum UK October 2018 Tour Dates
13th – Crofters Rights – Bristol
15th – Sticky Mikes – Brighton
16th – The Shed (Vault Stage) – Leicester
18th – The Hifi Club – Leeds
19th – Cuban Embassy – Birmingham
20th – SWN Fest – Cardiff
29th – Studio 2 – Liverpool
30th – Moth Club – London

Photo Credit: Caitlin Traetto

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Nimmo – ‘Orange Skies’

The fear of being forgotten permeates London-based electronic outfit Nimmo‘s latest track ‘Orange Skies’. Produced by Maya Jane Coles, the single is taken from the band’s upcoming EP Songs From The Credits, which is set to be independently released in November, and is accompanied by a self-directed set of visuals.

Nimmo are comprised of best friends, musicians & vocalists Sarah Nimmo and Reva Gauntlett, and together they create sharply produced, lo-fi electronic sounds. Talking about their latest track ‘Orange Skies’ in a recent interview with The FADER, Sarah explains: “[it’s] a song about the paranoia of dying and not having control over the way you’re remembered.” This theme of uncertainty and a need for some form of control is brought to the forefront on Nimmo’s upcoming EP. The duo are using their independent release to promote their renewed ethos of putting friends, family and their network of London-based queer creative collaborators first.

The accompanying video for ‘Orange Skies’ is set on a concrete football pitch from Sarah and Reva’s childhood, and sees friends and relatives pass through the band’s own funeral. Having spent the year playing European festival shows, Nimmo are now back to releasing music on their own terms. Watch the video for ‘Orange Skies’ below and follow Nimmo on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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VIDEO PREMIERE: Corina Corina – ‘Toothbrush’

Alt-r&b singer Corina Corina knows how painful a breakup can be, but in her new video for ‘Toothbrush’ she’s managed to transform the pain in to a wonderfully choreographed set of dance motifs. The song is an anthem that “raises a middle finger to an ex with no apologies, no shame, and not an ounce of victimhood” – something we can definitely get behind.

Corina Corina has been working on the ‘Toothbrush’ video since 2016, when she initially scrapped the first incarnation of the video, and start over when she met Brooklyn-based modern dance choreographer Nicole Assanti (Nikki and the Noise Dance Company). Nicole understood her vision, and  together the pair styled and produced the visuals, which were co-directed by Zach Surprenant (Mighty Productive Media). The result is a fierce and poetic piece of modern dance sound-tracked by an equally as fierce new track.

Watch the video for ‘Toothbrush’ below and follow Corina Corina on Facebook for more updates.

Find Corina Corina on:
Spotify
Twitter
Instagram
Corina Corina.com

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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