INTERVIEW: HUSSY

South London-based multi-instrumentalist, producer and professional sound engineer HUSSY aka Sophie Nicole Ellison is gearing up to release her debut self-titled EP on 23rd of July. Adopting her musical moniker from a T-shirt slogan, HUSSY is a totally self-sufficient artist with full creative control, something which shines through on her upcoming collection of polished, swirling, grungy guitar tunes.

We caught up with HUSSY to talk about her new record, her anticipations for her gig at The Waiting Room on 7th October, air guitar-ing to Sheryl Crow as a kid and the balancing act that occurs when you’re “DIY with high ambitions”…

 

Hello Sophie, let’s start from the beginning…who or what first inspired you to start making your own music?

I’ve always been a creative person and needing to make things and have a channel in that way for self expression, whether it be art or fashion when I was younger as well as music. Music was this super exciting world beyond me which combines all those things. I think a big part of it was my upbringing being so extremely isolated and not having any siblings or friends around, so I just buried myself into creating things. I would take my parent’s record collection and then dig deeper into those artists. One sticking out I remember is hearing Sheryl Crow’s ‘If It Makes You Happy’ on the stereo and playing air guitar on a tennis racket. I also had a cassette recorder and a Casio organ keyboard which I would make songs on. It took me a while to have the confidence to actually do it on my own in a public way though and it wasn’t until I studied Sound Engineering in University, I found people and started playing in bands.

You’re releasing your debut EP on 23rd July via your own label, Rock Hag (love the name). You wrote, played, recorded and produced the entire thing yourself which is incredibly impressive. What are the pros and cons of taking everything on yourself? You have full creative control, but it must be a demanding job too?

Rock Hag is my name for myself when I’m an old lady still playing guitar and rocking out, and also my view on how we need more female Mick Jaggers in the world! Pros of taking everything on yourself are: it’s incredibly rewarding and being in the studio recording, wearing many hats is my favourite thing in the world to do. Individuality is really important to me in art and I know that everything I create is unique to me and it’s genuine, otherwise there’s no point for me. I love challenging myself and digging deep that way. Cons are: I guess it’s more emotionally taxing to deal with things on your own and you’re entirely responsible for everything that surfaces under your name and output. But to be honest, I couldn’t imagine it not being that way after having done it like this for so long. Another con is it takes longer to do things that cost money on your own, you can’t split those costs so it just takes a little longer to work to afford things.

Aside from producing everything yourself – what would you say you are you most proud of when it comes to this EP?

Just having played everything myself and stuck to my ethos in that way and feeling proud of how because I did that, I achieved what I wanted to with the songs. The ultimate thing for me with doing that is achieving a songs’ intention and what I’m trying to communicate, so I feel like this process is my extension of the songs being so personal. I may completely change this method in the future and would like to collaborate a bit with friends, but so far this is what I’ve done. Me knowing the technical stuff just makes my job easier when I’m shutting my brain off to do the creative stuff. The song-writing to me is the ultimate most important thing. I’m also proud of how cohesive but varied they are and how they carry a thread between them as a whole record. It’s the first time I’ve actually felt proud of something I’ve done as a whole and I think that’s down to the fact I could show a few different sides across a long EP.

Do you have a favourite track on the EP? If so, why?

I love them all! But I really like ‘Messing’ a lot and the outro on ‘Moths’. I feel like ‘Messing’ really hits a mood, that one was one where I wrote and recorded the demo vocals at once so it’s kind of stream of consciousness created which I love. I love the outro in ‘Moths’ as I had a vague idea in my head of how I wanted that part on the drums to go but didn’t plan it beforehand. I think I did 3 takes of that and chose the best ‘jam’. I love that element of spontaneity. I feel like that outro is my nod to having listened to Helium and Pavement so much growing up, weeding its way in there.

You describe yourself as “DIY with high ambitions”. Can you elaborate on that a little more? What goals/ambitions are you trying to achieve with your music?

DIY with high ambitions is me saying even though I’m doing this all myself I don’t want it to sound like I necessarily am. It’s made DIY but I have ambition with the project. For me it’s what you make out of what you have. I want it to sound as good as possible and I work really hard to make everything considered and high fi sounding whilst my personality is in it. I just want to feel like people are connecting to and getting something out of the music, like I get so much out of connecting to others music myself.

We all know Covid-19 has had a huge impact on musicians and their livelihoods over the last year and a half. Is there something or someone who helped you get through the lockdown periods?

Working on music during that time definitely helped and I’m super grateful to have an outlet to focus on and something I’m doing that feels greater than myself during that time. Being with my partner and keeping in touch with friends, doing lots of Zoom Catan and Focaccia baking sessions, cycling and doing lots of walking whilst listening to music. I also basically finished Zelda Ocarina of Time on Nintendo 64.

What are your anticipations for your gig at The Waiting Room on 7th October? Have you missed playing live over the last year?

I hope it can go ahead safely most importantly! The last gig I played was part of The New Colossus festival in New York which was right when everything was shutting down in March 2020. I’m super excited to play again with my friends. I really missed it but have just been trying to focus on writing and finishing music in its absence. Imagine it might feel pretty surreal after it being so long.

Is there anyone who you’re looking forward to catching live again? If so, why?

There’s lots of guilty pleasure artists I didn’t see before lockdown that I would love to see given the chance now…maybe some big cheesy rock shows. There’s also been lots of artists put albums out I’ve been loving over the last year so would love to finally see those albums played live. I have tickets to see Caroline Polacheck which I know will be amazing.

Finally, any bands or artists that you recommend we listen to?

I’ve really been enjoying 70s rock at the minute which has been super uplifting to listen to. Me and Alex and Chris in the live band all went down a Steely Dan rabbithole over the last lockdown so that has been a fun journey to go down at the same time. It’s really uplifting and also exciting to see and appreciate that era of extravagance and bigness in music.

Thanks to HUSSY for answering our qustions!

Follow HUSSY on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Photo credit: Pooneh Ghana

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Introducing Interview: Alice Mary

Following her last single ‘Too Much’, London based artist Alice Mary has now shared the second of four singles to be released this year. Reflecting on the mix of feelings that can overwhelm the mind after a break-up, ‘Mystery‘ offers a jangly slice of swirling indie-pop. With shades of the uptempo danceability of the likes of Blondie, it showcases Alice’s sweeping vocals alongside funk-tinged hooks and a scuzzy energy.

We caught up with Alice to find out more… !

Hi Alice, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hello! I’m a singer-songwriter, producer and guitarist and I make indie pop music which combines my love of classic pop from the ’80s and ’90s with modern production and introspective lyrics.

What initially inspired you to start creating music?
I started having guitar lessons when I was eleven – I would bring along tapes and CDs of songs I wanted to learn and my teacher would work them out by ear and teach me how to play them. It sort of forced me to develop a music taste because I had to bring something every week to learn and luckily I lived in a house with three older siblings whose record collections I could raid! Then, after I’d been learning for about a year, my teacher said “I think you should start writing your own music now”. I wasn’t very good and I thought you had to be good at playing music before you were allowed to write it, but he just gave me the permission to go ahead and start. After that I never really stopped writing music!

You’ve just released your twinkling new single ‘Mystery’, can you tell us a bit about this? Is it focused on any particular themes?
The lyrics are about this back and forth I do in my head where I can be a bit all or nothing. It’s looking back on a break up and thinking – “I have to completely forgive this person and be their best friend”, or “I have to hate them and we’ll never speak again”, or “am I still in love with them?”. I could get stuck in this black and white thinking and struggle to make decisions, but I am a bit better at seeing the nuance and the in-between solutions now! After all the back and forth in the verse and pre chorus the clarity comes in the chorus: “I don’t really like you, you’re just what I’m used to / I’m happy that we’re done, I just miss having someone.”

We love your shimmering, heartfelt dream-pop sounds, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
Hmmm, so many! For these latest songs probably St Vincent, Prince, Radiohead and Joni Mitchell.

You’ve previously charmed us with your beautiful live set at The Amersham Arms a few years ago – but can you tell those who may not have had the pleasure of seeing you what to expect from your live shows?
I have two different kind of live shows – one with a bassist and drummer where I play electric guitar and sing and have some electronic sounds I playback on an iPad, and one where I play and sing solo with special arrangements on the acoustic guitar.

And, although we are still far from ‘normality’ at the moment, do you have any plans to gig in the near future? And if so, where/when?
I feel like I’m not supposed to say this but: I haven’t missed playing live that much! I’m wondering if when I start to do it again that’s when all the pain of missing out on it this last year will hit me, but I don’t know. I find playing live very stressful and although I enjoy it once I’m up there, all of the organising and psyching myself up beforehand is quite hard. All of that is to say I don’t have any gigs booked and I’m quite ok with it! If I get offered anything good (and safe!) I’ll go with it, but I’m not making any effort to book anything right now.

How have you been connecting with your audience and other musicians during the pandemic?
Instagram! I’ve been lucky to be quite creative during the last year and have enjoyed sharing my experimentation via videos on my instagram stories. I also joined a Facebook group for women and gender minorities working in music production called ‘2% Rising’, which has been great for learning and sharing ideas.

And has there been anything/anyone specific that has been inspiring you, or helping to motivate you, throughout these strange times?
I started having Zoom piano lessons a year ago and I’m still learning now – I love it and I’m so surprised! Not being able to play the piano was always a secret shame of mine, but now I can and it’s given me so much confidence in myself.

How do you feel the music industry is for new artists at the moment – would you say it’s difficult to get noticed?
The music industry is still a complete mystery to me, and I think that’s by design. There are amazing people who aren’t getting noticed and not very good people who have managers and agents. It’s a business, so they play it safe because they don’t want to lose money. So in answer to your question: yes, it is hard to get noticed by gatekeepers in the industry, but do we even need them anymore when you can reach fans directly through social media? That’s its own kettle of fish – it seems almost completely random to me what gains success online, but in a weird way that has helped me because I feel free to just try anything. There isn’t one way to find success, so you may as well just try things out and see who connects with it – if no one does, then try something else!

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any other upcoming artists that you’d recommend we check out?
I always want to shout out my friends, so I have to say: Hayley Ross, Semi Precious and James Chapman And The Blue Moon.

Finally, what does the rest of 2021 have in store for Alice Mary?
I have a re-release of an old song coming out for Bandcamp Friday in September. Then two more singles coming out in the autumn, and some recording this summer which I’m excited about. I’m also hoping to produce and mix some other artists.

Massive thanks to Alice for answering our questions!

Listen to Alice Mary’s new single, ‘Mystery’, here:

Photo Credit: Ben Peter Catchpole

mariangelicalaneLeave a comment

Five Favourites: F.R.U.I.T.Y

Following the release of ‘Bela Lugosi’s Dead’ and ‘Not Quite Exceptional’, Belfast-based queer artist Dan O’Rawe – aka F.R.U.I.T.Y – has now shared the first single from their upcoming debut EP, set for release next month. Propelled by off-kilter glitchy beats, ‘U.P.S‘ offers a wonderfully quirky, futuristic soundscape whilst reflecting on themes of identity in O’Rawe’s trademark deadpan Northern Irish drawl. As twinkling hooks flow with a cinematic splendour, it’s a glistening, uplifting slice of alt-electro-pop; a perfect soundtrack to woozy summer evenings. Of the track, they comment: “… it’s the summer loving comedown. The doubt, the reflection and the ending of those summer days… something underscored by the blissed-out, but tired, mind...”

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, to mark the release of ‘U.P.S’ today, we caught up with Dan to ask about their “Five Favourites” – five songs that they love the most. Check out their choices below and scroll down to listen to ‘U.P.S’.

Easy Life – ‘A Message to Myself’ 
I absolutely vibe so hard with this song, there is a tremendous flow to the lyrics that I am obsessed with. It speaks for itself, just be yourself. I love how much they reflect what is happening right now. In twenty years’, time, I can picture myself feeling super nostalgic for this time already. They also sent me this little merch air freshener fish with the single, which was a fun bonus!  

Remi Wolf – ‘Shawty’ 
Whenever this song comes on, I feel energised. It is so damn fun. I love lyrics that follow a mundane narrative, I know that is bizarre, but it is just really relatable. The layered vocal style she uses is something I take inspiration from. It has an early 2000s vibe; I can feel the low-rise jeans with a thong showing energy.  

Tayo Sound – ‘Cold Feet’ 
I like how this song starts with that initial infatuation with someone, the woozy start when you are so nervous you get mad butterflies. It has a tasty hook. It is easy, breezy & fresh. I always find myself attracted to that in music. Music tends to have a big effect on my mood for the day, this song always makes me feel sunny and chill.  

Ms. White – ‘Fuck Men’ 
… because Fuck Men. Haha.  

Kojaque – ‘Town’s Dead‘
Some local talent representation with Kojaque. The lyrics are so well written, a deep sense of humour but making a bunch of decent points too. There is a big punk energy to this one – it sounds like it would be unreal live (hit me up for a support slot Kojaque… Or a date, whatever’s easiest for ya!).

Massive thanks to Dan for sharing their Five Favourites!

F.R.U.I.T.Y, the eponymous debut EP, is set for release on 5th August. Listen to new single ‘U.P.S’ now:

mariangelicalane1 Comment

PREMIERE: Alice SK – ‘Another Girl’s Man’

Following collaborations with Muca (L.A Salami, Los Bitchos) and Bossa Nova legend Roberto Menescal, songwriter Alice SK has now announced her debut EP, set for release later this year, and today shares the poignant first single.

Reflecting on feelings of love turning sour and the self-destructive tendencies this can evoke, ‘Another Girl’s Man’ combines lilting, blues-infused melodies with folk-strewn gentle strumming; a perfect musical soundscape providing the backdrop for Alice’s sweeping, emotion-rich vocals. Oozing a sparkling grace and soulful splendour, it’s a twinkling heartfelt ballad that’ll soothe the ears and calm the mind with its stirring, effervescent charm.

‘Another Girl’s Man’ is produced by Muca. Of the collaboration, Alice SK comments:

“I’ve been writing for years and it never really crossed my mind to get involved with others on the writing side of things; but when I heard a few of Muca’s other projects and his ideas for the demos that I showed him, I thought it could be a great combination of our two sounds and I’m hoping that that comes across in the tracks too.”

Listen to ‘Another’s Girl’s Man’ for the first time here:

‘Another Girl’s Man’ is out tomorrow, 15th July, and is taken from Alice SK’s upcoming debut EP, set for release later this year.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

mariangelicalaneLeave a comment