Interview: Young Romance

We’ve been big fans of duo Young Romance ever since they charmed us with their completely dreamy sounds and ethereal splendour playing for us live at The Finsbury in 2016. And so this week, we were super excited to hear the announcement of their spellbinding second album Don’t Look.

To celebrate the good news, our Nicky had a quick catch up with the duo.

Welcome back to Get In Her Ears, we’re all excited about the release of Don’t Look! We’ve seen that it’s another self release?
Thanks, happy to be back! Yes, it will be released via Banquet Records again which worked really well for us last time.

In what ways would you say it differs from your 2016 debut, Another’s Blood?
This record was made with a different approach to our debut, and probably reflects a bit more what our live show has become. It’s a bit more raw but has the same pop sensibilities than the last one has.

Are you hoping to embark on another extensive tour for the album release?
We’ve had a release show this week at The Social in London and will be playing an in-store at Banquet Records on Tuesday 6th November, but we are hoping to tour more extensively next year once the record has settled in a bit!

What was the deciding factor in forming a band together in the first place?
We had been in bands together prior to Young Romance, and when those came to an end we continued to write songs together but weren’t actually looking to form a band at that point. I think after working on the songs it was a kind of natural progression wanting to try them live, and it just went from there really.

Do you both have different artists / bands which you draw inspiration from?
We both have a fairly similar taste in music, but there will always be places where we differ. I think we generally meet in the middle on things and that’s where the songs come from.

Heartbreak seems to be the running theme throughout your releases so far, how far do you think music can heal us?
I really find it interesting with music that two people can listen to the same song and take completely different meaning from it. There is nothing greater than immersing yourself in a song, whether it is to wallow or to dance, and it transcends where you are at that moment and I think that can be incredibly healing.

Huge thanks to Young Romance for answering our questions! 

Don’t Look is out now via Banquet Records. Buy here. 

Photo Credit: Niki Parr

 

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Video Premiere: Catgod – ‘Sleep In’

Having previously charmed crowds at Truck Festival, Cornbury Festival and many Sofar Sounds showcases, as well as receiving praise from the likes of Tom Robinson and Lauren Laverne on BBC 6 Music, Oxford band Catgod have now followed the success of last single ‘Keep My Promises’ with an utterly immersive new offering. Lead by sibling duo Catherine Marriott and Robin Christensen-Marriott, the band fuse together an eclectic array of sounds to create something simply captivating.

Inspired by the turbulent feelings of mistrust in a relationship, ‘Sleep In’ flows with the sweeping grandeur of Catherine’s folk-strewn flute melodies alongside sparkling harmonies and a completely bewitching delicate musicality. Oozing a soaring emotion-strewn splendour, it’s an utterly unique and instantly alluring fusion of sounds. Of the track, the band explain:

“It’s about the turbulent feelings you have in a relationship where you don’t quite trust the other person. It’s about wanting to stay in bed with them all day but also having nightmares about them with other people.”

Now, accompanied by a beautifully shot video filled with dreamy pastoral images to match the spellbinding musicality of the track, ‘Sleep In’ showcases all there is to love about this band, and marks them out as truly innovative masters of their craft.

Watch the brand new video for ‘Sleep In’ here:

‘Sleep In’ is out now via Could We Could. Stream it now on Spotify.

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Video Premiere: Hilma Nikolaisen – ‘Only Me’

Following 2016’s debut Puzzler, Norwegian artist Hilma Nikolaisen has announced her upcoming new album Mjusic will be released next month, and has now graced our ears with an infectious new single.

Flowing with scuzzy hooks alongside Nikolaisen’s swooning, languid vocals, ‘Only Me’ oozes shades of the mellow alt-rock of the likes of Courtney Barnett or Pip Blom. Fuelled with impressive riffs and jangly, lo-fi melodies, it’s propelled by a paradoxical visceral energy whilst at the same time emanating all the dreamy, laid-back feels before it speeds to a final, whirring climax. Accompanied by a psychedelic new video, featuring artwork from Vanessa Baird, ‘Only Me’ is an uplifting slice of rock ‘n’ roll with a contemporary edge.

Of the video, Nikolaisen expands:

“I am a big fan of the artist Vanessa Baird. In 2016 I was fortunate to feature her work on the cover art for my debut album ‘Puzzler’. Baird’s breathtaking exhibition ‘You Are Something Else’ was really something else. I’m proud and grateful to have ‘Only Me’ and ‘You Are Something Else’ connected in this video.”

Mjusic, the upcoming new album from Hilma Nikolaisen, is out 30th November.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Lips Choir announce upcoming ‘Club Classics’ gigs

A singing collective for anyone who self-identifies as female, inclusive London-based Lips Choir have just announced their biggest gigs to date, with two nights planned at Clapham Grand on 14th and 15th November.

Talking about the importance of Lips Choir, Sally O’Connor from the group says:

“Feminist choirs are offering something that hasn’t really existed much before now – a space for women to take up space and create their own sound and to use their voices to make change in the world. There’s a lot of power and joy in a group of people coming together and singing…“

With Lips Choir having previously sold out The Coronet and performed at Bestival, Wilderness and The Royal Albert Hall, next month’s gigs will be celebrating their collection of songs Club Classics: The Lips Remix, and will treat fans to a brand new set that explores the history of dance music in sweet harmony.

Complete with a six-piece all-female live band and special guests including 4x UK beatboxing champion Grace Savage, these gigs looks set to be fun-filled, uplifting events to definitely put in the diary!

Of the event, musical director Jessica Maryon Davis explains:

“With this gig, we’re going big on all areas of dance music. We want to bring the Lips sound to everything from Acid House to UK Garage and give props to those varied voices which created the all-time club classics everyone knows and loves. Being a choir, it’ll add a different twist – people aren’t used to hearing up-tempo club tunes sung in choral harmony!“

Tickets are £15 (£8 for concessions) and the choir will also be raising money for WAST (Women Asylum Seekers Together). Tickets are available here.

 

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