Five Favourites: Maple Glider

Following acclaim for her 2021 debut from the likes of Pitchfork, NME and Rolling Stone, Australian artist Tori Zietsch – aka Maple Glider – released her stunning second album I Get Into Trouble last year, and it was one of my most listened to, and favourite, releases of 2023. Offering a poignant reflection on her Christian upbringing, reflecting on themes of shame, consent and sexuality, it’s a truly stirring collection of starkly honest, yet delicately beautiful, compositions.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, ahead of her upcoming UK tour that starts next week, we spoke to Tori about some of the British artists who inspire her the most. Read about her five favourites below, and then make sure you nab a ticket to see her majestic splendour live!

Nilufer Yanya
I absolutely adore Nilufer Yanya. When Miss Universe came out in 2019 I was obsessed. At the same time I was also unknowingly writing my first album. ‘Heavyweight Champion of the Year’ is unreal – the vocals are incredible. And I think ‘Safety Net‘ was on a playlist I was listening to when I was working on my second album. I’m also really loving all of the new songs being released as well as all the visuals . Especially ‘Like I Say (I Runaway)‘. Runaway bride forever. I can’t wait for the new album!

Bat For Lashes 
I think I may have illegally downloaded (Limewire) Two Suns (or at least part of it) when it came out in 2009. Sorry! I was in grade ten. From that time, I remember it was a lot of this and M83. ‘Daniel’ is the obvious pick, but I also loved ‘Siren Song’ and ‘Sleep Alone’! So spooky. The Haunted Man is another one of my favourite albums, and the video clip for ‘Laura’ is one of my faves. And then I also listened to ‘I Do’ and ‘Widow’s Peak’ from The Bride a lot when writing my second album.

Nick Drake
I got pretty into surrealism when I was in high school, and so I loved the album cover for Pink Moon. Somewhere around the same time I also fell in love with fingerpicking – it’s the only way I’d play guitar. I love the intimacy of the recordings on Pink Moon, and the piano is so cute. And then ‘Sunday’ off Bryter Layter is so dreamy.

Cleo Sol
My manager sent me Mother when it came out in 2021; we’d spent most of the last year in lockdown, and it brought me to tears. It’s one of the most beautiful albums I’ve ever heard. I’d just released my first album and felt more open to writing again. I think subconsciously it inspired me to write my song ‘You’re Gonna Be A Daddy’. ‘Don’t Let Me Fall‘, ‘Know That You Are Loved‘, ‘We Need You’ – all stand out songs; just the whole damn album melts my heart and entire being. I’m a puddle.

Laura Marling 
The first time I heard about Laura Marling, I saw her on a magazine cover; it was black and white, and I think the article said she was 17…? I’ve been following her music for however many years it has been since then and I have deeply loved the journey. Her Song Exploder for ‘Song For Our Daughter’ is unbelievably beautiful – she speaks so gracefully and with so much patience and care. I admire that. When ‘Patterns’ came out I’d just lost an old friend. I can physically feel my heart ache when I listen to it.

Huge thanks to Maple Glider for sharing her five favourites with us. We can’t wait to be immersed in her shimmering allure at The Courtyard Theatre on 5th September!

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FIVE FAVOURITES: bedbug

Developing from a lo-fi bedroom-pop solo project into a fully fledged indie rock band, LA based group bedbug shared their fourth album, pack your bags, the sun is growing, via Boston label Disposable America earlier this year.

Along with bandmates Owen Harrelson, Minerva Rodriguez, Meilyn Huq and Drew Cunningham, non-binary front-person Dylan Gamez Citron fleshed out bedbug’s new sound in the studio, and the result is an infectious blend of indie guitar riffs, confessional lyricism and surrealist storytelling, which marks their most “ambitious” work to date.

Having previously supported the likes of Japanese Breakfast, Grouper, Lomelda, Snail Mail, Strange Ranger, yourarmsaremycocoon and Frog, with their new fully fledged sound, bedbug are sure to capture the ears of a new set of fans.

We think one of the best ways to get to know a band is by asking what music inspired them to write in the first place. We caught up with Dylan to ask about their “Five Favourites” – five tracks that have inspired their songwriting techniques. Check out their choices below and scroll down to listen to bedbug’s latest single ‘halo on the interstate‘ at the end of this post…

1. Julia Brown – ‘Bloom’
This list is as much a list of my favorite songs as it is equivalently a list of my biggest inspirations when songwriting. So, it only makes sense to start here. This track is the closing track off of an album I can only describe as a modern opus, An Abundance of Strawberries. When I discovered this album (and consequently this song), I was slowly assembling an arsenal of songwriting and production elements that I felt would fit together and that I personally loved. Acoustic guitars, drum machines, synths, cassette warmth, vocals that aren’t overwhelming. Then I found this album. Honestly, at the time I couldn’t believe it existed, like it was just a perfect culmination of my favorite musical stuff. I still feel that way! And this final song sticks the landing like none other. Perfect track!

2. Modest Mouse – ‘Edit the Sad Parts’
I love discovering music, but in many ways I’m a victim of my own sentimentality. Most of the tracks on this list are high school discoveries. This track was my go-to reply to the all-to-common question “what is your favorite song” in high school. And yet, if you were to ask me why, I’m not sure I could explain it! Modest Mouse is still my favorite band (I have the tattoo to prove it), but I love dozens of their songs. It doesn’t have the best riffs (that would go to ‘Broke’ or ‘Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset’) or lyrics (that’s ‘Bankrupt on Selling’). But I do think it’s the perfect snapshot of what I’d consider a perfect band. To me, this is the most “Modest Mouse” sounding song at all. Slightly emo, scrappy, full of youthful energy, it’s the perfect song to blast out of the car window on a visit to your hometown.

3. Cap’n Jazz – ‘Ooh Do I Love You’ (Acoustic)
When I was in high school, I discovered 90’s indie rock greats like Pavement, Built to Spill and Guided By Voices. My mind was blown (obviously). And then a few years passed. Nothing was scratching the same itch! Modern emo felt too whiny (though I still loved it at the time), indie rock was too produced and bombastic. Hardcore/punk was too angsty and angry for me. I wasn’t really pissed off, mostly anxious and lonely! Indie music in general was grandiose and trying really really hard. Stark contrast to the 90’s era. Fans of Cap’n Jazz can tell where I’m headed with this. A band of high school students, a single poorly recorded anthology record. Bursting with heart, full of beautiful imperfections and esoteric lyricism. And that’s all laid bare on the acoustic version of ‘Ooh Do I Love You’. Why couldn’t all emo be like this?

4. The Radio Dept – ‘Lost and Found’
Something I’m currently realizing, as I type is that every single one of these songs is an album closer. I’m not sure that’s a coincidence. Closer tracks fill the role of the final chapter of a good book, tying up loose ends and making the artist’s intent clearer. I love full albums, and the first Radio Dept album is one of my favorites of all time. I think this is the most beautiful track on it. I can’t think of another track that layers instrumentation to create such a gorgeous soundscape. The lyrics are sad but hopeful, lonely and sentimental. It’s really one of the most therapeutic songs for me.

5. Brave Little Abacus – ‘Orange Blue With Stripes’
This song is really lightning in a bottle to me. The songwriting process for that whole record feels elusive and mysterious, like the songs emerged fully formed out of the ether. How in the world is there lyrical interplay between the vocals and pre-recorded samples from Malcolm in the Middle? Do the repeating lyrical motifs mean anything? Typically, I’m not one to overanalyze a metaphor, I certainly have my fair share of abstraction in lyricism. However, something about the writing on this record begs to be interpreted. And I hope it never is! The mystery is so much more fun. And all of those unresolved melodies and lyrics culminate in ‘Orange, Blue With Stripes’. It was a really special song to me as a teenager, and only became more special at my final show in Boston before I moved. Thanks, Adam.

Thanks to Dylan for sharing their favourites with us!

Listen to bedbug’s latest single ‘halo on the interstate’ below

Follow bedbug on bandcamp, Spotify, X & Instagram

Photo Credit: Dustin J Watson

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

LISTEN: GIHE on Soho Radio with Julia-Sophie (19.08.24)

Tash and Kate were back on Soho Radio playing loads of new music from some of their favourite female, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ artists. Mari offered some of her “musical musings” too. They spoke about having a brat summer, Tash’s hectic holiday schedule and Kate’s excitement for Gazelle Twin’s upcoming appearance at Birmingham’s Supersonic Festival in September.

Kate also caught up with Anglo-French electronic artist and GIHE fave Julia-Sophie to talk about her debut album, forgive too slow. Released via Ba Da Bing Records at the end of July, Julia spoke earnestly about the challenges she faced when creating the record and the joy she felt when Sharon Van Etten reached out via Instagram to say that she had been listening to it.

Artists featured on the eclectic playlist included Problem Patterns, Lipsticism, Midwife, Berries, HUSK, Ideal Host, Maria Uzor, Moonchild Sanelly, Hello Mary and more.

Listen back to the show below:


 

We’ll be back on Soho Radio on Monday 16th September from 12-2pm
 Make sure you tune in via www.sohoradiolondon.com

Tracklist
FKA Twigs – Two Weeks
Charli xcx – Club Classics
Lipsticism – Free
Clinic Stars – Only Hinting
Maria Uzor – What You Need
Moonchild Sanelly, Self Esteem – Big Man
Sequela – Zavander
Hello Mary – 0%
Problem Patterns – I Think You Should Leave
Ms Ray – Signs
Baby Cool – The Sea
Ideal Host – Dust Collector
Nina Eba – 13
Julia-Sophie – Wishful Thinking
**Interview with Julia-Sophie**
Midwife – Rock N Roll Never Forgets
Planningtorock – Smalltown Boy
Gazelle Twin – A Door Opens (Live)
Berries – Watching Wax
Tex – Sound of You
Folk Bitch Trio – Analogue
Um, Jennifer? – Went On T
Husk – Open Waters
Desperate Journalist – Afraid
Cherry Blur – Cool About It
Portishead – Glory Box

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LIVE: Deer Shed Festival 2024 – A Child’s View

In addition to all the fantastic music that North Yorkshire’s Deer Shed treats us to, the festival also prides itself on its family friendly focus and array of activities on offer for children to enjoy. To get full insight into what the festival experience might be like for under 5s, we thought it only right to ask our very own next generation GIHE gal Orla her own thoughts about spending Saturday at Deer Shed a few weeks’ back..

John McGovern has put to pen what Orla told us, with highlights including face-painting, big caterpillars and Baba Ali…

Mama and Daddy had told me we were going to a festival. I had done a festival day at nursery and I had played guitar, but we had to go in the car to this one. When we got out of the car I had nearly been asleep, but I could hear music from the car park, and there were lots of trees. I got into my cart and Daddy asked: “How are you feeling?” and I said: “GOOD!”. And when he asked “What are you looking forward to doing?”, I said “Going in!”

I got a special wristband – Mama said I had to keep it on the whole time. I could see hundreds of tents when we walked in, and lots of children but some were older than me (I’m three). Daddy bought me some ear defenders and I chose red ones. Then Mama said it was lunchtime, and we didn’t know what to get because there was so many places. But I like golden cheese and chips, so we got that. Daddy says ‘golden cheese’ is actually called halloumi…

We were on our way to the special bit for kids, but Mama said we should also look in the shops, and someone was doing face painting. Last time I got my face painted I chose Bluey, but this time I wanted rainbows to match my dress. I felt really magical because the lady put big sparkly glitter on my face. Then we got to a thing Daddy called ‘Feral Farm’ – it was full of straw. Big kids were building straw in piles and other kids were sliding on it. I threw straw on Daddy and put straw in his shoes – that was my favourite bit. I didn’t want to leave, but Daddy said there was other things to see.

There was a big playground built of wood and kids with tools smashing it, and a field with kids playing football, and a mud kitchen. But I wanted to play in sand; I took my wellies and socks off and stood on the sand, and other girls did too. We found a worm and built him a house. Mama said there was soft play, so we went in the tent to look – I ran up and down and had to balance on it. Then I rode on a big caterpillar. In there, Daddy asked me questions – “what’s your favourite thing about the festival?”, I said “Kids”.

There was a lot of things that we looked at too – a tent with kids doing experiments, and a clown in a big tent. I wish we had more time, but Daddy said we should go and see at least one band. We rolled in my cart back towards the big stage and it started to rain. But no-one seemed sad about the rain. They went into a tent with a big long table and started to dance to some music – Daddy said it was where you could get silly juice, but I’m not allowed to have any yet… All the grown ups and the kids were happy, even when it rained.

We went up a hill near a big wheel that people were riding on and Daddy said “There’s Mari!”. And a lady with white hair like Mama, and a man with a big beard were there (he was Uncle Paul). I showed Paul my Miffy bag and then I ran into a big tent. Me and Daddy played tig, and Daddy said there would be a band on the stage soon, and people started coming in. Daddy asked whether I wanted to hear quiet music or loud music, and I said “Loud!” We stood far back but Daddy put me on his shoulders so I could see. Two boys came out; one played guitar and one sang. It was VERY LOUD like I wanted, and I had my red ear defenders on. It was the best. I wanted Daddy to put me on the ground so I could dance, and my wellies lighted up and then Mama held me, and I danced and danced and danced. And was smiling the whole time. The boys playing guitar and singing were called Baba Ali, and they are my favourite band.

Daddy said we had to go after that because it would be bedtime when we got home. But I got a green t-shirt so I could show people I had been to Deer Shed. When I saw the tents again on the way to the car, I told Daddy that I wanted a tent for next year at the festival. I fell asleep in the car going home and had dreams about music and dancing and straw. I like thinking about the festival and Baba Ali, and I want to go again when I am bigger.

Massive thanks to Orla for telling us about her day at Deer Shed this year – it sounds like she had a wonderful time, and she would definitely recommend it to other children!

You can read our ‘grown up’ reviews of days one and two at Deer Shed a few weeks’ back, with highlights including Los Bitchos, The Go! Team, Picture Parlour and Liz Lawrence. And keep your eyes peeled for some words and photos of Sunday at the festival, coming very soon!

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