Introducing Interview: Emily Magpie

Having wowed crowds at Green Man Festival and Sofar Sounds sessions, as well as us at Get In Her Ears when she came in – boombox in tow – to be the loveliest of guests on our radio show earlier this year, Bristol-based artist Emily Magpie is now set to release her sophomore EP.

Filled with all the dreamy, electro-folk sounds you could ever possibly need, The Witching Hour is a collection of utterly spellbinding offerings filled with sweeping soundscapes and a captivating ethereal splendour.

Having just shared sparkling new single ‘Leave It To Fate’, we caught up with Emily to find out more…

Hi Emily! Welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a little bit about your new project?
I started this project a couple of years ago, just me and my ukulele, and knew I wanted to create a bigger sound and explore electronic elements, as in the eclectic array of music I listen to, as I’m very inspired by electronic music production. So, I started exploring, and my sound came from there.

What initially inspired you to start creating music?
I was travelling around quite a lot and had been writing poetry and singing previously, so started to form songs. It just felt like something I needed to do to express myself. I spend a lot of time day-dreaming and reflecting on the world and my life, so it’s a space for me to do that and see if other people connect with it.

We’re loving the new single ‘Leave It To Fate’ – what’s it all about?
Thank you! I wrote it when I went travelling solo in South America last year. I felt like I was walking away from a lot in my life that I liked – it was kind of weird timing and I thought “What the fuck am I doing?”, so I wanted to write a song to encourage myself to be brave and tread a path less trodden.

 

You’ve been compared to the likes of This Is The Kit, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
Thanks again, I love their music, it really connects with me. All sorts, hence why my sound is eclectic I guess! I love good songwriting – emotive beautiful stuff like Ibeyi, Bon Iver, Lykke Li, but then I’m a huge fan of electronic music too. At the moment I’m really into Tom Misch, Maggie Rogers, FKJ and Sylvan Esso.

How is your local music scene? Do you go to see lots of live music?
There’s a great scene in Bristol! It’s a hub, I see music most weeks. Being a musician, you get to meet and see lots of other people making great stuff at gigs you play at, but I regularly go to watch new bands too.

And what can fans expect from your live shows?
I’ve been working my arse off with a new live set up; got a loop pedal and launch pad, and it’s ready to go! So, I’ve been enjoying playing with that on stage now. I love playing live – I like connecting with the audience, which normally translates as me chatting shit in-between songs. I need to learn how to be cooler…

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any other new/upcoming bands or artists you’d suggest we check out?
Just went to see Nugget last week – she’s a brilliant dreamy Bristol artist. Also Jausme is awesome!

And how do you feel the music industry is for new artists at the moment – would you say it’s difficult to get noticed?
I feel I’ve been pretty lucky really, but then my focus isn’t really on that. I think just get your head down, create from your heart, be a good person and go with the flow.

Finally, what does the rest of 2017 have in store for Emily Magpie?
Now my live set up is sorted I’m booking up gigs to get it out there, and keen to get touring lots next year. And The Witching Hour EP is out later this month!

Huge thanks to Emily for answering our questions!

The Witching Hour, the upcoming EP from Emily Magpie, is out 24th November.

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Dance Like I’ve Got Diamonds Present Christmas Extravaganza In Support Of Nia

Following a year filled with putting on events successfully promoting women in music, Dance Like I’ve Got Diamonds are now announcing their last event of 2017, taking place on 6th December at The Victoria, Dalston. In true Christmas spirit this last event will focus on giving back to society, with all net profits from the event going to women’s aid organisation Nia. As always, the event will feature a female dominated line-up, this time consisting of GIHE favourites Dream Nails and West London’s Baby Arms, plus some very special guests.

Recent events such as the #metoo movement have raised a new debate about what most women already knew, how extremely widespread the sexual, physical and psychological violence against women still is and that it can be found almost anywhere – especially in close relationships. With their Christmas Extravaganza event, Dance Like I’ve Got Diamonds wish to continue the debate about what can be done to end men’s violence against women, by giving back to their local community and supporting women’s aid organisation Nia, who specialise in helping victims of rape and domestic violence. 

And who better to headline this event that feminist punk witches, and absolute heroes of ours, Dream Nails. With their ‘Girls to the front!’ ethos and aim to create a safe-space for women and non-binary people at each and everyone of their shows, they’re bound to make this an event to remember. 

Tickets to the event on 6th December at The Victoria are available now from Dice, at £6 per person. All net profits from the event will go straight to the chosen charity Nia and their work towards ending violence against women and children.

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Premiere: The Wild Things – ‘Loaded Gun’ (Behind The Scenes)

Having received acclaim from the likes of Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and Amazing Radio, West London band The Wild Things have also achieved success touring the US and have been featured as BBC London’s ‘featured artist of the week’. Now, having built a reputation for their energy-fuelled live shows and their very own ‘Wild Things Bawl’ live nights, they are back with a brand new video. And we get to have an exclusive peek behind the scenes of its creation…

Directed by Marcus Maschwitz, who has worked with Fall Out Boy, Bring Me The Horizon and 30 Seconds To Mars, the video for ‘Loaded Gun’ contains stylish black and white footage of Sydney, Cameron, Rob and Pete preparing to unleash another impassioned slice of infectious indie-rock to our ears and eyes.

With the exclusive behind the scenes footage containing snippets of the pulsating beats, throbbing hooks and rich, raw grit of Sydney’s vocals to be found in the powerful new single, we cannot wait to see the final cut very soon!

Of the track, Sydney explains:

“‘Loaded Gun’ started in our studio with a simple riff. Every time Cam played it, I heard the phrase Loaded Gun over and over. It felt too badass and too fun not to roll with, so we worked on bringing each section of the track back to that motif. The mental image of it is so striking that it really informed the direction of the track. It quickly became our live set highlight and hasn’t been out of the setlist since! It’s so exciting to come on and bust it out because you know immediately everyone’s gonna sit up and pay attention.”

‘Loaded Gun’ is out 17th November, and you can watch the exclusive behind the scenes video here:

Catch The Wild Things live at Power Of Solace’s Rock Against Violence event on 16th November.

 

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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PLAYLIST: November 2017

Us Get In Her Ears girls have put our broomsticks back in our cupboards and cleared away October’s cobwebs in order to share some brand spanking new music with you this November. Check out the Spotify playlist below, and have a nose at the stuff we just can’t get out of our ears this month…

Fever High – ‘Good Advice’
Oozing an uplifting wit and sparkling, infectious melodies, this latest offering from Brooklyn’s Fever High will undoubtedly put a smile on your face. Featuring the unmistakable voice of non other than Jeff Goldblum spouting hilarious anecdotes about the bad advice he’s been given throughout his career, it’s a delightfully fizzy blast of electro pop. ‘Good Advice’ is taken from the band’s upcoming EP FHNY, out on 10th November. (Mari Lane)

Wy – ‘You + I’
The slow steady melancholia of this track drew me in, with lead singer Ebba’s alto rising up over the reverb-drenched guitars, it had me feeling all sad and wistful. (Tash Walker)

REWS – ‘Your Tears’
Shauna & Collette consistently dazzle me with the power of their fierce and defiant pop-rock tune, and ‘Your Tears’ is no exception. The pair co-wrote this anthem which refuses to acknowledge the ‘boy who cried’ wolf’ and it features on their debut album Pyro, released this Friday (Nov 3rd) via Marshall Records. (Kate Crudgington)

Miya Folick – ‘Give It To Me’
Since first hearing this track, I’ve been completely head over heels with this California artist who explains that she makes music “because forming thoughts into sounds blends emotional and rational thought in a way that turns me on.” I just love this song’s emotion-strewn power – how it builds in intensity and just totally captivates with its raw urgency and utterly beautiful, heart-wrenching passion. (Mari Lane)

Kllo – ‘Dissolve’
Just as the title implies this track gives you a big does of escapism, through its electronic sound scape and samples, with a gentle nod to UK garage.  **Bows head in appreciation** (Tash Walker)

Nova Twins – ‘Thelma & Louise’
I’m like a moth to a flame when it comes to defiant duos, and Nova Twins’ latest track ‘Thelma & Louise’ proves that double trouble is the best kind of trouble. Their devious bass lines and punk vocals will shake your bones, so make sure you grab a ticket to their headline show at Camden Assembly on November 30th. (Kate Crudgington)

Kid Cupid – ‘Easy’
Having already received support from the likes of BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio, GIHE favourite Kid Cupid are back with a brand new single. Oozing euphoric layers of sound alongside Laura Shaw’s soulful vocals, ‘Easy’ is a truly blissful slice of electro-pop; a dreamy sonic delight. (Mari Lane)

Just Because – ‘All I Knew’
As I listen to this track I feel my whole body relax and dissolve into the beautiful samples, spacey vocals and slow gentle beats….just perfect, Just Because. (Tash Walker)

Pale Honey – ‘Get These Things Out of My Head’
If you blend the vocals of Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell and the Cardigans’ Nina Persson with clear electronics and hazy guitar riffs; you’ll end up with the sound of Gothenburg duo Pale Honey. They released their second album Devotion in October, and it’s a cool, understated, but intense new offering from the pair. Catch them live at Old Blue Last on November 7th. (Kate Crudgington)

King Henry (feat Rhye) – ‘Moment’
I absolutely love this, with the beautiful genderless vocals of Rhye, King Henry has released Moment off of his upcoming EP.  Perfectly nostalgic in its melting beauty. (Tash Walker)

Witch Fever – ‘Carpet Asphyxiation’
I’m a big fan of this Manchester based grunge-punk band. Describing themselves as “making noise with our big muffs”, this track oozes a raw, frenzied cacophony and raucous hooks, as the fist-clenching power of the wonderfully shrieking vocals makes for essential, riotous listening. (Mari Lane)

Queen Zee & The Sasstones – ‘Boy’
All I want to do is lay in a bath tub full of red wine and listen to Queen Zee & The Sasstones on repeat – watch the video to ‘Boy’ and that sentence will make sense. Download their latest EP, Eat My Sass, while you’re at it too. (Kate Crudgington)

Maya Songbird – ‘Regal Slut’
I was lucky enough to catch the San Francisco artist supporting Dream Nails at their EP launch last week, and it was one of the most wonderfully joyous, vibrant experiences. Creating her unique, ambient fusion of sounds whilst soulfully singing of sex, love and living regally during tough times, she is truly one of a kind. And, as we all joined in with the refrain of “Slut, Slut, Slut” to this one on Friday night, the room filled with all the empowering, positive vibes. (Mari Lane)

Yangze – ‘U & Me’
The debut single from Danish Yangze, I just love the way this track gently pads out of the speakers, pacing round and round you with its restrained electronic beats. (Tash Walker)

Jackie Shane – ‘Any Other Way’
A “pioneer of transgender rights born in a male body”, Jackie Shane has remained largely unknown outside of Toronto, where her career flourished in the 1960s. However, with Numero Group’s reissue of Any Other Way – the first approved collection of Ms. Shane’s work which features all six of her 45s & highlights from her 1967 live sessions at the Sapphire Tavern – I think that’s about to change. (Kate Crudgington)

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