LISTEN: GIHE on Soho Radio with Fraulein (06.03.23)

Tash and Kate were back on Soho Radio’s airwaves playing loads of new music from some of their favourite female, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ artists! Mari offered some of her “musical musings” too. The pair enthused about the eclectic mix of tracks on the playlist, including 1000 Beasts, Grandmas House, Alewya, Hannu Hu, LibraLibra, Nyokabi Kariũki and more.

They were also joined in the studio by Joni and Karsten aka grunge duo Fraulein. The London-based band spoke about the inspiration behind their recent single ‘Pet’ and chatted about the making of the accompanying video, shot by Lily Doidge. Joni also spoke about leading the guitar workshop for this year’s edition of First Timers Fest, and Tash and Kate validated Karsten’s continued admiration for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Fraulein will be playing live at The George Tavern in London on 27th April. Click here for the rest of their upcoming UK tour dates & tickets to their shows.

Listen back to the show below:

We’ll be back on Soho Radio on Monday 3rd April, 12-2pm!

Tracklist
Queen Latifah & Monie Love – Ladies First
1000 Beasts ft. Laura Elizabeth Hughes – Burning Flower
Alewya – Sweating
King Isis – in my ways
Miya Folick – Get Out Of My House
Grandmas House – Desire
Sona Koloyan – In The Air
JFDR – Spectator
Hannah Hu – Thirty
Jean Genie’s Massive Hugs – The Ferret
Shit Present – Fuck It
Earthlung – Joy
Periscopi Invertit – Ball pla de Tirig
Sidney Sinclaire – Aphrodite
Full Pelt – Better Off (chosen by Girls Rock London)
Lunch Machine – Pipe Dream Graveyard
Ezra Williams – Deep Routed
Fraulein – Pet
**Interview with Fraulein**
tummyache – Alive Again
AnnieMUSIC – The Way It Feels
Nyokabi Kariũki – Nazama
Girl Ray – Everybody’s Saying That
LibraLibra – Mother’s Ruin
Brix Smith – Fast Net
Aisha Badru – Lazy River
Jackie Shane – Any Other Way

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FIVE FAVOURITES: Anna B Savage

Inspired by her reflections on the human condition and all its idiosyncrasies and inconsistencies, Anna B Savage‘s latest album, In|FLUX, is a poetic, cathartic piece of songwriting. Finding peace in the grey areas of life and accepting that change is an inevitable part of it, the British musician has crafted an intricate and emotive collection of songs that compliment the raw honesty she expressed on her debut album, A Common Turn (2021).

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspired them to write in the first place. We caught up with Anna to ask about her “Five Favourites” – five albums that have inspired her song-writing techniques. Check out her choices below and listen to her new album, in|FLUX, here.

 

1. Ella Fitzgerald – The Best of the Song Book
The best vocalist in the world, ever, bar none. I have listened to this album over a thousand times and tried to emulate every moment, every run, every breath. I have written a lot about how much I love Ella, and this album was the one for me. Also, Gershwins! They wrote the most perfect songs in the world.

2. Nat King Cole – Unforgettable
This is one of the most important albums to me because it reminds me of my family. I remember we would go to France each summer because my parents would be singing in a festival there – we’d listen to it on car journeys, and in the house we were staying in, and when we got home and… all the time. We each have a certain ‘moment’ we always do when listening, almost like the call-outs in Rocky Horror that those who’ve been in the crowd loads know, but for this album. One of my first memories is listening to this album and dancing around the kitchen.

3. The Beatles – Revolver
I saw a tweet the other day which said that people who say Revolver is their favourite Beatles album are try hards (or something- I’m paraphrasing terribly). It had a lot of likes. Well, whoops – I’ve outed myself again (see my writing about Coldplay’s Parachutes for more of me being resolutely not cool). This album is another important family album: with parents who mostly listen to classical music it was always such a joy when we got to listen to Revolver.

4. Notting Hill Soundtrack
I feel like the way I learned a lot of music when I was younger was through movie soundtracks. This was the first one that I obsessed over – finding a gateway in to Al Green and Bill Withers through this. I spent hours and hours listening to ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ (the Bill Withers version) and trying to do the “I know” section in just one breath.

5. Bridget Jones’ Diary Soundtrack
Banger after banger on this, and again was my entry point to so many people especially huge female vocalists and musicians. Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Sheryl Crow, what an education!

Thanks to Anna for sharing her favourite albums with us.

Watch the video for her single ‘Pavlov’s Dog’ below.

Listen to in|FLUX on bandcamp or Spotify

Follow Anna B Savage on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

 

Photo Credit: Katie Silvester

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Video Premiere: Gabi Garbutt & Du Blonde – ‘Panic’

Having received acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq and Cerys Matthews, as well as airplay from Radio X’s John Kennedy, London-based artist Gabi Garbutt follows last year’s album Cockerel with a brand new EP, set for release in April.

Taken from the EP, lead single ‘Panic’ offers a perfect collaboration between Garbutt and acclaimed artist Du Blonde. Propelled by a swirling post-punk energy, whirring scuzzy hooks flow alongside sugar-sweet pop melodies as the two vocals fuse together with a shimmering charm, creating a truly blissful, instantly infectious, indie-pop anthem. Oozing a jangling uplifting allure, the stream of consciousness lyricism reflects on the chaotic turmoil of anxiety, whilst somehow offering a sparkling reassurance that you’re not alone and everything will be ok.

Of the track, Garbutt expands:

“…the song is about the feeling of panic and in using multi-sensory imagery, I’m trying to express how all-consuming panic can be. You’re moving through all these chaotic internal landscapes when really you’re just standing at the lights waiting to cross the road.“

‘Panic’ is accompanied by a wonderfully DIY video, directed by  Dan Fatel, perfectly portraying the colourfully chaotic feelings the song reflects on. Watch, for the first time, here:


‘Panic’ is out tomorrow, 28th February. It was written by Gabi Garbutt and Du Blonde, co-produced by Du Blonde and Leo Garbutt, and mixed and mastered by Leo Garbutt. It’s taken from Garbutt’s upcoming EP The Creation Of Birds, set for release on 28th April, via Du Blonde’s label Daemon TV. Pre-order from tomorrow here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Five Favourites: Jen Cloher

Having been a big fan of Australian artist Jen Cloher for a number of years now, I was excited to hear that they’re set to release a new album next month. Our first taster from the album, latest single ‘Mana Takatāpui‘ offers a blissful celebration of the indigenous Polynesian people of Aotearoa, New Zealand, the Māori LGBTQ+ community. Showcasing Jen’s trademark luscious soothing vocals alongside a shimmering musicality, it builds with an uplifting energy to a truly joyous unifying anthem.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate the release of Jen Cloher’s upcoming album, we caught up with them to ask about the music that has inspired them the most. So, read about their five favourite ever albums, and check out the beautifully empowering video for single ‘Mana Takatāpui‘ below…

PJ Harvey – To Bring You My Love
There’s an incredible in-depth podcast (in 2 parts) with the legendary music critic Ann Powers where she covers every PJ Harvey album, collaboration and movie soundtrack with the loving attention to detail that an artist of PJ’s magnitude deserves. I came away realising 3 things – that To Bring You My Love is my favourite of her albums (and that’s a tough call), that PJ paved the way for the incredible influence women have on guitar rock music today and that Ann Powers brings the kind of intelligence and reflection we all dream music critics would bring to our work. Go checkout this Bandsplain podcast episode, it’s a treat.

Gillian Welch – Time (The Revelator)
The first time I saw Gillian Welch and David Rawlings play was at a club in Melbourne. I went in with high expectations as I’d fallen in love with the songs on the album in a way where they feel like they’re yours and you hope the artist doesn’t ruin them for you! Lols. I needn’t have worried. David Rawlings’ guitar playing alone floored me. For the first time in my life I felt an inkling of what it might have been like to watch Jimi Hendrix play live – guitar and human as one. This album is simple – two acoustic guitars, vocal harmonies and great songs. It’s a masterpiece.

The Doors – LA Woman
The Doors were my first teen band crush. I ‘discovered’ Jim Morrison when I was 13 and spent the next three years listening to and reading anything Doors related that I could get my hands on. I even had a life size Jim Morrison poster above my bed – the topless one with the beads and leather pants. Was Jim Morrison one of the few that could pull off leather pants? All teen obsessions aside (it’s weird falling in love with a dead person), The Doors wrote some classic blues rock jams. ‘Riders On The Storm’, ‘Light My Fire’ and ‘Break On Through’ still stand up as classics today.

Aretha Franklin – Lady Soul
This is one of the albums I remember most as a child. My Mum was a mega fan of the great women Soul and Blues singers. From Billie Holiday to Sarah Vaughan, to Ella Fitzgerald, there were always powerful voices floating up from the turntable in our lounge room. ‘Chain of Fools’, ‘Respect’ and ‘Natural Woman’ reimagined by Aretha Franklin still stand as the penultimate versions of these classics.

Te Kaahu O Rangi – s/t
Te Kaahu is the waiata Māori project of pop artist Theia who is based in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Theia grew up speaking and writing songs in her native tongue Te reo Māori and collaborated with me on my new album. We wrote a song together called ‘He Toka-Tu-Moana’ – which means to stand strong like a rock in the ocean. Her debut Te Kaahu album (2022) is a beautiful combination of traditional Māori songs with indie folk pop leanings. She pulls it off effortlessly.


Massive thanks to Jen for sharing their Five Favourites with us!

I Am The River, The River Is Me, the upcoming new album from Jen Cloher, is set for release on 3rd March via Milk! Records / Marathon Artists. Watch the beautiful video for latest single ‘Mana Takatāpui‘ here:


Photo Credit: Marcelle Bradbeer

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