PLAYLIST: June 2022

The Get In Her Ears team have put together another eclectic mix of guitar tunes, alternative gems & electronic sounds for your listening pleasure. Take some time to scroll through our track choices below and make sure you hit play on the Spotify playlist at the end of this post.

Follow GIHE on Spotify to hear all of our previous playlists too.

 

Petrol Girls – ‘Baby, I Had An Abortion’
The entirety of Petrol Girls’ new album Baby offers a totally necessary soundtrack for right now; each and every track a truly poignant reflection driven by a raging sense of urgency. I just wanted to highlight ‘Baby, I had An Abortion’ again, in the wake of the horrific overturning of Roe Vs Wade in the United States. An immense, empowering statement reflecting on vocalist Ren Aldridge’s own experiences of having an abortion in 2018 (having found out she was pregnant the morning that the Eighth Amendment was repealed in Ireland), ‘Baby, I Had An Abortion’ offers a stirring ode to bodily autonomy. A raging cacophony fuelled by a riotous catharsis; urging us to fight against the confines of this damaging patriarchal society and heinous pro-life laws.

At this time, it’s also important to remember that it’s not only in America that people are being denied access to safe abortions: with this release, Petrol Girls raise money for Abortion Without Borders – they’re a network of organisations that fund and support people in Poland to access abortion in neighbouring countries or at home with pills. Abortion laws were further tightened in Poland last year making it only legal in extremely limited circumstances. You can also donate to Abortion Support Network – helping people who need to access safe abortions in Ireland, Northern Ireland and other parts of Europe – here.
(Mari Lane)

Petrol Girls ft. Janey Starling – ‘Fight for Our Lives’
To echo what Mari has said, this track from Petrol Girls’ vital new album Baby, put a lump in my throat the first time I heard it. When Ren Aldridge screams “We’re on the streets again / another bed sheet painted with the blood of a sister” her rage is palpable, her fury undeniable. DIY punk and Kerrang-award-winning activist Janey Starling delivers an equally powerful guest vocal, and together their righteous anger acts as a call to arms to challenge the systems that try to deny women bodily autonomy and justice for the violence they continue to be subjected to. As well as the international organisations Mari has mentioned above, you can follow Level Up to find out more about how you can help achieve gender justice here in the UK.
(Kate Crudgington)

Deux Furieuses – ‘Bring Down The Government’
Having received acclaim from the likes of Radio X’s John Kennedy and currently members of Brix Smith (The Fall)’s band, punk duo Deux Furieuses have now shared a riotous new single. Raging with a fierce power and fervid sense of urgency, ‘Bring Down The Government’ is driven by a seething, blazing energy, building to an immense rallying cry to take a stand against Johnson’s government and the devastating effect it’s had on so many lives. (ML)

Agender – ‘Womb 2 Wound’
LA-based four piece Agender make “schizo, synthy, paranoid, post-punk with a dash of dysmorphic desire” and I am INTO IT. This track is taken from their recent album, No Nostalgia, and I’ve had the lyric “Fuck my biological clock / with my philosophical cock” ricocheting around my skull since I first heard it. The band are also due to release a remix EP in collaboration with JD Samson and Harvey Sutherland later this year! (KC)

Big Joanie – ‘Happier Still’
Big Joanie are BACK and we are THRILLED that they’ve shared this joyful new anthem. Released via Daydream Library Series/Kill Rock Stars, it’s a real rush of guitar-driven energy, inspired by the breakthrough that comes after a period of depression. Big Joanie have just played Glastonbury and performed as part of Grace Jones’ Meltdown festival at Southbank Centre, and we can’t wait to see what they do next. (KC)

Don Chi ft. Rosco Sauce – ‘Angry’
Mari & I had the pleasure of travelling over to Belfast to DJ at the Women’s Work Showcase in May (read our review here) and we were overwhelmed by the amount of music talent on the line-up (Problem Patterns, SPRINTS, Clara Tracey, Fraulein) and rapper Don Chi really impressed us with her effortless flow and hazy beats, which this track ‘Angry’ is full of. (KC)

Ghum – ‘Bitter’
Having been firm favourites here at GIHE for a number of years, London band GHUM have now released their much-awaited debut album, Bitter. Oozing a gritty, swirling energy as front person Laura’s vocals soar throughout, each track carries the band’s trademark ethereal allure and dark, hypnotic splendour, showcasing their ability to consistently hone their sound and bewitch listeners worldwide. Read our recent interview with Ghum here. (ML)

Brutus – ‘Dust’
Belgian trio Brutus are back with this new single ‘Dust’, born from the frustration caused by a demanding and unbalanced friendship. Stefanie Mannaerts’ defiant vocal leads the way, complimenting her powerhouse percussion and the charged, thundering riffs of guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerden and bassist Peter Mulders’. The band have just announced a string of UK tour dates this November, including The Garage in London on the 22nd. Grab a ticket here. (KC)

Nova Twins – ‘Choose Your Fighter’
We’ve been big fans of Nova Twins here are GIHE for a few years and we’re thrilled to see them taking over the world with their uniquely heavy sound. This track is taken from their second album, Supernova, and it’s a blisteringly loud mix of Georgia’s deliciously distorted basslines and Amy’s visceral vocals. I had the privilege of writing the script for their Kerrang TV show ‘Nova Twins Presents The Anthems’ – a proper dream come true for someone who loves new music and who watched the channel as a teenager! (KC)

ARXX – ‘Couldn’t Help Myself’
The latest single from total faves ARXX offers a swirling slice of honey-sweet pop. A positive reflection on the freedom that can come from a break-up, it builds with a fizzing energy and the sassy allure of Hanni’s vocals to a colossal pure-pop banger, oozing a danceable, empowering drive. We cannot wait for ARXX to headline The Shacklewell Arms for us on 22nd July, with support from Fraulein and Lusa Morena. Tickets selling fast, so grab one here! (ML)

Ailbhe Reddy – ‘A Mess’
A lighthearted reflection on an early, chaotic relationship, ‘A Mess’ is the latest single from Irish-born, London-based alt-folk artist Ailbhe Reddy. Full of energetic guitar riffs, relatable lyrics and Reddy’s clear vocals, the track is a buoyant rumination on the cyclical nature of bad habits, the lasting effect of a seemingly throwaway comment and a lively effort to move past it. (KC)

ADDIE – ‘Crush Me’
This is a great tune from 19 year old singer-songwriter-producer-bassist Adeline Vamenta aka ADDIE. She’s just released her debut album, Crater Lake, which this single ‘Crush Me’ is taken from. Every instrument on the record was played by a woman or non-binary musician, which is probably why it sounds so good… (KC)

Planningtorock – ‘Gay Dreams They Do Come True’
June is Pride month, and as our friend & co-founder Tash Walker reminds us each year, it’s a time to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ siblings, commemorate important milestones and to call out the systems and the people in power who are trying to restrict the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. Tash inspires us everyday, but their work on The Log Books Podcast and as a Co-Chair for Switchboard truly marks them out as an incredible force for change in both the LGBTQIA+ and wider spheres. I know Tash is a big fan of Planningtorock, so I thought I’d sneak this banger on to our playlist to celebrate all that they do. Big love to Tash and to all of our LGBTQIA+ followers this Pride month & all year round. x (KC)

GLITTERMXXTH – ‘HIM’
Inspired by everything from Grimes and Pussy Riot to matcha tea and hairless cats, ‘HIM’ is the latest single from producer & multi-instrumentalist GLITTERMXXTH. Their cyber-punk sounds are inspired by “the dirty, different and delicious alternative.” (KC)

Tiiva ft. Hellikisto – ‘IDORU’ (Grimes Cover)
I love this dreamy cover of Grimes’ 2020 single ‘IDORU’ by wonderfully talented producer and artist Tiiva. It’s a perfect tune for the (hopefully) warm summer evenings ahead. (KC)

all cats are beautiful – ‘Heartbeats’
With their rendition of The Knife’s ‘Heartbeats‘, all cats are beautiful (acab) offer a truly enchanting dreamscape. Flowing with delicate, twinkling hooks alongside the duo’s luscious harmonies, it’s a stripped back, yet instantly immersive, version of the original, adding the duo’s own unique resplendent grace and spellbinding allure. (ML)

Nikki & The Waves – ‘E.L.C.’
Manchester band Nikki & The Waves are fast becoming new faves, and have just released their new EP, Songs To Play Tennis To. Taken from the EP, latest single ‘E.L.C.’ (exceptionally lovely corduroy) offers a celebration of every indie kid’s favourite fabric. Propelled by the band’s trademark vibrant funk-fuelled groove and fizzing, blissful allure, it’s a perfectly danceable summer anthem. We can’t wait for Nikki & The Waves to headline for us at The Victoria on 12th August (with support from BAXTR and Panic Pocket) – get your tickets here. (ML)

Gemma Cullingford – ‘Tongue Tied’
With a new album set for release in September, Gemma Cullingford (of Sink Ya Teeth) has recently shared title track ‘Tongue Tied’. A reflection on feeling shy and being lost for words, it offers a danceable vibrant soundscape. Building with a frenzied drive, it interweaves zesty electronic hooks with Gemma’s distinctive sensuous vocals. We can’t wait for Gemma Cullingford to headline for us at The Shacklewell Arms on 10th September – a joint headline show with Alice Hubble, support will come from Yay Maria! Tickets here. (ML)

Helen Ganya – ‘Beautiful Country’
Taken from her recent EP, Heart Mirage, this poignant single from Helen Ganya (previously known as Dog In The Snow) is described as “a little tongue-in-cheek heartbreak on the illusion of meritocracy.” Underscored by Ganya’s reflections on the anti-Asian hate that resurfaced during the pandemic, the track is a an upbeat musing on what it means to be judged by the society you live in. (KC)

Katie Malco – ‘Animal’ (Alternate Version)
I was a bit late to the “Katie Malco is great party” but I remember thinking “this is a bit of me” the first time I heard her song ‘Animal’. She’s recently released this alternative version, and it’s just as good as the original. Check out her album Failures (2020) if you like the sound of this. (KC)

Rat Tally – ‘Spinning Wheel’
I love the soft anger that permeates Chicago-based Addy Harris aka Rat Tally’s latest single ‘Spinning Wheel’. Taken from her upcoming album In My Car, which is set for release on 12th August, the track is a hazy blend of atmospheric riffs, bittersweet vocals and introspective lyrics. (KC)

SASAMI ft. J Mascis – ‘Tried To Understand’
I have been obsessed with LA-based SASAMI’s album SQUEEZE since it was released earlier this year. It’s a mad, thrilling mix of metal, folk and grunge; something which is encapsulated on this superb remix of ‘Tried To Understand’, featuring J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. (KC)

Bonnie Trash – ‘Teeth’
Bonnie Trash is the new “drone-rock” project of Canadian-Italian twin sisters Emmalia and Sarafina Bortolon-Vettor. Their latest single ‘Teeth’ is a delicious blend of distorted guitars and beguiling vocals, lamenting an ambiguous toxic love story. The band are due to release their debut album later this year via Hand Drawn Dracula. (KC)

A.A. Williams – ‘Evaporate’
A heavy, graceful musing on the darker side of the emotional spectrum, I love this track from London-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist A.A. Williams. Taken from her upcoming second album, As The Moon Rests, which is set for release on 7th October via Bella Union, ‘Evaporate’ is a brooding blend of dramatic volume fluctuations and Williams’ effortless vocals, which mirror the raw sensitivity of her introspective lyrics. (KC)

Junk Whale – ‘Pilebox’
Oxford band Junk Whale have now announced the release of their new EP, Caught In The Act Of Looking Weird, next month. Taken from the EP, latest single ‘Pilebox’ pays homage to being yourself in the face of adversity. Propelled by a fuzzy, emo-tinged energy, raw impassioned vocals flow throughout as the track builds with a jangly allure to an anthemic blast of angst-driven splendour. Watch the new video for ‘Pilebox’ here. (ML)

Slagheap – ‘Destination Boyfriend’
Having just treated us to their wonderfully quirky charisma live, headlining our night at The Victoria last Friday, Bristol’s Slagheap have recently shared new single ‘Destination Boyfriend’. A joyously discordant yet euphoric celebration of femininity and feeling comfortable in your own skin, regardless of how far from the ‘norm’ you may stray, it reflects on the different paths that bisexuality may take you on, racing with a scrappy, jangly energy as clashing beats sizzle alongside swirling, scuzzy hooks. Appetites, the upcoming new EP from Slagheap, is set for release on 5th August. (ML)

YINYANG – ‘Happy Money’
The latest single from Irish artist Lauren Hannan, aka YINYANG, ‘Happy Money’ offers a poignant reflection on the struggles of depression and the frustration felt that happiness can often be dependent on expensive over-the-counter medication. Propelled by glitchy hooks and Hannan’s soaring rich vocals, it oozes a fierce impassioned drive and deep blistering beats with shades of GIHE fave Noga Erez. (ML)

J. Zunz – ‘Cruce’
Despite my overall positive, sunny disposition – I am a gloomy girl at heart – and that’s why I enjoy listening to the dark electronic sounds of Mexican artist J. Zunz so much. This track is taken from her recent album Del Aire. She’ll be playing alongside some amazing artists (Divide & Dissolve, No Home, A.A. Williams, Grove, Rachel Aggs, NYX Drone Choir) at this year’s Supersonic Festival. Full details here.

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LIVE (Photos): Slagheap @ The Victoria, 24.06.22

On Friday, we were back at The Victoria in Dalston with a very lovely line-up. Slagheap, Nervous Twitch and The Famous Daxx treated us to a fun-filled few hours of live music. Huge thanks to them all, and to the lovely folk who came out to support them!

Opening the night, The Famous Daxx treat us to their swirling, emotion-filled offerings, each delivered with an immersive, spellbinding allure.

Next up, Leeds trio Nervous Twitch deliver their retro rockabilly riffs with an infectious surf-pop musicality and colourful, uplifting groove.

Headlining the night, Bristol band Slagheap fill the venue with their quirky, vibrant charisma and jangly post-punk fuzz. Oozing an infectious joyous energy, they deliver each offering with a shimmering playful spirit and cheeky tongue-in-cheek wit.

Massive thanks to the glorious three bands who played for us on Friday!
We’re now super excited that coming up in July, have not one but two incredible nights of live music in store for you: 8th July at Sebright Arms we have Charmpit’s last ever London show, with support from Bitch Hunt and adults – tickets here. And 22nd July we’re back at Shacklewell Arms with total faves ARXX, plus Fraulein and Lusa Morena – tickets here. Tickets for both are selling super fast, so I advise nabbing yours asap!

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Neil Anderson / @wildblanketphotography

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INTERVIEW: Ghum

Having been firm favourites here at GIHE for a number of years, wowing us with their immersive live performances and captivating post-punk musicality, London band GHUM have now released their much-awaited debut album, Bitter. Oozing a gritty, swirling energy as front person Laura’s vocals soar throughout, each track carries the band’s trademark ethereal allure and dark, hypnotic splendour, showcasing their ability to consistently hone their sound and bewitch listeners worldwide.

To celebrate the release of the album, we caught up with Laura, Jojo, Marina and Vicki to find out more about Bitter; what inspires them; their thoughts on the industry today; their plans for the year, and more. Have a read below and make sure you immerse your ears in the new album as soon as possible!

Hey Ghum! For those who aren’t familiar, can you tell us a bit about yourselves and how you all got together to start creating music as Ghum? 
We met because Marina, our bassist, put an ad online looking for female musicians to form a band because she thought playing with other women would be more fun. She knew Laura from a previous jam with other people and asked if she was still looking for a band. “I loved her voice and vibe so much, and was really happy she said yes.” Jojo responded to the ad saying she loved The Cure and Warpaint and I said: “You’re in, bitch”. Vicki came along soon after that and boom: Ghum was formed. 

We’re huge fans of your swirling, ethereal allure and post-punk energy, but who would you say are your main musical influences? 
Bit of Cure, bit of Pixies, bit of Joy Division and Warpaint…

You’ve just released your debut album, Bitter, which is super exciting! Are you able to tell us a bit about it? Are there any particular themes running throughout it?
Bitter is our debut album and we wanted to establish and cement our sound with this record. This time we knew what we were looking for when songwriting, and searched for it. The themes vary but the songs are about people and conversations that have maybe a bitter end – reflections on people that left a mark, and just a release of feelings that needed an escape.

And how would you say this album differs or moves on from your previous releases? 
We have consolidated our sound (for now) after The Coldest Fire EP we released in 2019, we found something that really agreed with all of us – we wanted to explore this sound and make it punchier. It feels like the culmination of an era, what we wanted to reach until now. This is us.

You’ve been wowing crowds with your immersive live shows for some time now, including support slots with the likes of Dream Wife and L.A Witch (and headlining for us at the Finsbury!), but is there a particular gig you’ve played that stands out as a highlight for you? 
We have just finished a supporting tour with Choir Boy and Soft Kill. We played in Paris at the Petit Bain and we really enjoyed that one. The French crowd was awesome and the venue was a dream – it was in the middle of our first European tour, so it was quite special to play to such a different crowd and get such a good response.

I’ve always loved seeing you live, and seem to become hypnotised by your majestic splendour! But how would you describe the Ghum live experience to those who’ve not had the pleasure yet? 
Thank you! We live our shows in our skin, we try to transmit the emotions in the songs and give a performance where we tell a story. We are loud and quiet, and we love low lights and smoke machines. We love a good mosh pit and dance party too.

How do you feel the industry is for new artists at the moment? And do you feel much has changed over the last few years in its treatment of female and queer/LGBTQ+ artists?
The industry is changing slowly and improving with this, but there is still a lot to improve on. Lack of representation and sexism is still a massive problem in this industry; on and off stage. For example a lack of female, non-binary, trans and queer/LGBTQ+ tour managers or drivers, or sound engineers, or gig promoters, or lighting designers. Fortunately, there are collectives such as 3T which is a training course for underrepresented gender/ethnic groups in touring and live music – something we want to see more of! At any given point, we try to always work with women across the board for our shows or tours, and to give opportunities to women to work in a safe working environment is also important. It’s still very much a “boys club” or “man’s world” in the music industry, especially when you step outside of the DIY scene – which we’re very fortunate to have started from. But it’s evident there’s still a great deal of improvement that could be done and we hope we can help with this, along with many other artists, fighting for more change.

And with you all being from different parts of the world, how would you say the music scene here differs from the places you grew up? 
It’s totally different! There are underground alternative scenes everywhere of course, but London has such an extensive circuit of venues of all sizes and a lot of respect for bands that are starting out; there is a big history of alternative music from this neck of the woods and it feels like people are more tolerant. I’ll say the alternative scene is even more alternative in places like Spain and Brazil where society is not as open minded – it’s way harder to find places to play, and the resources are more limited. But there is a lot of DIY ethos and community support.

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any other upcoming artists or bands you’re loving right now that you’d recommend we check out?
We really like NewDad, Hussy, Fraulein, Bdrmm, Montaña (Spain)…

And, finally, in addition to the album release, what does the rest of the year have in store for Ghum…?
We have lots of plans. We have a few shows and festivals coming up. We are especially excited for our upcoming show at Rough Trade East on 4th July where we are gonna be celebrating our album launch and signing some vinyls for the first time. We are finally playing in Spain (where our vocalist Laura is from) at the end of August at Canelaparty in Malaga and we are very happy about that too. We will be announcing a UK tour in autumn and we are writing new songs, so we hope to keep on releasing new material. Lots of work and lots of gigs!

Huge thanks to Ghum for answering our questions!

Bitter, the debut album from Ghum, is out now via Everything Sucks. Buy here.

Photo Credit: Paul Phung

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Five Favourites & Video Premiere: Junk Whale – ‘Pilebox’

Following infectious recent single ‘Happy Birthday’, Oxford band Junk Whale have now announced the release of their new EP, Caught In The Act Of Looking Weird, next month. Taken from the EP, latest single ‘Pilebox’ pays homage to being yourself in the face of adversity. Propelled by a fuzzy, emo-tinged energy and scuzzy hooks, raw impassioned vocals flow throughout as the track builds with a jangly allure to an anthemic blast of angst-driven splendour. Of the track, the band explain:

“It started as an attempt to write a song that sounded like a mashup of Pile and Jawbox (hence the title), although it ended up not really sounding like either. It’s about the joy of living life on your own terms and trying not to worry about fitting into anyone else’s expectations of you.”

We think one of the best ways to get to know a band is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate the release of a quirky brand new video for ‘Pilebox’ and the upcoming EP, we caught up with members of Junk Whale to ask about the music that has inspired them the most. See below for their choices of their five favourite songs, and watch the new video for ‘Pilebox’ at the bottom of this feature.

The Cribs – ‘Things You Should Be Knowing‘ (Jenny – bass/vox)
When I wrote the guitar bit that became ‘Airbed’ from the EP, I sat down and basically just tried to write a song that sounded like The Cribs. One of the reasons I was keen to join Junk Whale was I heard that Hannah & Josie were also huge Cribs fans. Needless to say, I love them. They’re so consistent in their ability to produce bangers even now, but their first album is still closest to my heart. It’s so delightfully ramshackle, and has such an infectious energy – listening to it makes me feel young and reckless again (and it makes me feel old to be writing that). It sounds like they’re having loads of fun without even having to try, as if they’re just mucking about in the garage, and even though they’re playing massive venues and festivals now, I’d still favour the ramshackle mucking about sound any day. 


Illuminati Hotties – ‘Knead’ (Ali – vox/production)
Illuminati Hotties are one of the few bands I’ve discovered recently that I’ve really connected with. This song does a really great job of balancing elements of indie rock, pop and grunge which is more or less what we’re trying to do in Junk Whale. Their lead singer, Sarah Tudzin, is a professional audio engineer and produces their songs; she does an amazing job and is a real inspiration for me.

Doe – ‘Julia Survived’ (Josie – guitar/vox)
I first saw Doe in 2016, supporting Muncie Girls in Brighton (also on the bill was another Junk Whale fave, Fresh). I left with a cassette copy of their First Four compilation, and over the next few weeks I rendered it more or less unlistenable by playing it over and over again. At that point, Hannah’s and my pre-Junk Whale band was coming to an end and we were thinking about our next project together. Somehow, Doe had managed to capture exactly the kind of music that we wanted to make. Every song on that comp is great, but ‘Julia Survived’ has always stood out to me. It has that visceral punch of emotion that I crave in music, and the overlapping vocal harmonies were definitely a big influence on our songwriting. Nicola Leel is up there with Corin Tucker from Sleater-Kinney in my “people I wish I could sing like” rankings.

Taking Back Sunday – ‘You Know How I Do’ (Hannah – guitar/vox)
I first got into Taking Back Sunday when I was in sixth form because the drummer in my band really wanted to cover ‘Cute Without the E’ and I’ve never looked back. Their first album, which this track opens, is pretty much without flaw in my eyes and I struggled to pick just one song from it. Something I really love about it is the sheer quantity of vocals; Adam Lazzara barely lets up for a second, singing over almost every section of every song, with John Nolan pitching in frequently for some really effective back-and-forth segments. I think we have a pretty different sound to Taking Back Sunday, but they’re always on my mind whenever I’m trying to structure a song, and especially when I’m writing vocal parts.

Dinosaur Jr. – ‘Little Fury Things’ (Josie – vox/guitar)
First hearing You’re Living All Over Me as a teenager was a genuinely life-changing moment. It exemplified everything I love about guitar music: heavy riffs, soaring solos, ear-scraping noise and, most of all, beautifully expressive rhythm-playing. It was the latter that had the biggest influence on my playing; messing around with different harmonies and chord combinations is my favourite thing to do with a guitar and has formed the basis of my songwriting. ‘Little Fury Things’ is the best example of this. After the pummelling drum intro and aural chaos of the opening section, the plaintive guitar and melancholy vocals of the verse completely disarm you. To me, this song is the best demonstration of the immense dynamic power of a distorted electric guitar.


Huge thanks to Junk Whale for sharing their Five Favourites with us! New EP, Caught In The Act Of Looking Weird, is set for release on 8th July via Reckless Yes. Watch the brand new video for latest single ‘Pilebox’ here:

Photo Credit: Tom Turner

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