LISTEN: Death Valley Girls – ‘Hold My Hand’

A fuzzy, energetic dive into discovering yourself whilst you’re getting to know someone else, L.A. rockers Death Valley Girls have shared their latest single ‘Hold My Hand’. Lifted from their new album Under the Spell of Joy, which is set for release on 2nd October via Suicide Squeeze Records, the track is full of slick guitar riffs, rolling beats and fiery vocals.

Fuelled by a desire to turn rage and sadness into joy and compassion, Death Valley Girls craft edgy, cosmic rock and roll tunes that blast away feelings of angst and apathy. On ‘Hold My Hand’ the girls revel in the fact that “you gotta let go and believe” if you’re going to be your whole self when entering into a new relationship. Vocalist & guitarist Bonnie Bloomgarden explains further:

“Relationships are really tricky and can be super messy and complicated! I used to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. I realized it’s cause I thought relationships were an agreement you made with another person. And that meant giving away my power to the other person and letting them navigate our way along our path. Then I realized things either happen to you or for you! Any relationship you have is an opportunity to make an agreement with yourself! It’s a chance to learn to be more compassionate and to grow stronger and more powerfully into the person you want to be and are meant to be! Hopefully, the other person will help along the way and grow with you! If not, peace and next, please.”

That’s a sentiment we agree with here at GIHE! Listen to ‘Hold My Hand’ below and follow Death Valley Girls on bandcamp, Facebook and Spotify for more updates.

Photo Credit: David Fearn

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Chinwe – ‘Intoxicated’

A sultry, lo-fi tune that lives up to its namesake, East London songwriter Chinwe has shared her latest single ‘Intoxicated’. Influenced by the likes of Nina Simone and Portishead, Chinwe’s latest offering falls somewhere between the two musical worlds – spaced out yet soulful, melancholy yet uplifting.

Raised by her Nigerian father and Jamaican Mother, Chinwe was surrounded by a an eclectic collection of music from a young age. She began learning how to play the violin, but once she started to teach herself chords on the guitar her true musicianship began to shine through. Now, the young producer is captivating listeners with her smooth, intense vocals and heady beats.

Listen to ‘Intoxicating’ below and follow Chinwe on Spotify for more updates.

 

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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FIVE FAVOURITES: Sarah Walk

Celebrating both the joys and the struggles of being a queer woman, LA songwriter Sarah Walk is preparing to release her second album, Another Me, on 28th August via One Little Independent Records. “The songs on my first album were a means to survive the immediate, and my songs on this album have been a journey in learning how to take up space and thrive in the long term”, Walk explains. It sounds like a learning curve both she and her listeners will benefit from, as she tackles everything from patriarchal entitlement to letting go of damaging tropes about being a queer woman.

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 Sarah to ask about her “Five Favourites” – five albums that have inspired her songwriting techniques. Check out her choices below, and scroll down to listen to Sarah’s latest single ‘nobody knows’ at the end of this post.

1. Wolfgang Amadeus – Phoenix 
I just think this is a brilliantly executed record, start to finish. I still try to wrap my head around the arrangement of this album. Each part fits together like this weaving patchwork of ideas that lock into each other like a puzzle. When I try to isolate the vocal or an instrumental part it feels like such a scattered and disjointed idea, but as a whole it’s completely full. I often wonder how they recorded this because it’s so hard for me to hear a backbone that was built around.

2. Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters
What a powerful comeback album from Fiona. I grew up listening to her and felt so empowered hearing a woman sing and play the piano that wasn’t afraid to be angry. This album totally goes there, and I’m so happy it does. There’s anger and regret, and through that, this incredible reclamation of self. She’s one of the best there is and has paved the way for so many women in the music industry, whether we all know it or not.

3. Radiohead – In Rainbows
It wouldn’t be a favorites list without a Radiohead album. This band totally expanded my ears to what music could be, and were my unwavering companion during some of the toughest and loneliest years of my adolescence. I remember waking up early before school the day this album came out and downloading it (this was the “pay what you want” record pre-spotify which was brilliant) and I sat in my car in the high school parking lot that gloomy October morning and was crying by the time ‘Faust Arp’ came around. I was late for school that day, and I’m glad I was.sarah

4. Everything Everything – A Fever Dream
Love this band so much. They combine certain sonic elements of Radiohead that I love – that ethereal soundscape of guitars that don’t sound like guitars – with heavy grooves and pop sensibility. This album is so good, and they’re incredible live as well.

5. Madison Cunningham – Who Are You Now?
A more up and coming LA artist, Madison is an incredible force of talent. The first time I saw her play live I was completely floored. I’m not a religious person, but after first seeing her play I went home and completely broke down because it felt like such a spiritual experience. She absolutely destroys the guitar and her voice and songwriting are other worldly. Definitely give this one a listen and check out some live videos online.

Thanks to Sarah for sharing her favourites with us.
Listen to her track ‘nobody knows’ below.

Follow Sarah Walk on Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

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Track Of The Day: Dream Nails – ‘This Is The Summer’

Both an energetic and a sardonic insight into the climate crisis we’re currently facing, feminist punk witches Dream Nails have shared their latest single ‘This Is The Summer’. Lifted from their upcoming self-titled debut album which is set for release on the 28th August via Alcopop! Records, the band prove once again that their activism is as sharp and essential as their riotous punk sounds on this latest offering.

“‘This Is The Summer’ is a song about how our climate is breaking down irreversibly,” explains Dream Nails vocalist Janey Starling. “Colonial capitalism, waged by UK governments and corporations for centuries, has ravaged our earth. We need to be urgently fighting for migrant rights so the UK welcomes climate refugees displaced by countries hit by extreme weather. We must demand transparency from oil companies who relentlessly put profit before people, even as the world burns.”

Starling’s vision is passionately and equally shared by her band mates Anya Pearson (guitar), Mimi Jasson (bass) and Lucy Katz (drums), who all play humorous parts in the track’s accompanying video. Directed by Guen Murroni and filmed with a women, non-binary and trans crew, the footage is a fast-paced blend of shots from recent protests in London, the band parodying newsreaders, and a live performance they filmed in a scrapyard during the August 2020 heatwave.

Pearson elaborates on the context of both the track and the video: “We wrote ‘This Is The Summer’ in the heatwave of 2018, recorded it in another heatwave in 2019 and now we are releasing it in yet another heatwave! Our video for the track shows how the current pandemic, white supremacy and climate change are not separate issues but interlinked. The song is about the brazen complacency of getting drunk and catching a tan in the park while the world burns.”

Fuelled by the need to change the world around them and inspire others to do so, Dream Nails will be celebrating the release of their debut album with a live stream performance on the 5th September. You can join in the fun by pre-ordering the album, which will also get you a link to the party (pre-order link here).

Watch the video for ‘This Is The Summer’ below and follow Dream Nails on bandcamp, Facebook and Spotify for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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