Track Of The Day: Miya Folick – ‘Nothing To See’

Emotional, raw and beautifully resilient, Miya Folick‘s latest single ‘Nothing To See’ is a tender ode to rediscovering yourself in the aftermath of a painful breakup. Taken from her new EP 2007, which is set for release on 9th September via Nettwerk, through her clear vocals, candid lyrics and considered instrumentation, Folick accepts that love makes fools of us all, and gracefully reclaims the time she spent changing herself to suit the needs of an unappreciative lover.

“This song is about falling in love with someone emotionally unavailable,” explains the LA based songwriter. “Someone whose feelings and desires were so obscured to me and themselves, that I had to become a detective. I studied their life for clues and tried to fit the role of the person I thought they’d like. Eventually we broke up, and I realized that I’d lost the plot on my own life. My body and personality and life were so populated by the interests of this person, that once they were gone, there was nothing left to see. But, to me, this song isn’t bleak. I think there’s power in being brave enough to say ‘I was made a fool by you.’”

Despite the single’s painful context, ‘Nothing To See’ is a merciful, cathartic offering that reminds listeners that whilst unhealthy romantic infatuation can be draining, there’s comfort in knowing you can break free from the toxic cycle and rediscover your autonomy in the aftermath. This type of personal epiphany permeates the tracks on Folick’s upcoming EP, 2007, on which she scrutinises and forgives herself for feeling things so intensely.

Watch the visualiser for ‘Nothing To See’ below.

Follow Miya Folick on Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Maya Folick Tour Dates 2022 (supporting Tove Lo)
29th October – Olympia Theater, Dublin, IE
1st November – SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow, UK
2nd November – Academy, Manchester, UK
3rd November – O2 Institute, Birmingham, UK
5th November – The Roundhouse, London, UK

Photo Credit: Jonny Marlow

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: congratulations – ‘Kryptonite’

A frenetic, playful anthem born form the desire to release pent up energy post-lockdown and shake off the memories of a bad date, Brighton-based band congratulations have shared their latest single ‘Kryptonite’. Full of lively riffs, chant-worthy vocals and driving beats, the track was inspired and built around the momentum of the the band’s live performances, which were warmly reciprocated after months of absence from the live music scene in 2020.

Formed of James Gilligham, Greg Burns, Jamie Chellar and Leah Stanhope, congratulations have been busy writing and recording their EP in their own studio (a shed attached to the back of guitarist Jamie’s house), with bassist Greg on mixing and production duties. They’ve got plenty of new material to share, with singles ‘Lucy, Lucy’ and ‘Kryptonite’ offering a taste of what’s to come. “With live music finally hitting its stride again, we’ve been able to do what we love and play to people – it’s been magic,” the band explain. “It means we’ve looked at all of our songs completely differently and its influenced the way we write. Before, we’d write in the studio, and have to learn it all over again to be able to play it live. But this time ‘Kryptonite’ came to life in rehearsal rooms and onstage, where we were hammering it into shape every time we played it. I think because of this, it’s a much more straightforward song compared to our others; it’s four people playing very hard”.

A rousing, defiant track that instinctively inspires listeners to move along to the beat, ‘Kryptonite’ is accompanied by a fun workout themed video featuring the band members in their trademark brightly coloured outfits. “The tempo of the chorus has inspired this run on the spot move we all do live, which in turn inspired the music video for the track,” explains Leah. “We joke that the song is such a workout for us when we play it, we thought wouldn’t it be fun if we did a workout fitness video and people could join in! I couldn’t do a vocal take in the studio without instinctively doing the run – its part of the song now!”

Preferring not to be too prescriptive about the lyrics and inspiration behind the track, Jamie offers the following cryptic information about ‘Kryptonite’, explaining that the classic 1978 Superman film played a part in its conception. “I always watch the film with my mum and sister, we love the scene where Lois Lane interviews Superman, where she gets so dressed up for him – I mean you would wouldn’t you? – And he ends up dropping her from 1000 feet. Not the best first date! I think we’ve all been excited for a date, only for the person to be a bit of a… well not what you expected. I’m never mad keen on explaining a song to the nth degree but hopefully it’ll just make you smile listening again and realising what we were on about.”

Watch the band’s self-directed video for ‘Kryptonite’ below.

Follow congratulations on Spotify, Tik Tok, Instagram & Facebook

congratulations Live Dates 2022
26th July – The Hope and Ruin BRIGHTON
29th July – Heartbreakers SOUTHAMPTON
5th August – Moth Club LONDON

Kate Crudgington
@kcbobcut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

GUIDE & PLAYLIST: Supersonic Festival

Event: Supersonic Festival

Where: Digbeth, Birmingham (The Mill, 29 Lower Trinity St, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4AG)

When: Friday 8th – Sunday 10th July 2022

Ticket Info: Full Weekend ticket: £130 / 2 Day Weekend ticket: £100.00 / Day ticket: £50 (ticket link here)

General Info: Now celebrating its 16th year, Supersonic Festival have put together another “ambitious programme of mind bending music, sense shifting art and life altering experiences” with their 2022 Guest Curators Decolonise Fest and Radwan Moumneh. There will also be extracurricular talks, screenings and activities across the weekend, including Do.om Yoga and an exhibition on the power of DIY printing.

Who’s Playing: Full line-up & timetable here

Divide & Dissolve, Rachel Aggs, Grove, BUNUEL, Bloody Head, Blue Ruth, Bismuth, A.A. Williams, Follakzoid, J. Zunz, No Home, Nadja, June Of 44, Richard Dawson & Circle, Old Man Gloom, Thou, The Bug ft. Flowdan, Jerusalem In My Heart, Radwan Moumneh, Aabronia, BINT7ALAL, Big Brave, DJ Awkward Black Girl, Farida Amadou, Matters, Jessika Khazrik + Nurah Farahat, PRNCSS, Shovel Dance Collective, Holy Tongue, Paul Purgas, Erin Weisgerber, Pharaoh Overlord + Aaron Tuner and more!

Who GIHE recommend you catch: We’re already big fans of the the heavy sounds of No Home (Saturday, The Mill, 16:30), the beautiful noise of A.A. Williams (Sunday, The Mill, 15:50), and the gargantuan grace of Divide & Dissolve (Sunday, 7SVN, 21:30) so we recommend you catch each of their sets. Grove (Friday, 7SVN, 22:30), Rachel Aggs (Saturday, The Mill, 17:30) and J.Zunz (Sunday, 7SVN, 16:50) are well worth your attention too!

We recommend attending The Art Of Collaboration talk (Sunday, Centrala Upstairs, 13:10), which will feature conversations between interdisciplinary artist, producer and DJ Jessika Khazrik, producer & composer Elizabeth Bernholz aka Gazelle Twin and NYX choir Director Sian O’Gorman.

Decolonise Fest will also be hosting a talk (Saturday, Market Place Stage, 18:40) and playing a DJ set afterwards – both will be great!

For more information on the festival visit their official website

Check out our Supersonic Festival Playlist below!

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Muna Ileiwat – ‘Pity Party’

A lo-fi indie pop gem that gently shrugs off the frustrations caused by someone else’s “bad behaviour”, London-based, New Jersey-born songwriter Muna Ileiwat has shared her latest single ‘Pity Party’. Taken from her debut EP, Twenty-Seven, which is set for release on 19th August via Fear of Missing Out Records, the track is a hazy blend of soft vocals, shimmering electronics and steady beats over which Muna calmly refuses to take on extra emotional labour.

After going through a break-up at the start of the pandemic, Muna avoided screens and social media and turned to songwriting in order to process her emotions. The result is her debut EP, which explores the fluctuating nature of relationships in all their forms, and the resilience and freedom that comes with creating art for arts sake.

“I was trying to not be too precious about my songwriting or my art in general. It’s hindered me in a lot of ways in the past –– writer’s block that eventually turns into existential creative anxiety,” Muna explains. Her latest single ‘Pity Party’ is a natural product of this mindset. Inspired by an event that happened on the last night of her twenty-seventh year, the track is a quietly confident ode to self-autonomy.

“That year marks a time when I became somewhat of an open book,” Muna explains further. “I had no time for people’s bullshit and decided I was just going to start tackling life with 100% conviction.” This conviction is explored through lilting keys and Muna’s clear, cutting lyrics on ‘Pity Party’. Muna will be celebrating the release of her debut EP with a live show at The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston on 19th August.

Watch the video for ‘Pity Party’ below.

Pre-order Muna Ileiwat’s debut EP, Twenty-Seven, from Rough Trade here

Follow Muna Ileiwat on Apple Music, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Guy Gotto

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment