Track Of The Day: Projector – ‘NON’

A gritty, urgent blend of candid vocals and heavy riffs that tackle the nihilistic frustrations surrounding the way we are perceived, Brighton-based trio Projector have shared their latest single, ‘NON’. Following on from their previous release ‘Hell In My Head’, the band have unleashed another biting offering that tackles the weight of misconception via brooding, swirling sounds and an anthemic chorus.

“’NON’ is a song about expectation, feeling miss-sold as a good person, pulled in two directions and getting nowhere,” explains vocalist and guitarist Edward Ensbury. Recorded, produced, and mixed by the band themselves, ‘NON’ is a complete nosedive into Projector’s alternative sound, commanded by the charged percussion of drummer Cal Marinho.

The new single is also accompanied by a video, shot, directed by and starring the band. Despite the playful nature of the visuals, vocalist and bassist Lucy Sheehan explains that there’s a punk practicality behind the video’s conception: “I always loved those bands who were like a punk collective, finding ways to do everything themselves. The industry isn’t a friendly place for musicians financially – costs are going up and our fees and revenues are going down – so bands are going DIY again.”

After recently returning from a European tour with Canadian alt-rockers Cleopatrick, Projector are now playing headline shows across the UK, including London’s Moth Club on 7th October.

Watch the video for ‘NON’ below.

Follow Projector on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Projector UK Tour Dates 2022
5th Oct – Bodega, Nottingham
6th Oct – Heartbreakers, Southampton
7th Oct – Moth Club, London
8th Oct – The Crypt, Hastings

Photo credit: Libby Malandrone

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Five Favourites: Maria Uzor

Having recently wowed us with her immersive live show at The Shacklewell Arms, and having received acclaim from the likes of John Kennedy and Amy Lame, we’re excited to hear that Norwich based vocalist and producer Maria Uzor (also half of faves Sink Ya Teeth) has now announced the release of her upcoming new EP in December. Ahead of the EP release, she has now shared captivating new single ‘Solitaire’. Flowing with a luscious, swirling groove and gnarly beats, it builds with a shimmering, pulsating majesty to a gritty slice of euphoric electro-pop. Oozing her distinctive, spellbinding sweeping vocals, it’s a gloriously uplifting synth-soaked soundscape.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate the upcoming release of Songs For Luminous Living, we caught up with Maria to ask about the music that has inspired her the most. See below for their choices of their five favourite albums, and be sure to watch the trippy new video for ‘Solitaire’ at the end of this feature.

Tricky – Pre Millenium Tension
I’ve always really admired Tricky as an artist. I’m really drawn to the landscapes he paints with sounds and vocals, and how he doesn’t confine himself to genres. You can hear influences from all over the place. There’s an other-worldly quality to his music too, which I think comes from not putting restrictions on himself. He’s an explorer; I love that. This album also features the superb vocals of Martine Topley Bird. The interplay between their two voices is something magic.


Minnie Ripperton – Come To My Garden
This was Minnie Ripperton’s debut solo album after leaving Rotary Connection, and what an album! That voice is just from another realm – it makes me cry! And such beautiful production too. It’s the kind of album I can play on a summer’s day or late at night and it will just put me in a mood of beauty and possibility. This album has an other-worldly feel to it too; it’s haunting in its beauty.


Sylvester – Stars
I absolutely adore Sylvester. He had such a beautiful voice and presence, and he chose to spend his time on this planet being unapologetically himself, and I really love that. Stars is only a four track EP but every song is special. The title track makes me want to dance whenever I hear it, it’s just life affirming. The EP also features a collaboration with Patrick Cowley on ‘I Need Somebody To Love Tonight’ (Cowley produced it). It definitely grooves hard, but there’s a pensive element there too which gives it a different edge.

David Bowie – Low
Whenever I speak to people who were around when Ziggy Stardust first landed, they always say the same thing; that it was like he came from another planet. So naturally, I love him – haha! When I was a teenager I used to just play all the usual early ’70s classics like ‘Life On Mars’ and ‘Starman’, but then I started loving all eras of Bowie as I got older. I didn’t realise how much I’d missed out on. I’m really into how wise he became in his older years too. There’s some stellar nuggets of wisdom from him in YouTube videos! It was hard to pick just one Bowie album but I settled on Low for the beautiful songwriting and production. I admire Bowie for the same reason that I admire Tricky; they’re both explorers, boldly dancing beyond boundaries in every sense. ‘Sound And Vision’ just reminds me of countless good times I’ve had with friends, late at night in small kitchens!


Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On?
To me, no other piece of music comes closer to perfection than this album. I first discovered it at art school and used to play it every day for about two years. The production, the sentiment, the vocals; it’s like it’s a precise moment of expression beamed out to the universe. Or beamed in from the universe. Or both! Flawless and breathtaking in its beauty.


Massive thanks to Maria Uzor for sharing her Five Favourites with us! Watch the captivatingly trippy new video for her single ‘Solitaire‘ now:


Songs For Luminous Living, the upcoming EP from Maria Uzor, is set for release on 9th December via Hey Buffalo Records.

Photo Credit: Andi Sapey

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Track Of The Day: Husk – ‘Crush’

Having been named as one of Gaydio’s ‘One To Watch’ and with support from the likes of BBC 6Music, Manchester based queer artist HUSK has been one of our faves here at GIHE for a while now, and so we couldn’t be happier to share their uplifting new single.

A catchy, danceable ‘tranthem’ of self-love, ‘Crush‘ is a call to go against society’s expectations and love yourself. Propelled by vibrant beats and a colourful, ’80s-reminiscent groove, it’s a glistening offering oozing all the uplifting vibes and shimmering energy needed to dance together in unity.

Of the track, HUSK explains:

“As a trans person, and I think literally every other person in society, especially marginalised groups, we’re taught to hate our bodies, and I was like, f*ck that! ‘Crush’ is 3 minutes where I have full permission to confess my love for my trans body, and I want others to love themselves too!“

Yet again, HUSK has managed uplift our spirits and energise our souls with another euphoric pop hit.

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Mari Lane
@marimindles



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Track Of The Day: Angela Sclafani – ‘How We Meet’

Angela Sclafani is a New York City-based songwriter, performer and musical theatre-maker. Having twice won the Great American Song Contest’s Adult Contemporary category, she has independently released three original EPs, plus Edge Of Seventeen – an EP of wonderfully reimagined Stevie Nicks hits. Now, the first taster of her upcoming debut full-length album, latest single ‘How We Meet’ offers a sonic journey through the playful world of her inner child and past personas.

The song starts off with a country pop twang and delicate backing drum beats, as Angela’s honey-sweet voice takes us back to more innocent times – “Talkin to myself in a voice so sweet… Could I fit inside the shape you made your life?” – as she poignantly explores the older ways of communicating with other people (talking, writing letters, telephone) with a shimmering musicality. A well-crafted and uplifting song from a truly versatile artist, ‘How We Meet’ oozes a twinkling Americana-tinged grace alongside infectious melodies; reminding us with Sclafani’s lilting tones to seize the moment (answering that message in a bottle!) and make the move to form meaningful connections.

The song is the first of four singles leading up to the album’s release in February 2023, providing a representative sampling of its concept; taking classic Americana sounds as interpreted in an innovative way by a New York City theatre kid.

‘How We Meet’ is out now via Pitch and Prose – download on Bandcamp now. Songs Of Other Selves, the upcoming debut album from Angela Sclafani, is set for release next February.

Fi Ni Aicead
@gotnomoniker

Photo Credit: Jules Miranda

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