NEW TRACK: SPIDER – ‘daisy chains’

Following on from last year’s smouldering single ‘straight out the oven‘, Irish-born, London-based alt-pop artist SPIDER has returned with a tenacious new anthem titled ‘daisy chains’. Taken from her upcoming new EP, an object of desire, which is set for release later this year, the track is a raucous ode to trusting your instincts and advocating for yourself when others encroach on your space.

“‘daisy chains’ is the epitome of ‘don’t take my kindness for weakness,’” explains SPIDER about her new single. “I wrote it about a really shitty experience where I continued being super kind to someone who invaded my personal space and made me feel really uncomfortable. I just didn’t think I was entitled to feeling weird about it and I didn’t feel like I could stand up for myself either. The lyrics are violent, but the invasion of someone’s space – in any type of way – is violent. Writing this song allowed me to reclaim that moment and properly feel the anger I had towards them without forcing myself to take the high road and ‘be above it.'”

Through her uncompromising lyrics and direct vocals, SPIDER explores these visceral and conflicting feelings. “I like to chase / and I hear that you’re a runner” she taunts over punchy beats and gritty riffs, gladly taking back control after feeling intense discomfort and unease about the situation. ‘daisy chains’ is aural proof that, as SPIDER states in her own lyrics: “I’ve got spine”. Her upcoming EP, and her previous releases (2022’s C.O.A, and 2023’s HELL OR HIGH WATER) all form what SPIDER coins as her “Unholy Trinity of Young Adulthood” collection. Through her music, she explores what it’s like to be a young black woman, coming of age in a Catholic household, and navigating the world and the music industry as a genre-blending and uncompromising new artist.

After watching SPIDER storm the stage at The Green Door Store for The Great Escape Festival in Brighton last year, we’re excited to share the news that she’ll be playing her first ever headline show at London’s Camden Assembly on 20th March. Grab a ticket here.

Listen to ‘daisy chains’ below.

Follow SPIDER on Spotify, Instagram, Twitter (X) & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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PREMIERE: Sukie Smith – ‘Into The Light’

Having released critically acclaimed albums with her band Madam over the last decade, as well as collaborating with the likes of Tricky, multi-disciplinary artist Sukie Smith has now announced the release of her debut solo album, The Glass Dress and a Ringing Bell.

Taken from the album, new single ‘Into The Light’ reflects on summoning the power to leave a turbulent relationship that Smith found herself trapped in during lockdown. Showcasing her rich vocals alongside scuzzy hooks and a ’90s reminiscent whirring energy, a gritty, empowering spirit glistens throughout, creating an impassioned, yet catchy, indie anthem. A fierce ode to survival and understanding our own strength as women, from a truly innovative artist.

‘Into The Light’ is accompanied by an artfully created new video, directed by James Alexander, which beautifully portrays the sparkling energy and fizzing sense of celebration at the heart of the song. Watch, for the first time, here:

‘Into The Light’ will also feature an additional remix by Adam Franklin of Swervedriver, so keep your ears peeled for that too! The Glass Dress and a Ringing Bell, the upcoming debut album from Sukie Smith, is set for release on 8th March.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: James Alexander

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New Track: Moor Mother – ‘Guilty’

Following critical acclaim for her 2021 album Black Encyclopedia Of The Air, innovative artist Camae Ayewa – aka Moor Mother – has now announced the release of her 9th studio album, The Great Bailout.

Our first taste of the album comes in the form of new single ‘Guilty‘, a collaboration with Lonnie Holley, Mary Lattimore and Raia Was. Oozing a mystical energy, it encapsulates the sentiment of the album – a poignant and necessary message, bringing to our attention crimes committed by our ‘fair isle’. With a glistening splendour, layers of chiming instrumentation swirl together with vocals, intertwining to create a truly stirring anthem. As its whirring musicality provides a backdrop to lists of ‘great’ Britain’s injustices against humanity and the harsh realities of colonialism, the juxtaposition of the horror of ‘Guilty’s message with the beauty of its musicality is stark. At over ten minutes long, I urge you to immerse yourself in this hauntingly beautiful offering; one that we need to pay heed to, now more than ever. An urgent message encased in an evocative sonic grace.

Of the track, Ayewa explains:

“Displacement and its effects are not discussed enough… The PTSD of displacement should be a focus, and as we have the opportunity to learn about things happening in the world, we also have the opportunity to learn about ourselves. We’ve been through so many different acts of systematic violence.“

Watch the affecting lyric video now:


The Great Bailout, the ninth album from Moor Mother, is set for release on 8th March via ANTI-. Pre-order here. Catch Moor Mother live in London or Bristol in March, info and tickets here.


Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz

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NEW TRACK: Fears – ‘4th of the 1st’

A poignant reflection on emotional resilience and self-soothing, Dublin-born, London-based interdisciplinary artist Constance Keane aka Fears has shared her latest single, ‘4th of the 1st’. Taken from her newly announced second album, affinity, which is set for release on 22nd March via TULLE, the track is a delicate blend of soft vocals and hypnotic synth loops that delicately dismantle the duplicitous and intrusive thoughts that follow in the aftermath of a complicated breakup.

On her debut album Oíche, Fears balanced her intense ruminations on trauma alongside dainty synth loops and tentative beats to shine a light on a personal metamorphosis. On her upcoming album, affinity, she continues to create emotive, elegant and enlightening soundscapes, but this time she spotlights the ability to find peace in the often chaotic settings around her. Written and recorded between London, New York, and Dublin, across 10 tracks she shares stories of human connection in its strongest and most fragile forms, something which her new single ‘4th of the 1st’ beautifully highlights.

Fears gives more context to ‘4th of the 1st’, which is inspired by a phone call she had on the same date back in 2022: “It’s about checking in with yourself and reassuring yourself after an experience with someone who denies what you know to be true of your time together,” she explains. “I think it’s unfortunately a pretty common thing to have someone tell you how much they’re into you and then decide that they actually never said that when they’ve changed their mind. I’ve experienced it a few times anyway, so I wanted to write a song for myself to say ‘no you DID actually say that, I didn’t make it up’.”

The single is accompanied by a video, directed and edited by Fears and filmed by Colleen Lee. The visuals aim to subtly highlight the “trust and bond that can be found in sisterhood,” and poetically depicts how women proactively signal to other women information that could help to keep them safe.

Watch the video for ‘4th of the 1st’ below.

Pre-order Fears upcoming album, affinity, here

Follow Fears on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, Twitter (X) & Facebook
Follow TULLE on Instagram & Twitter (X)

Photo Credit: Niamh Barry

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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