Track Of The Day: Starling – ‘Swoop’

Just like her avian name, rising alt-pop artist Starling comes in for the ‘Swoop’ in her latest single. With a mix of trap bass line, photon blasts, and kitschy instrumental drops, ‘Swoop’ is a dance floor banger for the quirky cool kids. Starling’s sultry and seductive vocals boast pointillistic rhythms and hashtag lyrics about her ambitious nature – she gets what she wants, when she wants.

A soaring alt-pop anthem, filled with Starling’s rich vocals and an instantly catchy and empowering energy, ‘Swoop’ is a guaranteed ear-worm, set to mark Starling out as a definite one to watch. Of the track, she explains:

“Swoop is about being unapologetically focused and owning it. Owning your dream, owning that fear, owning that desire and not holding back your ambition or your individuality. Judgement suffocates. To “swoop” liberates.”

In the accompanying video, a laid back and denim tuxedo wearing Starling explains to us her raison d’être while pastel sweat-suited dancers show off their varied dance skills from popping and locking to jetes. Speaking about the video, she’s said: “I wanted to make a 90s inspired music video on what it is to “own it”. This is what I told the dancers “there is no space for shame or judgement in Starling’s world, it’s time to dance like you are free to be who you really are, to own your quirk”.

‘Swoop’ marks the second piece of new material from Starling’s forthcoming new album To Be Alive, which is due out in the near future. To Be Alive is produced in part by Damian Taylor (Bjork, The Prodigy) and David Kyle Payne (Meghan Trainor, Sigala).

Aisha Kasmir
@aisha_vocal

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Track Of The Day: Circe – ‘Dancer’

An evocative dark-pop gem inspired by a morbid fascination with an infamous cult, London-based artist Circe has shared her latest single ‘Dancer’. Taken from her debut EP She’s Made of Saints, which is set for release on 25th November via Jazz Life, the track is a sultry, cinematic offering exploring the dangerous yet seductive allure of Californian cult The Source Family.

“’Dancer’ is a song that grew from a documentary I watched about The Source Family…examining a radical experiment in 1970’s utopian living,” Circe explains. “One of the young girls involved from the cult had a line in an interview about how she gave up all ownership of herself for the cult leader ‘Father Yod’, even dancing. That line always stuck with me. The thought someone could surrender their own movement and body-ultimate freedom. I waver on this dangerous line between interest and intrigue into cults, particularly the 60s-70s ones based around Hollywood. It’s always been a fascination for me that there is a surreal romance to these set-ups, in contrast to some horrific actions.”

Accompanied by a captivating video directed by Rachel Povey and Circe, the visuals for ‘Dancer’ incorporate symbols of Catholicism to explore the thrilling feeling that sacrificing yourself to the light – even if it is only a glamorous neon sign – strangely brings. Inspired by the visuals and soundtracks of David Lynch’s films, Circe’s compelling electronic sounds teeter on the edge of dystopia and utopia, whilst dissecting personal and social norms with breathtaking grace.

Listen to ‘Dancer’ below.

Follow Circe on Spotify, bandcamp, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter & Instagram

Kate Crudgington
@kate_crudge

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LISTEN: Divide and Dissolve – ‘Denial’

An exhilarating, powerful soundscape that aims to erode the foundations of colonialism and liberate the land for black and indigenous communities, multidimensional duo Divide and Dissolve have shared their latest single ‘Denial’. Taken from their upcoming album Gas Lit, which is set for release on 29th January 2021 via Invada Records, the track is an eerie cacophony of thunderous riffs, ear-shattering percussion and uncanny saxophone notes that aim to eradicate white supremacy.

“Sometimes we don’t need to talk in order for others to understand what’s going on,” the duo explain about their intense instrumentals. “We are communicating with our ancestors through the music. Our ancestors help us to communicate with each other on a deeper level as well. This deep connection is able to be achieved without words.” Through their blend of visceral noise and captivating visuals, Divide and Dissolve – formed of Takiaya Reed (Black & Tsalagi [Cherokee]) and Sylvie Nehill (Māori) – dismantle the social frameworks that prevent black and indigenous communities from thriving in an equal society.

The accompanying video for ‘Denial’ was shot in Taupo, Aotearoa by indigenous director Amber Beaton. “I’m a huge fan of Divide and Dissolve and so happy to have made this video for them,” Beaton explains. “I understand and appreciate the message behind the music and I wanted to make sure the video held the same intentions no matter how subtle.”

“For instance, we start off with a shot of a Kōwhai tree. Native to Aotearoa, Kōwhai in bloom signifies to Māori that some seafood is ready for harvest, the roots can be used to make fishing hooks, the sap on the sunny side of the tree can be used to heal wounds… but the vibrancy of the yellow flower was also the first thing Captain Cook saw when he arrived on the shores of Aotearoa signalling the start of colonial violence on this whenua/land. The changing colours of its flower in the video represents our change as a country and as people since that fateful arrival.”

Dedicated to shining a light on social injustices both past and present, Divide and Dissolve continue to demand equality on thunderous new offering ‘Denial’, which serves as another reminder of the duo’s talent for creating abrasive yet graceful soundscapes.

Listen to the track below.

 

Follow Divide and Dissolve on bandcamp, Instagram, Spotify, Twitter & Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Billy Eyers

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Argonaut – ’13’

“Where’s this song coming from?”, my two-year-old shouts excitedly as Argonaut‘s latest single plays through my phone’s tinny speaker, like something magical has just happened. And I don’t blame her. ’13’ has a beautiful, haunting quality.

The song opens with a dark, dirty bass, which makes singer Lorna’s bittersweet, bubblegum vocals and dreamy melodies even more affecting. “Carefree and young, I remember it well”, she sings, as though casting a longing glance back at her childhood. It’s melancholic, grown-up pop music with a real punk rock sensibility, reminiscent of Blondie, The Primitives or The Waitresses.

A fuzzy, downbeat dream of a song, ’13’ feels like the perfect soundtrack for a lockdown winter. As the days get colder and darker, and we spend even more time away from our friends and family, it’s a lush, lovely thing to get wrapped up in.

 

Vic Conway

 

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