LISTEN: Trinity Mei – ‘ever be right’

Trinity Mei is a folk singer-songwriter from the sun-soaked desert landscapes of Arizona. Having honed her musical prowess at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, she blends elements of traditional folk with aspects of electronica, giving her music a contemporary yet timeless quality. 

Her debut track ‘ever be right’ has introspective lyrics that delve into the common experience of entering a relationship where emotions aren’t reciprocated. She describes tender moments in the verses – “…we’ll stay up for hours until the moon is gone / talk about secrets till the light of dawn” – but questions in the chorus whether she will ever be right for them, noting her frustrations that “guess life’s not like the movies, your heart is out of range”. 

‘ever be right’ has a beautifully chilled out energy, characterised by mellow and gentle sounds. It’s built around lilting, strumming guitar and incorporates harmonising vocals, lush string swells, and textured synth parts – providing a perfect foundation for Mei’s smooth and soulful vocals, which captivate on first listen. The production is crisp and warm, drawing you in and holding your attention. Whilst there are no belting vocals, they are delivered delicately with an immersive dynamism and raw emotion, reflecting the subject matter and giving hints of the stirring alt-pop of Phoebe Bridgers or Billie Eilish.

Already, with this spellbinding debut, Mei has demonstrated sharp musicianship in constructing a stunning and intricate soundscape with a really strong vocal performance. I look forward to seeing what’s to come next from this artist.

Ella Patenall
@ella_patenall

ellapatenallLeave a comment

ALBUM: Alex Lahey – ‘The Answer Is Always Yes’

Following singer/songwriter Alex Lahey’s idiosyncratic sophomore LP, 2019’s The Best of Luck Club, the Australian indie hero revels in the absurdity of the suburban gothic on her latest record (and debut for Liberation) – collaborating with songwriters Jacknife Lee, John Mark Nelson, Chris Collins, amongst others – The Answer is Always Yes; ten cathartic tracks of self-discovery and exploration, finding comfort in discomfort.

Opening with Courtney Barnett-esque speak-sung delivery (“Everybody is a bit fucked up, but they think they’re okay…”), ‘Good Time’ is unashamedly upbeat, with invigorating, fuzz-drenched hooks; an ode to post-lockdown nights out at the pub. Following with Nevermind-era, grunge-fuelled riffs, ‘Congratulations’ sarcastically reflects on not one, but two ex-partners getting engaged within an unexpectedly short amount of time from one another – “Congratulations / So happy for your perfect life / There’s something in my eye / I’m doing just fine without you.”

Ruminating on a tumultuous breakup, warm basslines propel power pop anthem ‘You’ll Never Get Your Money Back’, before musically intimate indie ballad ‘The Sky is Melting’ revels in the drug-induced chaos caused by consuming edibles. ‘On the Way Down’, another sardonic breakup song, is juxtaposed by the sickly-sweet lyrics of ‘Makes Me Sick’ (“I like you so much, it makes me sick and I wouldn’t change it!”), whilst ‘Shit Talkin” gets awkward with bubblegum pop melodies and introspective lyrics.

‘Permanent’ is a sombre reflection on the songwriter’s time spent at her childhood home during lockdown; a semi-acoustic lament crescendoing into feedback and fear. Inspired by the TV coming-of-age romantic comedy Heartstopper – adapted from the webcomic of the same name by Alice Oseman – the infectious ‘They Wouldn’t Let Me In’ follows, reflecting on the teenage queer experience with self-aware wit. Of the track, Lahey explains: “I spent a lot of time thinking about my own experiences growing up as a queer teenager…being excluded from conventional romantic rites of passage…feeling like I couldn’t relate to anyone around me… It also makes you realise how absurd everything is.”

Closing with the ethereal title track ‘The Answer is Always Yes’, Alex Lahey showcases her tender and emotive vocal range; realising that life is unpredictable, but we should always stay positive. If you are saying yes, you are experiencing the world and all its quirks. It’s also indicative of the rest of the record; beautifully finding humour in the absurdities of existence.

The Answer Is Always Yes, the latest album from Alex Lahey, is out now via Liberation – order here. And you can catch her live when she tours Europe this Autumn – more info here.

Ken Wynne
@ken_wynne

kenwynneLeave a comment

NEW TRACK: CLT DRP – ‘I See My Body Through You’

Following on from their incendiary anthems ‘New Boy‘ and ‘Nothing Clever, Just Feelings‘, Brighton feminist electro-punks CLT DRP have shared their powerful new single ‘I See My Body Through You’. Taken from their upcoming second album, Nothing Clever, Just Feelings, which is set for release on 8th September via Venn Records, the track is a dynamic, corrosive rumination on objectification and how it can affect our own identity and self worth.

Annie Dorrett’s distinctive, self-possessed vocals lead the charge alongside drummer Daphne’s considered percussion and guitarist Scott’s blend of melodic and visceral riffs. By combining quieter verses with a blistering chorus, CLT DRP reflect the tumultuous emotions and lack of control that can come from feeling exposed and viewed through a skewed and restricting lens. “They just say grin and bear it” Annie muses, before listeners are pummelled by a wall of cathartic, abrasive sound.

The single is accompanied by an intriguing set of visuals, directed by Alice Strutt. Annie explains the thought process behind the video: “‘I See My Body Through You’ is probably one of the tracks we’re looking forward to putting out the most. The content of the song set against the visuals all came out perfectly.”

“There’s a lot behind this song,” she continues, “different ways to interpret it, but the unsettling feeling and tension in the orchestration and in the video match up to the emotions that created this song in the first place—the emotions of being constantly on show, being objectified, and your own confidence being warped because of other people’s gaze. I think Alice heard the song and understood those feelings immediately, as most women do, and came up with some striking and strange concepts for the video.”

Director Alice Strutt comments further: “Inspired by the song’s content, the video embraces the use of ambiguous imagery, employing fractured reflections and obscured veils to symbolise the interplay between how we imagine others perceive us and its effect on our self-perception. The aim was to create impactful and disjointed visuals that invite contemplation of the blurred lines between reality and interpretation.”

Fresh from performing in their hometown at The Great Escape Festival earlier this year and a recent support slot with electronic music pioneer Gary Numan in Antwerp, CLT DRP are set to headline one of the stages at ArcTanGent Festival this weekend (18th August). The band have also announced a string of winter UK headline tour dates, including a show at The Lexington in London on 29th November. Full listings are below and tickets are on sale here.

Watch the video for ‘I See My Body Through You’ below.

CLT DRP UK Live Dates 2023
11.08.23 – Winchester, UK – Boomtown
18.08.23 – Somerset, UK – ArcTanGent
08.09.23 – Brighton, Green Door Store
15.09.23 – Sofia, BG – Wrong Fest
12.10.23 – Manchester, Beyond The Music
02.11.23 – Leeds, Oporto
03.11.23 – Glasgow, Hug & Pint
23.11.23 – Southampton, Joiners
24.11.23 – Bristol, Rough Trade
29.11.23 – London, Lexington

Pre-order CLT DRP’s new album Nothing Clever, Just Feelings here

Follow CLT DRP on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Facebook & Instagram

Photo Credit: Libby Malandrone

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

WATCH: HotWax – ‘Drop’

Having won us over with previous impassioned offerings ‘Treasure‘ and ‘Rip It Out’, Hastings band Tallulah, Lola and Alfie – aka HotWax – are swiftly taking over the UK music scene. With acclaim from the likes of BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio One, NME and The Independent, and support from artists such as Courtney Barnett and Wolf Alice, to name a few, the teenage trio are continuing to mark themselves out as definite ones to watch. Now, following the release of their debut EP A Thousand Times earlier this year, and signing to Marathon Artists, they’ve shared a colossal new single.

Mixed by Alan Moulder (Foo Fighters, Wet Leg), ‘Drop’ is propelled by pulsating beats and raging hooks as it builds with a raucous energy and fierce allure to an epic grunge-fuelled anthem. Although somewhat nostalgic in their ’90s grunge and ’00s indie references, HotWax have once again managed to create something completely fresh; ‘Drop’ blasts into the ears with the band’s distinctive ferocious drive and blistering power, leaving me excited to hear what this immense band on the rise come up with next.

‘Drop’ is accompanied by a wonderfully wacky new video, directed by Josh Quinton. Featuring aliens coming to earth in a decollage spaceship to infiltrate the band’s brains and make them shred even harder, all whilst styled in Fall ’23 Charles Jeffrey, it showcases the band’s colourful humour and style alongside their mammoth musical talent.


‘Drop’ is out now via Marathon Artists, and is released amidst an incredibly busy summer for HotWax. As well as already wowing packed out crowds at The Great Escape, Dot To Dot and Mad Cool, they are set to play alongside The Strokes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs (and Angel Olsen and Amyl And The Sniffers – we can’t wait!) next Friday 25th August at All Points East , and will then be heading to Reading and Leeds where they’ll headline the BBC Introducing Stage. See the full list of HotWax’s upcoming live dates, including their Autumn tour supporting Royal Blood in the UK and North America, here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Chiara Gambuto

mariangelicalaneLeave a comment