Track Of The Day: Hussy – ‘Forever’

Following previous singles ‘Slayer’ and ‘Playtime’, South East London based Sophie Nicole Ellison – aka Hussy – has now shared a bewitching new single, ‘Forever’

Playing, recording and layering all the music herself, Hussy showcases her innovative songwriting abilities. Starting off with a somewhat eerie tone, twinkling chimes cascade into scuzzy hooks with a gritty energy before being interspersed with a luscious, dreamy haze. Flowing with the celestial power of Ellison’s vocals, a soaring, textured soundscape is created, whirring with a haunting intensity. With ‘Forever’, Hussy offers a perfect, shimmering slice of psych-filled, shoegaze-heavy Dream Pop, complete with immersive layers and captivating majestic allure.

Of the track, Hussy explains:

“’Forever’ talks about my tendency to delve into escapism. I went through an intense period of lucid dreaming where I would meet people through these dreams; people I had met briefly or had admired, been interested with or even not met at all. I would become friends with these people very intensely and feel like I’d get to know them super well, better than in real life. Then when I would encounter them in real life there was a sense of loss, like something that could/ could’ve been. I guess it harps at longing for connections.”

 

Featuring Leisha Thomas and Becca Carter on drums and additional guitar, ‘Forever’ is out now.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit:
Poppy Marriott

Track Of The Day: Arlo Parks – ‘Cola’

Newcomer Arlo Parks has shared her debut single ‘Cola’ and it’s a slow-burning, soulful track with lyrical bite. The eighteen year old poet, singer, producer & rapper demonstrates her confessional writing style beautifully here, with beats as steady as her calm, stylish vocals.

On ‘Cola’, The London-based singer tackles the relatable theme of “bad love”. Arlo explains: “‘Cola’ is a reminder that betrayal is inevitable when it comes to pretty people that think flowers fix everything”. Her sharp observations are delivered in tender, care-free style, making it easy to leave the track on repeat. Flowers may not be able to fix everything, but if ‘Cola’ is anything to go by – Arlo’s vocals certainly can.

Listen to the track below or stream it here. Follow Arlo Parks on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Charlie Cummings

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

EP: Hanya – ‘I Used To Love You, Now I Don’t’

Demonic and dangerous, sorrowful and tormented; such are said to be the properties of the Japanese mask after which Hanya name themselves. It too, makes a pretty good description of this first EP from the Brighton two-piece.

The mix of sounds created by the pair – originally the solo project of Heather Sheret before being joined by drummer Jack Watkins – has grown over time and through the course of I Used To Love You, Now I Don’t mixes together a range of ‘90s influences from shoegaze to Britpop, while remaining fresh.

Opening with the simple, if awkward, strum and percussive shimmer of ‘Old/New’ over four minutes the track builds through layers of reverb-laden vocal, and guitar riffs that begin as Britpop chimes and twist into shoegaze distortion.

‘Radio’ is a glowing ember of a track, drifting upwards into the endless dark, turning slowly and filling you with ominous gloom. Sheret’s vocals are a honey laced with vinegar as the soft drawl becomes sharp yowl. Of the track Sheret has explained: “‘Radio’ was written at a time of big stomach churning foreboding for me. It reflects thinking that something external can help at a time like that, like moving somewhere new, meeting someone, stupid vices, anything that we reach out for to give us some feeling that shitty times can be fixed.”

 

In this track are the real echoes of shoegaze as spiralling riffs conjure forth Mazzy Star and Slowdive. You spiral with it, sinking into its depths, but it lacks the awe of those influences – something made up for on ‘Honey’.

This starts off the same way, the gloop and gloom pulls you in but rather than cycling this way throughout, Watkins drumming picks up part way through; a percussive foil for that soft-echoing vocal, pinning down the bolshier guitar.

Closer ‘Trust Fund Baby’ steps away in tone being a far more upbeat number, closer to Salad and Sounds From The City era PJ Harvey. It rattles along with more jangle than distortion, with a bite in the lyric as much as a shimmer to the percussion.

Hanya build a sound which belies their two-piece set up and as a debut I Used To Love You, Now I Don’t is full of promise; an understated addition to established genres.

I Used To Love You, Now I Don’t is out now via Leisure Records. Listen here. And make sure you catch Hanya live for us at The Finsbury on 14th December, along with Fightmilk, Handsome Eric and Candy Cane!

Sarah Lay
@sarahlay

Track Of The Day: The Velveteers – ‘Anastasia Sings’

Having first fallen for Colorado fuzz-rockers The Velveteers seeing them support faves Deap Vally a couple of years back, they’ve since released their acclaimed EP earlier this year and finished their biggest UK tour to date. And now they’ve blasted back into our ears with new single ‘Anastasia Sings’.

A cinematic, psych-filled offering filled with immense scuzz-filled hooks, ‘Anastasia Sings’ is an instantly infectious slice of gritty, blues-filled garage rock. With driving double drum beats courtesy of John Demitro and Adrian Pottersmith, plus the spectacular soaring vocals of front woman Demi Demitro, the sweeping power of this new single marks The Velveteers out as definite ones to watch. 

Watch the horror-fuelled nightmare-scape of the new video for ‘Anastasia Sings’ here:

Mari Lane
@marimindles