Track Of The Day: ARXX – ‘Couldn’t Help Myself’

Following acclaim from the likes of Diva Magazine, John Kennedy, BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders and BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq for previous singles such as ‘Deep’ and ‘Not Alone But Not With You’, Brighton’s ARXX have cemented themselves as firm favourites with the release of their brand new single.

A swirling slice of honey-sweet pop, ‘Couldn’t Help Myself’ is a positive reflection on the freedom that can come from a break-up. Complete with the fizzing energy and empowering, gritty drive that we’ve come to know and love from the duo, a colossal anthemic musicality builds alongside the sassy allure of Hanni’s vocals, oozing a danceable, joyous vivacity as colourfully catchy hooks flow.

An immaculately produced pure pop banger, ‘Couldn’t Help Myself’ once again showcases ARXX as a band consistently honing and developing their sound to create the freshest, most addictive of tunes. Impossible to pigeonhole into one genre, ARXX continue to impress us with everything they do and remain one of the most exciting bands I’ve ever come across.

Of the track, Hanni explains:

“‘Couldn’t help Myself’ is a brutally candid reflection of a relationship gone wrong.  The exclamation of  “It’s not me, it’s you” epitomises the joyful fuck you spirit of the song.  This song is for; those times when break ups are a good thing,  forgiving yourself and getting rid of toxic relationships and for unashamedly just having fun.”

‘Couldn’t Help Myself’ is co-produced by Black Honey’s Chris Ostler and Tommy Taylor, with mastering from Katie Tavini. ARXX are releasing this single through Share It Music, raising money for Gendered Intelligence.

We can’t wait to catch this new single live when ARXX headline our night at Shacklewell Arms on 22nd July, alongside Lusa Morena and an incredibly exciting (currently secret) main support! Tickets here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Rosie Powell

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WATCH: Noga Erez – ‘NAILS’

Flowing with her trademark polished production, defiant vocal swagger and snappy lyrics, pop renegade & GIHE favourite Noga Erez has returned with her razor sharp single, ‘NAILS’. Released via Neon Gold/Atlantic Records, who Erez has recently signed to, and her first new music since her second album KIDS, ‘NAILS’ is accompanied by a slick video directed by long time collaborator Indy Hait, featuring Erez and her music & life partner Ori Rousso.

“‘NAILS’ is a song about jealousy, and how being jealous of people, in this particular case another woman, makes you idealize that person in a very weird and dark way,” Erez explains about the track. Together, Rousso and Erez explore these emotions through their infectious beats and Erez’s visceral emceeing, playfully loosening the grip of the jealous thoughts that we are all prone to from time to time.

The deeply satisfying sound of Erez tapping her own nails on different surfaces also underscores the new anthem. Their crunch adds a palpable, physical energy to the song, emphasizing the sharp humour that fuels her fierce lyrics. Armed with her embellished fingertips, she imagines her own nails as an amusing weapon with which to take down her adversaries – “I’ll bump a bitch / flesh pieces in my nails.”

Erez acknowledges the privilege of being allowed to work through these emotions in her music. “I feel like we live in a culture that says, ‘Don’t think those negative thoughts. Don’t even let that cross your mind’ but sometimes I’m like – ‘these bitches are looking at my man, I don’t want that!’ – it’s very, very funny. So I say, let it cross your mind, so that you can leave these things at the thought level, and get the poison out of you. The song is an invitation for everyone to feel that empowering, aggressive vibe and embrace it.”

Watch the video for ‘NAILS’ below.

Follow Noga Erez on bandcamp, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook & Spotify

Photo Credit: Timo Kerber

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Ruby Gill – ‘Public Panic Attacks’

If ever a song spoke directly to me, then it is ‘Public Panic Attacks’ – the resonant new single from Ruby Gill, a South African born, Melbourne-based musician and writer (and bird-watcher!). Its matter-of-fact and humorous lyricism follows a string of acclaimed releases since 2018, including the emotive folk-strewn splendour of ‘Your Mum’ and ‘you should do this for a living’.

The song starts off softly with delicate picked guitar as Ruby sings “Give me a second to breathe… heave my heavy heart….”, before leading us into the oncoming panic attack in a parking lot. The music speeds up with beautifully strummed dream-pop hooks, and a gently tapping rhythm as she tries to work out the cause – “is it the party or is it love…?” – as the backing vocals echo, creating a spellbinding atmosphere and build-up of tension throughout.

The bridge has the poignant lyric “am I scared of coming home, or is it the fear of being alone?”, before the gorgeous guitar solo glides seamlessly towards the abrupt conclusion “It has to..Stop!”

Certain to invoke rousing sing-a-longs, this anxiety anthem is as charismatic and infectious as they come. We all exhale with Ruby as the track draws to a close, transporting us to a happier place. Panic attacks have never felt so good.

Fi Ni Aicead
@gotnomoniker

Photo Credit: Al Parkinson

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Track Of The Day: Cheerbleederz – ‘Nail Biters’

With their new track ‘Nail Biters‘, London trio Cheerbleederz have released an anxiety anthem that perfectly captures what it’s like having an internal monologue hell bent on torturing you.

The song feels simply constructed. It’s got a steady rhythm, lively guitar and backing vocals that weave around each other beneath the lead lines. Its complexity creeps in as the track goes on until it echoes the anxiety at its core; whilst the vocals begin softly, the lyrics describe anxiety that persistently nags at you and – while it lingers in the back of your mind as you go about your day – it never goes away. While the lead vocal puts the general pressure into words, the backing vocals reflect the teasing voices behind the scenes that induce the undue stress.

As anxiety finally takes over, the song ramps up into a panic. The lyrics stay the same, but everything gets louder, with the lead vocals becoming sharper and more emotive – you can feel the distress as it all finally becomes overwhelming. The repeated line “no worries if not” as the energy builds really captures the way anxiety makes you feel. It’s desperate to not take up space, not to burden anyone, not to cause any unnecessary problems. It’s insistent that there are no worries when the song as a whole is, in fact, about all-consuming worry.

‘Nail Biters’ encapsulates what anxiety feels like, in a fun way – a way that makes you feel seen. It’s reassuring to know that there are other people out there who overthink, and a gift to know that some of them are so talented that they can boil the awful experience down into a two-and-a-half minute indie-pop banger.

Cheerbleederz are set to release their upcoming debut album, even in jest, this summer via Alcopop! Records.

Kirstie Summers
@Actually Kurt

Photo Credit: Rich Mandell

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