INTRODUCING INTERVIEW: Onyda

Inspired by the vast concrete surroundings of their hometown of Stoke, Onyda aka Shae Rhiannon creates enticing, jaded alt-pop tunes about their life experiences. Described as a “dystopian cowboy clad in jewel-hued velvet,” Onyda filters their thoughts on the human condition through the lens of film, music, fashion and art. We caught up with Onyda to talk about their recent release ‘Like A Dog’ and their upcoming single ‘Mediocre’, which is set for release on 26th January…

Hello Onyda, can you remember who or what first inspired to first start making your own music?

I was about 14, I lived pretty much in the middle of nowhere when I started writing music, on the edge of Stoke, I had a lot of time, no-one to spend it with, a lot to say and no-one to listen. There was no real influence as to why I started apart from being a musical theatre kid, I knew from an early age I liked to perform but it was just kind of a natural development of my own to write songs, my mental health was pretty bad too so it was in part a coping strategy I think. All I could play when I started writing was the ukulele, it just kind of grew from there.

Talk to me about your 2021 single ‘Like a Dog’. What inspired you to write it and what inspired the accompanying video?

‘Like a Dog’ comes from a place of depression and a feeling of entrapment for your situation, but all the while still acknowledging your power. Fake it till you make it and know one day you’ll get out of whatever that means for you. I was really inspired by Al Stewarts ‘Year Of The Cat’ whilst writing ‘Like a Dog’, hence the lyric “It’s the year of the dog baby” in the opening line to the chorus. I really wanted to tip my hat to him. “She comes out of the sun in a silk dress / running like a watercolour in the rain” is one of my favourite lyrics of all time, he’s a great storyteller. The video was inspired by my love of this cult-like idea of utopia, unsubscribing from society and running off to the woods.

You have a new single coming out on 26th January. Tell me about it…

The next single is titled ‘Mediocre’, it’s about being the messy imperfect creatures we are, celebrating that and actually welcoming that into my life. Whether its about having the perfect body, car, the pressure of being “successful,” I just get tired of it all. Social media has created a monster in the way we perceive ourselves and the way things should be for us, we’re all flawed and that’s great, I find that really liberating.

You’re also releasing an EP this year, what can you tell us about that?

The EP contains 5 tracks in total, each one a time capsule of my life as a young person, reflecting on something in my life from the very recent past. I had the absolute pleasure of working with Ben Hillier (producer and co writer) to create beautiful soundscapes and help me to weave the story together. I’m so proud of what we achieved and can’t wait to share it.

That’s exciting. It’s been a rough few years for musicians due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. How have you coped and stayed focused?

I kind of feel bad saying this for all the damage Covid has done but the past two years, but for me as an artist have actually been the best in my life (minus the live aspect obviously). I love the quiet and the world just stopped. I had no distractions, I was so focused and felt more creative than ever. The whole of the EP was written during the start of the first lockdown. Don’t get me wrong, I had some tough times too but creatively it was great for me.

What else does 2022 hold for you?

I am so excited for 2022. So much music to come and me and my band can finally start to get some live dates in the diary. I can’t wait to share it all, we’ve been working so hard.

Any new bands or artists that you’ve been listening to that you’d like to recommend we check out?

I’ve been absolutely slamming Fleet Foxes recent album A Very Lonely Solstice, along with my usual old time classics: Scott Walker, Lee Hazlewood, Jackie Wilson etc. I have a playlist titled ‘Onyda’s Feel Good Melancholy’ on my Spotify where you can find everything I’m listening to at the moment.

Follow Onyda on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Double Helix – ‘Rat Rave’

A euphoric combination of jagged electronics and pulsating beats, London duo Double Helix have shared their debut single ‘Rat Rave’. Self-produced by the band and released via Slow Dance Records, the track is an intoxicating blend of driving rhythms and erratic synths that form a backdrop for uninhibited pleasure, propelled by the lyrical mantra of “Pain, Figure, Pressure, Obey.”

Formed of Patrick Smith (synths, programming, vocals), Kim Engelhardt (bass) and live drummer James Allix (Tigercub), Double Helix cut their teeth on London’s underground gig circuit where they developed a loyal following. Their eclectic live shows fuse together the sounds and aesthetics of 90s rave subculture and manic punk energy and often include footage and visuals shot by the band themselves. Inspired by Prodigy, Leftfield, Nine Inch Nails and Boy Harsher, Double Helix offer listeners a sonic escape with their unconventional sounds, with debut single ‘Rat Rave’ providing just that.

Accompanied by a striking video, shot and directed by Smith, the band explain the context of the track and visuals further: “We wanted to create this inverted, surreal world where the juxtaposition of pain and euphoria are represented by shifts in colour. The girl in the video is an artist we know who has a hidden disability and crafts these resin sculptures from packaging of pain medication she takes. She is also a badass party goer despite this, which inspired us to feature her along with the sculptures and create this solitary, stylised day in the life of our friend.”

Watch the video for ‘Rat Rave’ below.

Double Helix play Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes in Shoreditch on 3rd February.
Tickets here

Follow Double Helix on Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Pearly – ‘Silver Behind The Mirror’

An agitated, sultry dose of cinematic heavy rock, Ohio-based trio Pearly have shared their latest single ‘Silver Behind The Mirror’. Taken from their upcoming album Silver of The Mirror, which is set for release on 11th February via Eto Ano Recordings, the track is a smouldering slice of “stoner rock” that heaves with heady desire.

Formed of Josie Yeager, Austyn Benyak and Dalton Edwards, Pearly are inspired by an eclectic range of influences, including the aesthetics of David Lynch’s films as well as the music of TOPS and Nine Inch Nails. Together, they create a mixture of soft indie rock tunes and swaggering, aggressive dance rock, with new single ‘Silver Behind The Mirror’ flowing in the vein of the latter. Full of ​​Yeager’s yearning vocals, Benyak’s angsty guitars and Edwards’ brooding beats, the track is an angsty, smouldering invitation into Pearly’s dark, but inviting musical world.

“Sonically, the track was heavily inspired by Lou Reed’s rendition of ‘This Magic Moment in the movie Lost Highway,” the band explain about their new single. “The low, rumbly guitars that the song starts with and lay underneath the song feel evil and I remember hearing it and thinking that it sounded exactly like a motorcycle. But it’s so so sad. The feeling that song gave us when we first heard it placed us right into the world of evil and sunny LA in Lost Highway. Lyrically, this song is about living in an atrocious mess all the while being incredibly ambitious.”

Whilst on the surface, Pearly’s sound may appear serious and heavy, the band want to blend their angsty aesthetics with their ordinary desire to cut loose and enjoy life’s more playful moments. This attitude underscores their previous single ‘Julianne Moore‘, their latest track, and the songs on their upcoming album too.

Listen to ‘Silver Behind The Mirror’ below.

Follow Pearly on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Sunflower Thieves – ‘I Don’t Know Why’

A gentle reflection on the disarming realisation that your connection with someone you love is off kilter, despite your best efforts, Leeds-based dream-folk duo Sunflower Thieves have shared their latest single ‘I Don’t Know Why’.

Combining charming vocal harmonies and soft guitars to create their delicate pop-folk sounds, Sunflower Thieves write tunes inspired by personal narratives and nostalgia. Their musical creations have blossomed out of a sixteen year long friendship between band members Amy and Lily, and their single ‘I Don’t Know Why’ is another tender offering rooted in a desire to understand the gaps in communication that can happen in any relationship.

“The track is about how complicated close relationships can be. How the differences in the way we live our lives and follow what we think can affect our understanding of each other, and equally of ourselves,” the duo explain about ‘I Don’t Know Why’. Through their earnest lyrics, tentative guitar picks and soft beats, the pair navigate this emotional grey area with tact and compassion.

The single is also accompanied by a visualiser, full of natural, tranquil scenes of the world going by on and around a canal, fitting with the sonic peacefulness, introspective lyrics and steady pace of the track. The pair are set to to release their new EP this year, featuring previous single ‘Sirens’ and this new offering too.

Listen to ‘I Don’t Know Why’ below.

Follow Sunflower Thieves on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook
for more updates.

Photo Credit: Sophie Jouvenaar

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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