Track Of The Day: Dead Naked Hippies – ‘Curiosity (Dawn)’

Pushing themselves to create something new without compromising on quality or creativity, Leeds trio Dead Naked Hippies have shared their latest single ‘Curiosity (Dawn)’. Self-produced during lockdown earlier this year, the band have introduced buzzing synths alongside frontwoman Lucy Jowett’s crystalline vocals to create a heavy, infectious anthem that questions what it means to be human.

“‘Curiosity (Dawn)’’ is a question of existence and purpose, how life shapes us & we shape it, and reflecting on it as if it were coming to an end,” explains Jowett about the track. “Society is so focused on moving at pace, achieving, doing, proving that sometimes it feels so ingrained into us, that this is the way we should be. Lyrically, I wanted to explore myself beyond expectation.” Isolated from their practice room and their band mate Jacob, Jowett and her fellow band/flat mate Joe took to the deserted back streets of Leeds to explore this theme further, creating a superbly shot accompanying monochrome video that was completed in one take.

“We were set on the idea of capturing a moment, much like a live show – imperfect, but full of excitement,” Jowett explains. “The video you see was the first & only full take we captured on the day we set aside to film it, it felt really special to approach in this way and was definitely a reaction to the lack of live performance in our lives this year.” Making the best of a bad situation, Dead Naked Hippies’ venture into self-production and new musical territory during 2020 is something we certainly approve of.

Watch the video for ‘Curiosity (Dawn)’ below.

Follow Dead Naked Hippies on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Facebook & Instagram

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Track Of The Day: Dream Nails – ‘Lonely Star’ (Christmas Song)

The gift that keeps on giving, feminist punks Dream Nails have shared their joyful new Christmas single ‘Lonely Star’. Dedicated to those who may be feeling isolated or alone at this time of year – especially their LGBTQ fans – it’s a poignant punk-infused offering designed to lift everyone’s spirits and raise money for The Outside Project, the UK’s first LGBTIQ+ Crisis/Homeless Shelter.

“This Christmas is going to be a bit different from the usual,” explains guitarist Anya Pearson. “So, we wrote a Christmas song that sends strength and love to anyone finding this time of year particularly tough, especially those who are LGBT or struggling with acceptance and support at home. We see you, we’re here for you and we love you!”

The single is accompanied by a DIY video that shows the band having lolz while recording the track and sporting some lovely Christmas jumpers. “With government failures to respond to the pandemic adequately, we feel strongly about raising money for The Outside Project,” bassist Mimi Jasson adds. You can donate to the organisation by downloading ‘Lonely Star’ from the band’s bandcamp page here. Dream Nails’ values aren’t seasonal – “We see you this Christmas! / We see you the whole year through!” – and their continuous efforts to energise and support their communities is something us GIHE grrrls are always in awe of.

The four piece will be playing ‘Lonely Star’ live for the first time during their special live-streamed Feministmas gig on 6th December (ticket info here.) “After another lockdown near the holidays where we can’t physically come together, it’s important for us to have a space where we can keep in touch as a global punk community!” Mimi explains, so join in if you can!

Listen to ‘Lonely Star’ below.

Follow Dream Nails on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

LISTEN: Foxgluvv – ‘Beautiful, Dirty, Rich’ (Lady Gaga Cover)

A glamorous cover of Mother Monster’s fabulous original 2008 single, London-based queer “hungover pop” artist Foxgluvv has shared her rendition of Lady Gaga’s ‘Beautiful, Dirty, Rich’. Following on from her recent single ‘Don’t Text Back’, Foxgluvv has decided to pay homage to LGBTQ+ icon Lady Gaga by crafting this funky re-working with producer by Scott Colcombe.

“This is one of my favourite, old school Gaga tracks to blast while I’m getting glammed up and need to remind myself that I am that bitch,” Foxgluvv explains. “To me, Gaga is such an inspiration and I find this song to be really empowering. The notion that no matter who you are, or where you come from, you are beautiful and you can be dirty rich is f*cking everything and I wanted to put my own spin on that.”

Foxgluvv’s rendition is accompanied by an ultra glam DIY music video, which shows her sipping on pink cocktails, reclining in a Juicy swimsuit and generally just being a 10/10 babe. With its flirtatious beats and super fun visuals, Foxgluvv’s ‘Beautiful, Dirty, Rich’ has all the spirit and sass of Gaga’s original, with a slight disco-pop twist.

Listen to ‘Beautiful, Dirty, Rich’ below.

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

Photo Credit: Michael Hart

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Track Of The Day: STRAIGHT GIRL – ‘Limón’

A vibrant, jagged electronic soundscape inspired by disjointed and self-critical thoughts, Leeds-based electropunk STRAIGHT GIRL has shared their latest single ‘Limón’. Released via Come Play With Me, the track is a cathartic new offering that sees the artist confront the darker parts of themselves and transform them into energetic, intensely danceable beats.

“I wrote ‘Limón’ in 2017 at a point where I was feeling a lot of shame about the person I felt I was,” explains STRAIGHT GIRL (aka Holly Readman, pronouns: They/Them.) “Feeling crushed by this immense disconnect between the things I was saying and the things I was thinking. It felt like this grotesque, sour monster was hiding within me, and I often wondered if the fact I harboured it inside meant that was who I was. I would imagine my head being squeezed like a lemon and feel the horrible, sour, bitter sting of shame pour out.” The result of this emotional squeezing is a stirring new “sad dance” banger.

Describing themselves as “fiercely and fearlessly queer,” STRAIGHT GIRL is a master at exorcising their demons and developing them into their own brand of “grave rave” sounds. ‘Limón’ is an exciting taste of what’s to come from this uncompromising artist over the next few months.

Listen to ‘Limón’ below.

Order your copy of ‘Limón’ on 7″ vinyl here.

Follow STRAIGHT GIRL on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Andrew Benge (@andrewbenge)

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut