INTERVIEW: ALT BLK ERA

Battling their demons and bringing the noise, ALT BLK ERA’s debut album Rave Immortal is a tenacious blend of jagged electronics and racing beats designed to dissolve the pain of their past. Released last week via Earache Records, the record cements the genre-defying sister duo’s status as ones to watch in the alternative music world.

The last time we caught up with Nyrobi (20) and Chaya (17), it was 2023 and they were on the cusp of releasing their debut EP, Freak Show. The five tracks that formed it displayed their vivid personalities and antagonistic spirit – with Nyrobi’s vocals possessing a fiery ‘SOLAR’ energy and Chaya’s voice veering into more mystical ‘LUNAR’ realms. With Rave Immortal, ALT BLK ERA retain their heavy and undefinable sound, but they veer directly into rave territory to exorcise feelings of fear and inadequacy – providing a potent statement of self autonomy in the process.

“I think the concept of it…going from really human emotions – our struggles and our pain and our worries – and being able to transcend that and have it become larger than life, I just think that’s something quite important,” offers Nyrobi, when asked what she’s most proud of about ALT BLK ERA’s debut LP. “It’s important to feel like you can escape reality and that’s what the album does.”

Rave Immortal is largely inspired by Nyrobi coming to terms with living in chronic pain due to a disabling illness that she was diagnosed with during her teens in 2020. It was cathartic for the pair to write the record and to recognise how much they relied on each other as sisters during this time. Nyrobi has only recently been vocal about her experiences of disability online, so what was it that made her feel like she was able to speak out about it this on the record?

“Originally, I chose not to speak about it because I was afraid that people would say ‘don’t book her for this show, she’s disabled, she’s in pain and tired all the time’, or that people would think that we only got the MOBO nomination because it was a sympathy thing,” the vocalist reveals. “So now that we’ve played Download, we’ve played Glastonbury and we’ve headlined a stage at Reading & Leeds, it feels like we’ve done enough to prove that I can do anything that I want to do.”

This defiant spirit is something that has resonated with ALT BLK ERA’s fans. It was important to Nyrobi to use her voice and her platform with the band to highlight the resilience of the disabled community. “My disability doesn’t restrain me in other ways that people might think,” she shares. “My disability, it just came out of nowhere. The doctors are saying that it’s likely to just disappear one day too. Before I announced it, I’d be out and about in town and I’d have my stick or something and people would come up to me and ask if something had happened to my leg, and I’m like ‘oh my goodness, I don’t want to lie’ so now I feel really refreshed that it’s out in the open and I can be myself.

So, I just thought I can be honest on our debut album. I wanted to write about it and I wanted to be a voice in that community. We have so many disabled fans. Before I told anyone about it online, we had someone in a wheelchair come to our show in Manchester. I don’t know what compelled me to tell them [about my disability] but I told them and I thanked them for coming out, because I know how hard it is as a disabled person to leave the house. I just wanted to say that I really appreciated them coming to the show and I shared that with them. They didn’t know how special that was for me, they were probably like ‘why is she talking to me?’”

Nyrobi laughs with the last sentence. The support from both Chaya and the band’s fanbase has motivated her to push past her chronic pain and pursue her dreams of being an artist. We’ve seen this dream materialise in front of us too. We were blown away by ALT BLK ERA’s tenacious spirit when they played live for us at our Get In Her Ears gig night at The Shacklewell Arms in July 2023, supporting Straight Girl. Their riotous energy and powerful stage presence has since led to bookings at some of the UK’s biggest festivals, as well as playing for Radio 1 DJ Alyx Holcombe’s own live music night, MANTRA. Both girls express gratitude for these opportunities and are humbled by the community aspect of both Get In Her Ears and MANTRA.

“Alyx has been one of the few industry people that have supported us,” Nyrobi enthuses. “We’ve experienced so many gatekeepers and people telling us that we’re too young and we’re not ready, but she played ‘Mosh Girl Summer’ on Radio 1 in 2022, when we were 16 and 18 years old. She was supporting us from the first year of our music career. So to play her MANTRA night, we really wanted to make sure it was as big as possible. It was also just really good fun. The crowd was so good and the energy was perfect. You know when good people just bring other good people around them? It was just proper warm and fun without any strings attached.”

For Chaya, one of her favourite things about playing live is getting to perform Rave Immortal track ‘Catch Me If You Can’. “We’ve had that song unreleased for quite a while and I’m so happy we’re releasing it because it’s such a banger,” she enthuses. In terms of favourite tracks, Nyrobi notes that ‘I’m Normally Like This’ is still a big crowd-pleaser, but ‘My Drummer’s Girlfriend’ is a standout track for her because of the “opportunities” it’s given the band, which included a collaboration with American indie rock legends Wheatus.

Frontman Brendan B. Brown saw the girls play live at Download Festival back in 2024 and they connected via social media after they missed an opportunity to talk face-to-face backstage in the press tent. Back then, ALT BLK ERA hadn’t released ‘My Drummer’s Girlfriend’ as a single, but the girls sent it over to Brendan to see what he thought. Before they knew it, Wheatus were flying over from New York to work with the girls on a remix at Spotify Studios.

“Working with Wheatus has just been huge, we learned so much from them,” Nyrobi shares. “We were really honoured to have them travel so far to work with us on our song. They were so respectful. They were so caring and they gave us so much advice. They took it 10/10 seriously and they treated us with so much respect, it was almost surprising. We didn’t expect that. I feel like it’s quite rare to find people that are so genuine and full of love in the music industry, but they actually really cared. They weren’t gate-keeping or anything.”

This ethos of collaboration, equality and respect is something that translates both on and off stage for ALT BLK ERA. The lyrics to their songs center around celebrating your individuality both online and in real life, as they encourage their fans to express themselves in a safe space and speak up if they need support or help, particularly at gigs. ALT BLK ERA are currently on their own UK tour and they’ve set up a Discord channel to keep in contact with their fans. “People make friends in there,” Chaya shares. “We do ‘fit checks and everything, people show us what they’re going to be wearing to shows. We’ve got some ALT BLK ERA jacket patches happening as well!”

For Nyrobi, it’s incredibly important that ALT BLK ERA shows are safe spaces. “We just want to make it really clear that us and our whole team are on your side,” she shares. “We’re not standing for any foolishness. Even if I’m performing and someone looks uncomfortable and they’re trying to signal me, we’re gonna have to stop and find out what’s going on. Because one [bad] experience can really stop someone from going outside, going to gigs and being seen, you know?”

Fuelled by this determination, it looks like ALT BLK ERA are set to dominate more stages and gain even more momentum in 2025, and Nyrobi is keen to keep the ball rolling. “You’ll have to interview us before our second album and see where we are then!” she says – a statement we’ll happily hold both her and Chaya too.

Grab a physical copy of ALT BLK ERA’s debut album Rave Immortal here

ALT BLK ERA UK Tour Dates 2025
Jan 28: Oxford, Truck (In-Store)
Jan 29: Brighton, Resident (In-Store)
Jan 30: Kingston, PRYZM

15 Apr: Manchester, The Deaf Institute
16 Apr: Leeds, The Key Club
18 Apr: Sheffield, Corporation
20 Apr: Birmingham, The Flapper
21 Apr: Southampton, Heartbreakers
23 Apr: London, The Underworld

Follow ALT BLK ERA on bandcamp, Spotify, Tik Tok, X, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
kate_getinherears

Photo Credit: Dean Chalkley

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GIHE: Ones To Watch 2024

It’s fair to say that 2023 has been a tough one, but if there’s one positive to take away, it’s the immense amount of incredible new music that’s been released, and the hope of even more wonderful offerings from new bands in 2024.

Following our Tracks Of 2023, Albums and EPS of 2023 and Highlights of 2023 features, we’re now sharing our Ones To Watch for 2024 – naming a handful of bands and artists who have impressed us and that we predict will be reaching ears far and wide next year. Have a read of our choices and make sure you give them all a follow to keep track of their achievements over the next twelve months.

Dogviolet
The latest project of London DIY scene queens Naz and Ella, Dogviolet are already fast becoming a staple on any decent female/queer focused line-up in the capital. I had the honour of hosting the band’s first ever gig last summer, and since then they’ve been winning over crowds with their captivating grunge-fuelled post-punk. Returning to play for us this November at a sold out Sebright Arms to support Problem Patterns, it was wonderful to see how they’ve really honed their sound and built in confidence on stage; with their now established line-up of Brodie joining them on bass and Lauren on drums, they exude a subtle spellbinding power and gritty immersive energy, marking them out as truly unique. It’s easy to see why bands like Heartworms, The Wedding Present and folk legend Grace Petrie have been keen to share stages with them lately, and they have some exciting announcements in the pipeline for 2024. I can’t wait. Find out more about Dogviolet here.
(Mari Lane – GIHE Co-Founder)

 

ALT BLK ERA
Watching genre-defying sister duo ALT BLK ERA supporting STRAIGHT GIRL at our GIHE gig at The Shacklewell Arms earlier this year proved to me that the future is bright for alternative music. Taking cues from an eclectic range of artists – Ashnikko, Hacktivist, The Prodigy and Billie Eilish and Nova Twins to name a few – together, teenage siblings Nyrobi and Chaya  blur the boundaries of pop punk, nu-metal, rap and electronic music to form their riotous sounds. By combining jagged electronics, heavy riffs and racing beats with raging lyrics, the pair have created an alternative statement of self autonomy on their debut EP, Freak Show, which perfectly showcases their antagonistic, youthful spirit. They’ll be playing at The Hootananny in Brixton on 6th March, before heading to Download Festival next year. 2024 looks set to be a big year for them, so catch them while you can. Check out our recent interview with ALT BLK ERA here. Find out more about ALT BLK ERA here. (Kate Crudgington – GIHE Co-Founder)

 

Sheherazaad
One of my favourite new discoveries of 2023, Brooklyn based artist Sheherazaad left me completely spellbound with her debut single ‘Mashoor’ (so much so that it was one of my tracks of the year…) Reflecting on her South Asian sonic lineage, it draws on themes of displacement and nostalgia with a contemporary, genre-defying spirit, immersing you in its exquisite rippling allure on first listen. Produced by Arooj Aftab and released via renowned label Erased Tapes, this first offering from Sheherazaad showcases all there is to love about the innovative artist; a creator of intricate beauty, not afraid to share her values about what matters most. And, having already received acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork and The New York Times, I’m quite certain listeners the world over will be falling in love with her unique soundscapes throughout 2024. Find out more about Sheherazaad here.(ML)

House Of Women
2023 was a big year for Hackney-based alt-rock trio House Of Women. The band performed alongside Coach Party and Bedroom High Club at London’s Omeara at the end of the year, and they played knockout sets at All Points East and 2000 Trees festivals in the summer too. Perhaps most impressively though, they self-released their debut EP, People Printing, in November, cementing their status as a band with a compelling sound and truly exciting potential. 2024 looks set to be another big year for Elsa Malazogu (guitar), Poppy Miller (guitar) and Kyla Lanai (vocals, piano) and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next. Check out our recent interview with House Of Women here. Find out more about House Of Women here. (KC)

CHERYM
Since first falling in love with 2021 single ‘Listening To My Head’, I’ve been following Derry band Cherym, addicted to their empowering, nostalgia-tinged punk-pop. And, having been lucky enough to catch them live both here in London and across the pond in Belfast, I’ve become convinced that their perfect blend of uplifting honey-sweet allure and gritty riotous energy is headed for big things… Another band signed to the best of labels, Alcopop! Records, they’ve had an exciting 2023 sharing stages with the likes of The Beths and GIHE faves ARXX, spendin the summer playing festivals such as Truck and Rebellion, and even ventured to Austin for SXSW. Now, with their debut full length album on the way in February, followed by a European tour (including dates supporting Enter Shikari), I have a feeling that my convictions will be proved right; 2024 is going to be a big year for the Northern Irish trio. Find out more about Cherym here. (ML)

Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra
Watching Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra’s vocalist Sarah Deegan perform traditional Celtic song ‘Amhrán na hÉascainne’ (The Song Of The Eel’) at the band’s debut London headline gig for GIHE at The Shacklewell Arms was a cell-altering experience that Mari and I will never forget. Her effortlessly urgent vocals were totally captivating, and alongside her band mates (including the ultra cool Julie from HAVVK), she treated us to a set full of deeply poetic, melancholy shoegaze sounds. I’m grateful to Irish artist Constance Keane aka Fears for introducing me to the Dublin band a few years ago. If you get the chance to see Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra live, please take it. Find out more about Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra here. (KC)

Vyva Melinkolya
Angel Diaz aka Vyva Melinkolya is responsible for some of my favourite music from the past year. She worked alongside Midwife on their collaborative EP, Orbweaving, a moving rumination on healing from, and enduring pain, plus, she released her second album, Unbecoming, which features contributions from Midwife and the inimitable Ethel Cain. Her hazy, heavy shoegaze is perfectly complemented by her magnetic, far-off vocals. Listening to her music is a dreamy, disorientating experience. I’m hoping to catch her live at some point in 2024. Find out more about Vyva Melinkolya here.


Despite our apprehensions about 2024, at least we’re heading into the new year with some fantastic music to accompany it! Massive thanks to all who’ve supported GIHE throughout 2023, it really means the world. And huge thanks to all the amazing bands and artists who’ve soundtracked it, and who will continue to soundtrack 2024!

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INTERVIEW: ALT BLK ERA

Formed of sisters Nyrobi and Chaya, genre-defying duo ALT BLK ERA create tenacious alternative tunes designed to showcase their vivid personalities. Inspired by the likes of Ashnikko, Hacktivist, The Prodigy and Billie Eilish, they blur the boundaries of pop punk, nu-metal, rap and electronic music to form their riotous sounds.

By combining jagged electronics, heavy riffs and racing beats with raging lyrics, the pair have created an alternative statement of self autonomy on their debut EP, Freak Show, which perfectly showcases their antagonistic, youthful spirit. We caught up with Nyrobi and Chaya to talk about their new release (out on 1st September), their recent performances at Reading & Leeds and Glastonbury, and the love they’ve received from fans who have discovered their music…

 

For anyone who doesn’t already know, can you explain how you came to be ALT BLK ERA?

We’re sisters from Nottingham and we have been singing together for as long as I (Nyrobi) can remember. It became a regular daily feature when we would do our chores, washing up, with music blasting from our Apple iPod. This is where we learnt how to harmonise so easily with one another.

I’m the chief song-writer (Nyrobi) however, I work best with my sister Chaya by my side. She’ll add key parts, change things or say a straight no – so it’s a dual process. We sound so different, and we have such different personalities that we have to work closely together throughout the creative process.

Your own music is a blend of lots of different genres (nu-metal, rap, pop punk, electronic/rave) – talk us through your process of combining these styles and merging them into your songs…

We grew up on Reggae, Soul and R&B – so these elements are at our core. However, we stumbled upon the world of Metal and DnB when we were trying to express something harder and edgier than what we knew.

We haven’t got a step-by-step process. We sit with a beat. We have a song title and theme and then we ride the creativity wave. If we hit a wall – we write something else and then come back to it later down the line. There’s no pressure. We have fun making our music and if we want to throw in a bit of opera – we do exactly that. If we want to throw in a few bars of rap, we do that. There are no rules. This works for and against us because the industry wants to give a title to what we do. At one point we felt pressured to label our music genre – but it isn’t one thing so we generally call it ‘Alternative’.

You’re gearing up to release your debut EP, Freak Show, on the 1st September. What are you most proud of about this release?

We love that the EP is a story of where we started from. Our feelings of sitting outside of the mainstream. It feels like we’re getting a lot off our chest and we’ve found that so many others relate to what we’re singing about. We’re still really young, so the school experience has been a major area of our lives. What’s amazing is how many older listeners share with us that they wish they had us around when they were growing up. This is what we are most proud of – being able to connect with a range of people who identify themselves in our music. All the songs have a slightly different twist on them, and there are a range of energies that we share – from defiance to empowerment, to encouragement and love of yourself and others.

Do you have a favourite track on the EP? If so, why?

We of course love every track on the EP, but Chaya holds a special place in her heart for the title track, ‘Freak Show’ and I am loving ‘I’m Normally Like This’ – but this could change. It depends where we’re at emotionally as each track can speak strongly to you at different times.

Your music and your aesthetic both make a strong statement about individuality and not being afraid to express yourself. How has this message impacted your listeners? Have people reached out to talk to you about these things?

It’s been so wonderful to see the reaction. Our music is about celebrating who we all are which we especially see when we perform live. We’re tired of the pressures to conform. There have been a few haters that can’t help but share their thoughts about us and what we stand for – but we forgive them because they maybe haven’t heard our lyrics where we say “We don’t give a damn if you like it!”

People are always reaching out to us. We talk about some deep issues in our music, including violence against women. We get so many comments and private messages from people who have or who are struggling with their mental health and self-love – who say our music is helping them. Parents and grandparents introduce our music to their children and grandchildren. People from marginalised communities reach out to us and thank us for making them feel safe and heard.

Older true Metal Heads tell us how much they love our music. Rap artists tell us that they love the music we are making. What’s also beautiful is how many people from the Black community reach out to us too. Either they’ve never liked Rock/Metal music before or they have not seen enough representation. This is clear in our live shows when there are so many people from different walks of life join us in one room.

You performed at Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds Festival this year! Talk to us about these sets… 

OMGosh! Glastonbury was a dream. We have so much love for Earache Records for taking a risk on two teenage girls and putting us on their Takeover of the Truth Stage at Shangri-la. The highlight was when we looked over at each other in the middle of our set and we both knew what the other was thinking… “It’s really happening!” We were so happy.

We headlined the BBC Introducing stages at Reading & Leeds Festival. Again, another dream come true. We just wanted the audience to enjoy themselves and feel part of something new. We had people screaming back at us and joining in the chants it was spectacular. We’re still processing the experience.

You played live for Get In Her Ears supporting STRAIGHT GIRL in July and we loved your set. What do you enjoy most about playing live?

We love seeing the energy of the crowd. We love how we take them through different mood states and how we all experience it together. From soft, weird, to full out moshing. Live is the most wonderful thing! Thank you for having us! (see pics of the night here)

What does the rest of 2023 hold for ALT BLK ERA?

We have a few things lined up. We will be supporting Lord Of The Lost at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – this is another massive step for us and we’re so excited for this. On the 3rd November we have our headline show in Nottingham, where we will also be sharing music that we plan to release in 2024. It’s going to be a full on party!

Finally, as we’re a new music blog, we always ask for new music recommendations. Is there a band or artist who you’ve been listening to lately that you’d like to give a shout out to?

We have three we’d like to mention: PleasePretty Lea, Gender Crisis and Ruena. Do not sleep on these artists!!!

Follow ALT BLK ERA on bandcamp, Spotify, Tik Tok, Twitter (X), Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Fabrice Gagos

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate Crudgington1 Comment

PLAYLIST: August 2023

The Get In Her Ears team have put together another eclectic mix of indie & alternative tunes, guitar anthems, alt-pop gems and electronic sounds for your listening pleasure. Take some time to scroll through our track choices below, and make sure you press play on the playlist at the end of this post.

Follow GIHE on Spotify to hear all of our previous playlists too.

Human Interest – ‘Step On’
Following the success of previous singles ‘Mixing Paint’ and ‘Cool Cats’, and with recent acclaim from the likes of Steve LaMacq on BBC 6Music, East-London band Human Interest have now announced the release of an upcoming EP later this year. Combining a fierce post-punk drive with a fuzzy, lilting energy, lead single ‘Step On’ reflects on “appreciating the duality of yourself and your friends” and builds with an anthemic power to a swirling slice of infectious indie-pop. ‘Step On’ is out now via Nice Swan records.
(Mari Lane)

CLT DRP – ‘I See My Body Through You’
Following on from their incendiary anthems ‘New Boy‘ and ‘Nothing Clever, Just Feelings‘, this is the latest banger from Brighton feminist electro-punks CLT DRP. 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. 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.
(Kate Crudgington)

Chroma – ‘Don’t Wanna Go Out’
Having just announced the release of their debut album, and with news of an exciting support slot with (my most watched band in the world) Foo Fighters next year, Welsh band Chroma are definite ones to watch right now, and so we couldn’t be more thrilled that they’ll be headlining our night at Shacklewell Arms next Friday! (8th September). To celebrate the news, they’ve shared ‘Don’t Wanna Go Out’, a fierce new single reflecting on feelings of FOMO and propelled by the band’s distinctive raw, relentless energy. An instant earworm that I can’t wait for East London to mosh along to very soon! Ask For Angela, the debut album from Chroma, is set for release on 20th October via Alcopop! Records. Nab tickets to see them live on 8th September along with wormboys and UrgentSea here. (ML)

Duvet – ‘Girlcow’
‘Girlcow’ is the latest single from Manchester post punks Duvet, who are gearing up to to release their split 7″ ‘Girlcow/Sweaty Dog’ on 29th September via Fear of Missing Out Records. I love their sleazy, chaotic sound on this track, which the band say is “a bit of fictional story telling about a confident cowboy pursuing a play girl bunny type character,” explored from both perspectives. (KC)

Gender Chores – ‘Dysphurious’
A reflection on coming out as non-binary – a subject that’s very close to Northern Irish punks Gender Chores’ hearts – ‘Dysphurious’ offers a truly uplifting dose of punk-pop, oozing a fierce colourful spirit. Filled with scuzzy hooks and a refreshingly honest lyricism, it’s an empowering ode to freeing yourself from the constrictions of conventional gender ‘norms’; an energising boost of confidence to be your true self in the face of adversity. (ML)

Femegades – ‘Depleted’
Following their debut EP Pornsick and last year’s ironically entitled Not All Men, punk-rockers Femegades are back with a gloriously riotous new single. Reflecting on society’s expectation on women to be – and want to be – perfect, happy mothers, ‘Depleted’ rages with a snarling energy and fierce, raw power. (ML)

ALT BLK ERA – ‘Misfits: SOLAR’
Combining jagged electronics and racing beats with their raging lyrics, genre-defying sister duo ALT BLK ERA have created another alternative statement of self autonomy on ‘Misfits: SOLAR’. Taken from their upcoming EP, Freak Show, which is set for release on 1st September, the track is a frenzied anthem fuelled by their antagonistic, youthful spirit. (KC)

The Dead Zoo – ‘Hoover Damned’
Having recently wowed us live at our last gig at Shacklewell Arms in July, London-based The Dead Zoo have now shared an uplifting new single. Propelled by a scuzzy energy reminiscent of brit-pop bands of the ‘90s, ‘Hoover Damned’ oozes catchy hooks and swirling harmonies, accompanying the sultry allure of front woman Kaoru’s gritty vocals. Of the track, Kaoru explains: “I wanted to write about a world where women are as free to make mistakes and walk away as men traditionally have…” Produced by James Aparicio, ‘Hoover Damned’ is out now via Rock Noir Recordings. Watch the new video here. (ML)

Deerhoof – ‘My Lovely Cat!’
Following the release of their 19th album earlier this year, I was lucky enough to experience the utter magic of legendary avant-garde sound creators Deerhoof last week. And when I say ‘magic’, I’m not exaggerating… The pure immense cacophonies they’re able to create are a spectacle to behold; their frenzied colourful energy like nothing I’ve ever seen. ‘My Lovely Cat!’ is probably my favourite track taken from the latest album (which is sung entirely in Satomi’s native Japanese), not only because of its cute, relatable title, but I just love its swirling sonic brilliance and joyous drive. Miracle Level, the latest album from Deerhoof, is out now via Joyful Noise. (ML)

HAVVK – ‘Expiry’
The new single from Irish based trio, and GIHE faves, HAVVK, ‘Expiry’ channels a seething raging energy, ‘Expiry’ reflects on society’s expectations of women to ‘age gracefully’, whilst giving a middle finger to these restrictions on how you should dress or behave. I just love how its fierce sense of urgency is propelled by the raw power of lead singer Julie’s distinctive celestial vocals. (ML)

Shaene – ‘june’
This melancholy song from Leeds-based songwriter shaene is lifted from her self-produced debut album, time lost / time regained, which is set for release on 1st September. The track is a reflection on her fluctuating relationship with their Dad, which she is reminded of on Father’s Day each year during June. As with her previous single ‘sad’, shaene filters these conflicting feelings through a soft, shoegazey lens, which makes for sad-yet-sweet listening. (KC)

GENN – ‘Calypso’
GIHE favourites GENN are gearing up to release their debut album, unum, on the 6th October, and this track ‘Calypso’ is lifted from it. The track showcases the truly versatile sound of the Brighton-via-Malta art-punk quartet, who totally blew us away with their live performances at The Great Escape Festival earlier this year. (KC)

Ideal Host – ‘The Resolution’
A tender, synth-led rumination that showcases the evolving nature of their sound, this is the third single from Ideal Host. Led by Heather Perkins and Sean Hughes – who are both former members of the band Slowcoaches – Ideal Host are dedicated to making music on their own terms. ‘The Resolution’ acts as a bookend to the band’s previous single ‘The Conflict‘, exploring the softer side of their brooding, intuitive songwriting. Ideal Host are currently writing and recording their full length album, which they plan to release and tour next year. (KC)

O Hell – ‘hard times’
The chorus to this O Hell track hit me right in sternum. Her direct lyrics, clear vocals and evocative electronics make for captivating listening. Speaking about ‘hard times’, O Hell explains: “What I wanted to say in the chorus is: get back to what love really is, ‘cus it’s way bigger and better than the bullshit possessiveness we’re told it needs to centre around. It might change state, it might morph between romantic and platonic, or everything in between – but fuck all the drama off, if you love someone, let that love take its course. It was always bigger than the first label you smacked on it anyway.” (KC)

Hinako Omori – ‘cyanotype memories’
A mood-lifting soundscape that offers listeners a moment of respite in an uncertain world, I love this single from London-based artist and composer Hinako Omori. Taken from her upcoming album, stillness, softness…, which is set for release via Houndstooth on 27th October, the track is an ode to surrendering yourself to the unknown and finding peace within that process. (KC)

Mint Field – ‘El Suspiro Cambia Todo’
Having just announced the release of their upcoming new album, Mexican psych duo Mint Field have now shared a dreamy new single. Flowing with a whirring, hypnotic grace, ‘El Suspiro Cambia Todo’ (The Sigh Changes Everything) offers a spellbinding soundscape, enchanting the ears with its glistening splendour. Of the track, the band explain: “Sighing is the desire for melancholy. It denotes that something is happening. Sometimes we just need to sigh to let go. Sighing is something we do unconsciously but it says a lot about what is going on inside our mind.” Aprender a Ser, the upcoming new album from Mint Field, is set for release on 27th October via felte. (ML)

Amaroun – ‘Dopamine’
Taken from her upcoming EP of the same name, which is set for release on 29th September, ‘Dopamine’ is the latest single from ‘GIHE favourite Amaroun. Inspired by “the minuscule euphoric moments that keep her ADHD brain hooked throughout the day,” this track oozes with Amroun’s trademark alt-pop style. (KC)

CHIKA ft. Charlie Wilson – ‘Can’t Explain It’
I’m a bit late to the party, but recently loved watching ‘Ladies First’, a short (not long enough!) docu-series on Netflix about and by women in hip-hop. As well as featuring a number of artists I already know and love – such as the legendary Queen Latifah and contemporary rappers Rapsody and Tierrra Whack – it also introduced me to a few that I’d not come across before. One of these was Alabama-born MC/rapper CHIKA, who spoke at length about her position as a queer woman in the industry. I just love her driving energy, gritty allure and refreshingly honest lyricism, and urge you to check out this celebration of queer black love, as well as her epic recent album Samson. (ML)

Mykki Blanco – ‘Holidays In The Sun’
I can’t get enough of the funk-fuelled energy and infectious uplifting spirit of the new single from pioneering artist Mykki Blanco. “A feel good summer anthem about lazy summer days swimming in the sea, hopping from one music festival to the next, feeling good about life and living la dolce vita soaking up the sun.”, its only negative is that it does make me quite desperate for a holiday in the sun myself… Mykki Blanco’s upcoming new album, Postcards from Italia, is set for release on 22nd September via Transgressive, and keep your eyes peeled for an exclusive interview with them on our website very soon! (ML)

Aderyn – ‘Distraction’
Reflecting on the restlessness one can feel during the summer break, ‘Distraction’ is the latest single from South Wales artist Aderyn. Propelled by shimmering hooks and a driving punk-pop energy, it showcases Aderyn’s honey-sweet vocals and ability to create instantly catchy, emotion-rich singalong anthems. Aderyn’s debut EP, Sea Glass, is set for release on 14th September. (ML)

Catherine Moan – ‘Jawbreaker’
Angel Jefferson aka Catherine Moan is back with this new single which marks a “new era” of her electro-pop project. ‘Jawbreaker’ is written from the point of view of “someone who feels replaceable, hard to love, and ultimately feels damaged by another’s actions” – all underscored by buoyant 80s-inspired synths and Catherine’s bittersweet vocal. (KC)

SOFT LAD – ‘The Human Condition’
“This song came as a result of the worst hangover of my life!” explains Sophie Galpin aka SOFT LAD about this single – respect to her for telling it like it is! The multi-instrumentalist, who also plays in Self Esteem’s band, encourages her listeners to treat those closest to us with kindness; all underscored by her buoyant beats, melodic riffs and clear vocals. (KC)

Cutty – ‘Overdrive’
This is the latest single from Hull-based duo Cutty, who formed after meeting at their local dive bar. Amy and Kev explain that ‘Overdrive’ is a crowd-pleasing favourite when they play it live at local gigs, so it made sense to record it and share it for everyone else to hear too. (KC)

Sirene – ‘Don’t Let Me Fall (Out Your Mind)’
With acclaim from the likes of Deb Grant on BBC 6Music, Yorkshire-born, London-based artist Sirene released her debut album last year, and has now shared a poignant new single. Reflecting on the desire to consistently do your best for the ones you love, ‘Don’t Let Me Fall (Out Your Mind)’ is a beautifully stirring ballad, showcasing Sirene’s distinctive rich vocals and an exquisite twinkling emotion. (ML)

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