NEW TRACK: Seraphina Simone – ‘Liverpool’

A bittersweet reflection on the beauty and brutality of romantic love, Seraphina Simone has shared her latest single ‘Liverpool’. Written solely by the London-based artist and co-produced by Jay Chakravorty, the track is a tender rumination on a past relationship, underscored by cinematic synths, meditative beats and Seraphina’s elegiac lyrics.

After a year spent on tour as part of Self Esteem’s live band, and following on from the release of her debut EP, Milk Teeth (2022), Seraphina Simone is now preparing to share more of her shimmering alt-pop sounds. On ‘Liverpool’, she carefully traces over moments of pure euphoria – “I saw you at the bus stop / you were looking at the floor / eyes as wide as oysters / thought I couldn’t love you more” – and contrasts them with snapshots of unfiltered pain – “Ghosts have their own agendas / and memories don’t want to die / so you’ll haunt my sentences / as long as we are both alive.” The result is a delicately delivered, but sharply observed contemplation on the duality of romance, which Seraphina has coined as “the best song she’s ever written.”

“‘Liverpool’ is a memento mori to love and a eulogy for the power of relationships,” the songwriter explains about the track. “Love is savage and beautiful and a time capsule and a time traveller, and love can fade and the people we love can fade away. But the marks we make in each other last forever like striations in landscapes changing with time, and it can be both wonderful and exhausting.”

Listen to ‘Liverpool’ below.

Follow Seraphina Simone via her Official Website, Spotify, Twitter (X), Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

LISTEN: GIHE on Soho Radio with Hinako Omori (16.10.23)

Tash and Kate were back on Soho Radio’s airwaves playing loads of new music from some of their favourite female, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ artists! Mari offered some of her “musical musings” too. Artists featured on the eclectic playlist included Phoebe TroupCoolgirlBas Jan070 ShakeEcho JulietSlothrustJanette King, Rubie, Projector, Kloxii Li, GENN, body/negative and more.

London-based multi-instrumentalist Hinako Omori also came into the studio to chat about her upcoming second album, stillness, softness…, which is set for release via Houndstooth on 27th October. She reflected on what inspired her to write the record, how it differs in sound from her 2020 debut full length album, a journey…, and her upcoming anticipations for her live show at London’s ICA on the 2nd of December. Grab a ticket here.

Listen back to the show below:

 

We’ll be back on Soho Radio on Monday 13th November from 12-2pm!
 Make sure you tune in via www.sohoradiolondon.com

Tracklist
SOPHIE – Immaterial
Janette King – Nah Mek Me Fall
Francis of Delirium – First Touch
Phoebe Troup – Worm Dance
Coolgirl – Druid’s Hood
070 Shake – Black Dress
Echo Juliet – Life on Trains
Gabriel Gifford, Aphty Khéa – Voice From The Wind
Mica & The Midnight Blue – Human Beings
Livia – Glue
Franny London – Funny Girl
Hinako Omori – ember
**Interview with Hinako Omori**
Kloxii Li – Angel Dust
body / negative – persimmon
Chelsea Wolfe – Dusk
Twin Rains – Laws Of The Universe
Projector – And Now The End
GENN – The Sister Of
Rubie – Sicily
Glass Isle – Pols d’Ombres
Slothrust – Pony
Comic Sans – Winter In Sokcho
Clementine Valentine – Selenelion
Bas Jan – No More Swamp
Amy Winehouse – October Song

Guest Blog: Tina Boonstra

Having received acclaim from the likes of Tom Robinson on BBC 6Music and BBC Introducing, London based artist Tina Boonstra has been charming our ears for the last few years with her shimmering folk-strewn melodies and raw, immersive emotion. Now, following the release of her latest album Circle back, start again., she is about to head off on a small European tour. However, it’s not just your average tour; she wanted to make her live shows as accessible and affordable as possible during this cost of living crisis. So, with her fans, she came up with a plan for enabling those with low/no income to be able to attend the events…

Here, Tina talks about her inspirations behind the new album and the idea of gathering funds for sponsored tickets for her gigs. Have a read, and make sure you listen to the stirring sounds of Circle back, start again. now!

When Sarah and Luke told us they were expecting a baby, we couldn’t be happier for them, they were one of our first close friends to have kids, and the excitement was written all over their faces. I saw Sarah just before Christmas, the baby would arrive in just a few months, and they still had so much to do. Three weeks later, we got a text from Luke. Sarah was in hospital, the baby had died. It was like watching a tornado rip through your next door neighbour’s house, while you stood next door unharmed. We were in shock, but they were in the wreckage.  

Nobody plans for heartbreak, and yet, there’s so much in our life that we just can’t plan for. In the end, that’s what my debut album Circle Back, start again is about. It’s stories of ordinary people navigating difficult circumstances; a retired nurse re-telling family trauma, an unexpected illness, a missing friend, a miscarriage, a broken relationship… 

We all go through hard times and that can make us feel so lonely. So, when it came to planning a tour for this album, I wanted to find a way to include more people in the performances. What if fans could sponsor tickets for people who’ve been through a tough time, or couldn’t afford a ticket? I put the idea to my fans and they responded with a resounding YES. 

My goal was to be able to sponsor 10% of the tickets. We achieved it in the first week; such an incredible result, and testament to the generosity of my fans. It’s not like coming to a concert will somehow magically fix anything, but I hope a gift like this could be one night where things are just a tiny bit easier – a tiny bit more bearable in a hard time. Anyone can apply for a sponsored ticket for themselves or for a friend by messaging me on my website.

I’m really excited about hitting the road with my band and playing these songs live in a room full of people! For me, this album is all about figuring out how to do life together. Learning how to share our sorrows and joys; our hopes and our heartbreak, our faith and also our doubts. And knowing that we’ve been able to include people who didn’t think they’d be able to come to a show like this will make it even more special. 

Massive thanks to Tina for telling us about her album and sponsored gig tickets! If you fancy catching her immersive live set, nab a ticket here or apply for a sponsored ticket by messaging her on her website! Dates below:

Saturday 7th OctoberFolklore Rooms, Brighton
Saturday 14th OctoberThe Grace, London
Tuesday 17th OctoberRetro, Manchester

Five Favourites: Supersaurus

Self described “non-binary fronted indie-pop girl band”, London-based Supersaurus’ influences range from MUNA to The 1975, and with acclaim from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing, they’re really starting to hone their place as esteemed creators of sad-pop bangers. Reflecting on queer love and being part of the LGBTQ+ community, latest single ‘Let U Down‘ offers a swirling electro-pop energy as it soars with instantly catchy singalong refrains and a shimmering emotion-strewn splendour.

We think one of the best ways to get to know a band is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate ‘Let U Down’, we caught up with each member of Supersaurus to ask about the music that has inspired them the most. So, read about their favourite albumsthere’s four of them, so actually only four choices this time, but we’ll let them off! Have a read and make sure you take a listen to ‘Let U Down’ now!

Tayla’s Pick:

Pale Waves – Unwanted
There’s actually so many albums that I could choose from for so many different reasons either because they have a personal nostalgic meaning to me and/or they’re just purely no skip albums for me. But if I was to pick one at this very moment in time I’d have to go with Pale Waves – Unwanted. I’ve been a fan of their music for a while, ever since I first heard ‘Change’ a while back and then recently just suddenly had the urge to binge listen to all their stuff again after seeing them at Truck Festival. When I get obsessed with a song or an album trust me, that’s going to be on repeat for a good few weeks at least and the songs on this album really made me feel a lot, which is mainly what I look for. Don’t get me wrong, I love lyrics and all that but for me to really be obsessed with a song it’s got to make me feel a certain kind of way – and this album does just that. If I’d have to pick a favourite off the album I’d probably go with either ‘Lies’, purely for the insane amount of energy and the cool guitar riff, or ‘Reasons To Live’, which – ironically after saying that the lyrics aren’t the main reason that draws me into a song – the lyrics for this one did just that. An all round banger album for me – plus they’re sick live, which makes listening to their stuff even better.

Lauren’s Pick:

Kings Of Leon – Come Around Sundown
Come Around Sundown is an album I’ve come back to again and again since I was about 17. I never get tired of listening to it from start to finish, and it remains one of the select few albums I keep in my car. Originally, it had this new feeling of reflection that Kings Of Leon managed to write into their songs, a sense that you’ve been here before even though you’ve never heard it. Now it’s got the added nostalgia of driving around town with college mates (as well as many other KoL albums). I was introduced to the album by an old band mate, and I remember us being amazed at the ending of ‘The End’ – the beautiful, almost mystical keys that seem never ending but a perfect fit. Musically, the album has influenced my drumming to be more creative, following rhythms of different band members more than just the bass. It’s also a great lesson in playing what is necessary for the song. Some of the tracks on the album have huge choruses, but Nathan never goes over the top. 

Bec’s Pick:

Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want To Turn Into You
I have a strong attachment to this album, mainly because of the way I felt when I first heard it. I was hooked, instantly. It was kind of fated to be a pretty significant album for me. The day it was released (Valentine’s Day), I was driving back from a weekend in Wales with my girlfriend to watch Caroline perform; the weather was pretty shocking but kind of added to the atmospherics of the album, and I was about eight songs deep when I realised that I could listen to this album, on repeat, forever. ‘Blood and Butter’ started and, if I am being honest, I was shook to my very core – bagpipes! She had only gone and done it. From that point on, it became my favourite album. Accidentally, Caroline has ended being my most seen live act, she was my last gig before lock down and the first one out of it. And, with each iteration, she has added more to her live show; this last time watching her with a full live band really brought this album to life. The opening track from the album, ‘Welcome To My Island’, exploded to life with loud guitars and thumping drums, and I just beamed… This is what music is all about. The past few years I’ve really been getting into more electronic indie pop music, and this album still uses a lot of live instruments, including guitars. Which for me is key – live is king. This album is full of incredible left of centre pop moments which lean into catchy hooks without being cheap. ‘Bunny Is A Rider’ is a perfect example of not taking yourself too seriously, but landing the finish. Dido, Grimes, and Bagpipes. Sold.

Benji’s Pick: 

Jimmy Eat World – Clarity
I kinda can’t not pick Clarity by Jimmy Eat World. It’s the only album that can make me sad and happy at the same time. It’s a weird one, because it’s my favourite album but I really don’t listen to it very often; it makes me feel too much, and I could do without that! But it’s a masterpiece, more albums should open with a ballad. It was either this or Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance, but I think Clarity has the edge.

Massive thanks to Supersaurus for talking about their favourite albums with us!

‘Let U Down’ is out now, and we can’t wait to hear more from this lot!