LISTEN: Malka – ‘Matriarch’

Tamara Schlesinger has been making music for over fifteen years, first as the leader of alt-folk collective 6 Day Riot and since 2014 as a solo artist under the name MALKA. Her music has been featured on Hollywood blockbusters and TV series (127 Hours, Scream IV and Skins), and across MTV and Netflix. So, now, 2023 sees the return of MALKA with her upcoming synth-based album, Anatomy of Sight.

‘Matriarch‘, the second single to be taken from the album (following ‘Flashlight’), further expands MALKA’s journey into synths and solo production; and as the opener sets the tone for the album as a whole. Of the track, MALKA explains:

“(Matriarch is about) that feeling of trying to juggle everything, trying to find that balance in life and wondering whether you have made the right decisions along the way. But it is also about that fierce pride of succeeding with something, especially when you have achieved it alone.”

The song begins with an eerily ethereal chime – an organ-like/slide guitar sound – quickly leading into the intro where MALKA’S voice is centred and layered, among the bouncy ’80s synths, becoming expansive as the chorus builds. Emanating both light and shade with its swirling soundscape, the second verse oozes a sense of vulnerability, the lyrics alluding to leaving a bad situation and starting over – “change the story now, every page just feels the same”. Moments of confusion are displayed in the voice distortion of the middle-eight, whilst the empowering chorus returns throughout; reminding us of those bitter sweet moments when navigating personal adversity. A shimmering, stirring reflection on life’s challenges and achievements.

Anatomy Of Sight, the upcoming new album from Malka, is set for release on 29th September via Tantrum Records.

Fi Ni Aicead
@gotnomoniker

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LISTEN: chiika – ‘VILLAIN’

After a year which saw her receive support from BBC Radio 6Music and BBC Asian Network, and perform on both Truck Festival’s Main Stage and the BBC Introducing Stage at The Big Feastival, chiika returns as her villainous, pyromaniac alter-ego – releasing a song about holding onto a grudge and setting things on fire: “…very healthy coping mechanisms of course!”

Exploring the theme of revenge, ‘VILLAIN‘ is for those of us that “just want to burn it all down”; justified angst trading love for hate. Produced and mixed/mastered by Tonie, the track showcases chiika’s ability to evoke evocative imagery of fire and ash through her lyrics (in both English and Hindi), her hypnotic vocals matched only by the intensity of the Hindustani-inspired instrumentation. A slow-burn of progressively punishing percussion and distorted guitar disorder. “This could have been something more / This could have been something so beautiful!”

Taking inspiration form the East of her Indian heritage, and the West of her British upbringing, the Oxford based artist’s cathartic, cinematic power-pop song is set ablaze with a dangerous chorus leading to a satisfying conclusion; “a song which burned like fire,” exploring “facets of personality, situations, and ideas” to enkindle an emotional response. “I was naive and in love… / But I’m bittersweet / Might leave a sour taste on your tongue.”

From her 2021 debut extended play, Unlearning, through last year’s Dounia-inspired EP, Cure, Antidote, Commotion, through to this latest track, chiika’s music is ever-changing; a reflection of her emotionally-driven musical growth and do-it-yourself confidence. “God, I’ve waited for the day / When the villain gets her way.”

Ken Wynne
@Ken_Wynne

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LISTEN: Tally Spear – ‘alone again’

Hailing from London, queer alt-rock artist Tally Spear creates music that bridges the gap between pop and rock, and combines strong vocals, emotive lyrics and slick production. Having received received praise from Radio 1, BBC Introducing, Radio X and Kerrang!, she’s now shared her poignant latest single.

‘alone again‘ opens with a clear in-your-face vocal, followed by a thick heavy synth bass line and punchy electronic drums. It has an immediate energy which keeps it pacing forwards. The three part harmonies are a nice and satisfying touch, adding texture to a melodically sparse verse and bringing to mind artists like Billie Eilish and Aurora. 

The chorus is where the song really erupts and comes to life with metal-style heavy distorted guitars and a very catchy melody – “I fell in love but I don’t think I did it right”, Spear sings about the confusion that comes with love and dating. The move from electronic to thrashing guitars adds a unique edge, creating an interesting and engaging listen. ‘Alone Again’ is well-produced, taking elements from pop and EDM style – introducing an immersive fusion of sounds to excite your ear. 

Spear has said this is one of her favourite songs she’s written. On the lyrics she said: “‘alone again’ explores the confusion and conflict that comes alongside falling in love and dating, but at the same time it’s celebrating the love you have with yourself and your own company. I wanted the song to be vulnerable but also strong and independent”.

If you like this track, Spear released a 6-track EP in 2020 that is available on Spotify and she is currently gigging so keep your eyes open for new dates to be announced!

Ella Patenall
@ellapatenall

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EP: Dream Phone – ‘Dream Phone EP’

Fuelled by snacks, Pepsi Max, and 100 gecs on repeat, Oxford glitch-pop duo Dream Phone – aka Hannah Watts and Jenny Bell (last seen ‘caught in the act of looking weird’ as half of Junk Whale) – get ridiculous for their DIY debut extended play with ten minutes of synth-driven hyper-pop melodies and pitch-shifted lyrical pandemonium!

Opening with the infectious one, two, three, four, ‘strut’, Dream Phone sparkle with an off-kilter electronic groove (“If you can’t find me in the dark / I’ll be here by the searchlight”) before exposing us to the extreme temperature of their own personal ‘hell’; a hot mess of obnoxiously upbeat noise and auto-tuned self-destructive attitude: “I can do what I want now / It’s none of your concern / Gonna cut my hair short / Because I’m not really listening to / What you say what you say what you say!”

Piercing your heart with a wooden stake, the ‘bad girls’ sink their fangs into riot grrrl for this next track, taking inspiration from Kathleen Hanna’s Le Tigre and Julie Ruin, and transforming their already unique pop sound into something otherworldly. Dream Phone’s ode to Buffy The Vampire Slayer is a celebration of friendship and “finding your partner in crime”; a euphoric glitch-pop beatdown for the BBC 6Music generation. “Going to the club / Dance up on some hunks and / Maybe kill some monsters / Or crash a cop car!”

Deliberately artificial in its production and sound, ‘no’ is an “anti-people-pleasing” pop anthem for those of us who struggle to say fuck “no” (“You ask, I sigh but I agree / You can always count on me / I will lie on the ground for you / You can wipe your feet on me”); opening with an electronic blast beat before glitching out into synth cyberspace! Closing their self-titled EP with ‘i don’t want to talk to you (at the show)’, the dreamy duo set boundaries and get anti-social: “Clinging to my beer / Everything’s too loud in here / I can’t concentrate / On what you’re shouting in my ear.”

Dream Phone ooze hyperactive energy, enthuse an ethos of DIY disorder, and, throughout their wonderfully eclectic debut EP, occupy the brain with vivid musical imagery.


The debut EP from Dream Phone is out now via independent record label Divine Schism. Buy on bandcamp now.

Ken Wynne
@ken_wynne

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