PLAYLIST: September 2026

The Get In Her Ears team have put together another eclectic mix of new music for your listening pleasure! Our September Playlist features plenty of alternative offerings, post-punk tunes, shoegaze riffs, indie & alt-folk musings, DIY punk anthems, and some experimental, instrumental and electronic sounds. Make sure you scroll through and read all about our recommendations below.

As you already know, to best support the artists we love here at GIHE, we now use TIDAL as our main playlisting platform, so please follow us on there! We’ve also included YouTube or bandcamp links for all of the tracks below, so there’s plenty of ways for you to get your new music fix. You can still access our GIHE profile on Spotify (which we do not have a paid subscription for) but we urge you to use TIDAL, bandcamp or YouTube instead. 

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Eilis Frawley – ‘Calm Down’
Interrogating the unreliability of algorithms and how they obscure the truth in her own idiosyncratic style, ‘Calm Down’ is the latest single from GIHE fave Australian-born, Berlin-based drummer and songwriter Eilis Frawley. It’s lifted from her upcoming second album, Twist My Words, which is set for release on 6th November via cult Berlin label Sinnbus Records. She combines her direct lyricism and distinctive spoken-word with her fluctuating percussive rhythms to unravel how it feels to be bombarded with versions of the “truth” online. “We’re surrounded by news, strong opinions, notifications, and algorithms, all tailored to our individual interests and needs. But is the truth being tailored too?,” Eilis shares about the context of her track. “In a world where everything competes for our attention, sometimes the most radical thing you can do is simply calm down.”
(Kate Crudgington – Features Editor)

M(h)aol – ‘Scam Manifesto’
I remember being struck by the raw power of Irish post-punks M(h)aol when I first heard their single ‘Laundries‘ back in 2020. This power still endures 6 years later, after three album releases and changes in their line-up, the band remain as cutting and contemporary as ever, especially on new single ‘Scam Manifesto’. Released via Merge Records and Tulle, it’s permeated with drummer and vocalist Constance Keane’s eviscerating honesty and dry wit, as she explores the contradiction of the image we present online, versus the one we try to obtain in private. “’Scam Manifesto’ is a song I wrote during one of my semi-regular social media breaks,” she explains. “My entire feed was ‘how to lose the last 5 lbs’ and obituaries for people I didn’t know. It’s about the guilt I feel about my own hypocrisy. Publicly, I say that as a woman it’s my right to be as ugly and old as I want and still value myself, while privately I was consistently fixating on a list of things I would change about my appearance. It’s about having one rule for others and another one for yourself.” (KC)

The Sewing Club – ‘Bark’
A swirling rumination on the unsettling nature of duplicity, I love this track from Nashville-based indie band The Sewing Club. ‘Bark’ is taken from their upcoming debut album, Sew, which is set for release on 2nd October via Born Losers Records. Led by the emotive vocals of multi-instrumentalist Hannah McElroy, the track blends melodic, fuzzy guitars with brooding bass lines to explore the “wolf in sheep’s clothing” scenario that Hannah muses over. “‘Bark’ was probably the hardest song to write on the record,” she explains. “The whole premise of the song is discovering someone isn’t who they say they are…I always tend to write the most depressing lyrics over the most melancholic guitar parts, but I really like that’s kind of just a mirror to the juxtaposition of life. Some of the most horrific things are totally normal.” (KC)

Minor Dents – ‘Rituals’
If you’ve not yet listened to Brighton’s Minor Dents’ Sitting With The Fish EP from earlier this year, you really should. Its swirling, shoegaze-tinged soundscapes and lilting Stereolab-reminiscent vocals are the stuff dreams are made of; the way different layers are interwoven seamlessly offers an evocative, ethereal haze that it’s easy to become completely immersed in. I can’t wait for Minor Dents to open our gig at Alphabet in Brighton next Friday 9th October. They’ll be supporting US band Perennial with Piney Gir, and I can promise it’ll be a magical night! Tickets are on DICE now and cheaper in advance.
(Mari Lane – Managing Editor)

Mariae Cassandra – ‘Splinter’
The new single from Australian one-to-watch Mariae Cassandra, ‘Splinters’ reflects on how feelings of self-trust and self-confidence can grow as we get older and gain strength from the experiences that we encounter along the way. Oozing a heartfelt vulnerability alongside catchy hooks and a twinkling emotion, it offers a beautifully tender ode to believing in yourself, reminiscent of the likes of Phoebe Bridgers or Blondshell. (ML)

Cosign – ‘Too Far For What’
It took approximately 5 seconds for me to decide that I loved this track from Belfast artist and producer Martha Greer aka Cosign. I love the blend of jagged and atmospheric electronics, coupled with her clear, gentle vocals. She describes ‘Too Far For What’ as dealing with “the friction of self-awareness versus self-destruction. It’s about knowing exactly how a compulsion ends but choosing to do it anyway”. The track is lifted from her upcoming EP, This Is What It Feels Like, which is set for release on 6th November via Our House Online. (KC)

YELF. – ‘brainrot’
A real gear-change from GIHE fave London-based, British-Swedish artist YELF. here, but it’s one I can get behind. Driven by two competing voices in the verses and choruses, ‘brainrot’ is a gritty-yet-infectious sonic exploration of trying to stay motivated in a world that seems to constantly drain us. Released on the autumn equinox – when day and night are equal – and produced, mixed and mastered in an abandoned bank in London by AKA Block, YELF. has actively sought to make ‘brainrot’ as all-consuming and intense as the neuroses that initially inspired the track’s conception. (KC)

Sijya – ‘Do I Know’ [Rachika Nayar Remix]
I named South Asian composer and producer Sijya as one of my ‘Ones To Watch‘ this year, after being captivated by the expansive electronica on her 2025 EP, Leather & Brass. Now, she’s gearing up to release a collaborative version of the same record, titled Leather & Brass [Retrofitted], set for release on 23rd October via One Little Independent Records. By enlisting the help of some of her favourite femme producers and artists, Sijya has re-worked her original tracks to reveal new layers to each of them. Brooklyn-based composer and producer Rachika Nayar has made her mark on ‘Do I Know’, showcasing the tenderness underlying Sijya’s original version. (KC)

Amahla – ‘Sticky’
Having been a big fan of Hackney raised artist Amahla since being charmed by the lush, soulful sounds of her 2019 single ‘Dorothy’s Verses’, we’re excited to hear that she’s back with a brand new single. Exploring the push and pull of love, ‘Sticky’ offers an infectious, jazz-tinged groove as Amahla reflects on the conflicting feelings of lust and knowing you should leave a relationship. Produced by WAVSDNTDIE, it showcases this innovative artist’s ability to combine a playful musical energy with her rich, resonant vocals and relatable lyricism. (ML)

Dana Margolin – ‘Big Beautiful Sound’
Known for her time over the last decade in acclaimed indie band (and personal favourites) Porridge Radio, Dana Margolin is now releasing her first solo single. Rippling with a stirring raw emotion as lilting stripped back melodies flow, ‘Big Beautiful Sound’ offers an exquisite rumination on self-discovery; an honest and heartfelt reflection on the journey from the darkness of despair, building with an anthemic splendour, to the glistening light of acceptance and hope. (ML)

Marina Yozora – ‘Snow Heat’ (String Session)
Japanese-born, London-based songwriter Marina Yozora continues to share the gentle evolution of her single ‘Snow Heat’ with this beautiful string-infused rendition of the track. Originally inspired by a brief connection with someone that now exists only in Marina’s mind, to honour the intensity of this fleeting moment, she has previously released a lyric video and an acoustic version to accompany the original single, and now she has added to the collection with this tender string session too. Marina plans to reveal the official video for ‘Snow Heat’ on the one year anniversary of the track’s release in 2027, which we will be keeping our eyes peeled for. (KC)

Ayanna Witter-Johnson – ‘Blue’
Another considered, emotionally resilient offering from acclaimed composer and MOBO-nominee Ayanna Witter-Johnson here. Through her tender vocals and resonant cello sounds, she provides an intimate snapshot into finding strength in vulnerability on ‘Blue’. The track is lifted from her recent album, New Roots, which she released through hero own imprint (Hill and Gully Records) in September. The LP is inspired by a plethora of personal and historical influences, including Ayanna’s reflections on her British-Caribbean identity and the inheritance of Windrush-era wisdom, grief and remembrance. Ayanna describes her album as “learning that new roots can be grown even in unfamiliar or fractured ground” – a poignant and comforting concept to hold on to. (KC)

ACTRESE – ‘Jasmine’
Self-described as “the perfect song for the end of summer”, ‘Jasmine’ is the latest single from indie-folk artist ACTRESE. Taken from her upcoming debut album, it flows with a sweeping immersive grace as lilting keys and strings ripple beneath the ethereal allure of the vocals. A stirring reflection on the initial beginnings of an infatuation – in the words of ACTRESE, “a feeling we’re not yet sure exists, or perhaps one we’re still too shy to admit.” (ML)

R Loomes – ‘Another Sip Of The Divine Specific’
This is the eponymous track from Sheffield-based musician R Loomes’ debut album, which she has released today! (30/09). ‘Another Sip Of The Divine Specific’ showcases the doom-folk songwriter’s beguiling vocal style and her intuition for pairing it with evocative riffs to create her potent and emotive sounds. “This song is about feeling the present as a cosmic, euphoric experience,” she explains, “allowing the depths of the subconscious to flow freely and giving it a voice with the aim of true authentic connection with the self and another.” (KC)

Softcult – ‘I Held You Like Glass’
Featured on their debut album, When A Flower Doesn’t Grow, which they released at the beginning of this year, Ontario-based grunge sibling duo Softcult have now shared a new video for their track ‘I Held You Like Glass’. The visuals feature the band viewed through fragmented glass, dimly lit, playing their instruments amidst shots of their hands in a bloodied state, reflecting the discomfort and numbness that they explore through their swirling riffs and melancholic vocals. “We wrote “i held you like glass” about the processing and letting go of unhealed trauma,” shares vocalist Mercedes Arn-Horn, who also directed the video. “The lyrics describe how it feels to internalize the dynamics of toxic relationships, comparing loving people that hurt us to holding broken glass; continuously wounding us until we let go.” (KC)

Esther’s Wife – ‘Anyone’s Man’
A brand new discovery for me, Esther’s Wife are already building a great reputation in their hometown of Glasgow, as well as receiving acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music. Now, combining a gritty, impassioned energy with a more traditional folk-inspired musicality, recent single ‘Anyone’s Man’ offers a beautiful insight into what this young band are capable of. I can’t wait to hear more! (ML)

Matching Outfits – ‘Mini Moon’
Following 2025’s incredible break-up album, Ditch Me, Berlin band Matching Outfits’ latest single ‘Mini Moon’ may be my favourite track of the year so far. Combining jangly hooks with Linnea Mårtensson’s deadpan lyrics and candy sweet harmonies, it’s a gloriously lo-fi, instantly catchy reflection on the frustrating search for both romantic and artistic inspiration. I was lucky enough to catch the band live at The Ivy House while they were over in the UK a couple of weeks ago, and I highly recommend you do the same when they’re next here. Their tongue-in-cheek wit coupled with the shimmering musicality of their creations is bound to win you over. (ML)

Weather Happy – ‘Trees’
Following their debut single, ‘It Leaks Out’, brand new duo Weather Happy are back with another fantastic offering from their upcoming EP. Formed of Holly from Berries and her childhood friend Harry on drums, they’re already building a big buzz around the perfect combination of Holly’s distinctive songwriting style and seemingly effortless mega riffs with Harry’s fierce, spiky beats. Showcasing something slower-paced and more melodic than previous single, ‘Trees’ reflects on the comfort to be found in nature, and the consistent people in our lives – Holly explains: “I remember sitting in a wood surrounded by rustling leaves and creaking branches and I realised how comforting the sound of trees can be. They represent so much history and are such a solid presence. The lyrics ‘this soil grows beneath my feet, won’t trip me up, it keeps me steady’ are born from a similar place. Both reflect the solid people in our lives who help us through difficult trials and the comfort and reassurance we get from familiar faces and places.” Moth, the debut EP from Weather Happy, is out on 30th October via Easy Does It Records, and before that, the band are supporting legends Team Dresch at The Dome in North London tonight! (30/09) (ML)

Saoirse Dream – ‘grimdark’
‘grimdark’ is the title track from North American electronic-emo artist Saoirse Dream’s upcoming album, which is set for release on 9th October via Lauren Records. Saoirse blends emotive lyrics with melodic guitars and dramatic volume fluctuations to give ‘grimdark’ its racing, urgent quality. Alongside fellow North American artist Estelle Allen (who plays on their upcoming record) Saoirse Dream will be coming over to the UK & Ireland this November to play a series of shows in Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin and Belfast. They’ll also be playing a headline show in East London on 13th November at Signature Brew. Tickets are available on DICE now! (KC)

DOG DAYS – ‘Starting Again’
This is the second single from Newcastle-based newcomers DOG DAYS. A hazy blend of indie riffs and brooding basslines, ‘Starting Again’ showcases the band’s ability to write infectious alternative tunes that smoulder with teenage angst. I look forward to hearing more offerings like this from DOG DAYS in the near future! (KC)

Chuck SJ – ‘Lovesick Puppy’
The latest single from GIHE fave Chuck SJ, ‘Lovesick Puppy’ offers a soaring reflection on queer identity and the conflicting feelings of needing some quiet time in nature whilst craving the sense of community and culture that city life brings. Going on to explore how transphobia has influenced Chuck’s relationship to grief and their mixed feelings around whether or not they would be accepted by their mother if she was still alive, it’s propelled by a raw stirring emotion and honest sense of vulnerability. A beautifully heartfelt introspection that builds with a twinkling musicality, switching between anthemic hooks and stripped-back delicate vocals. (ML)

Blue Bendy – ‘Dragonslayer’
Having first fallen in love with Blue Bendy, immediately captivated by their swirling cacophonies, at Deer Shed festival back in 2024, I’ve been missing new music from them over the last couple of years while the band have been on hiatus. But now, with a revised line-up and second album on the way, they’re back with a new single that maintains the seething raw emotion and glistening, fuzzy musicality that first captured my attention, whilst showcasing a more refined, all-encompassing sound. Of ‘Dragonslayer’, vocalist and songwriter Arthur Nolan reflects: “I was trying to look at Nationalistic mythology wrapped in a tragicomic romantic pop song, and the fantasies that any musician tells themself about fame, living in your own head.” One Day This Will All Be Lore, the upcoming second album from Blue Bendy, is set for release on 29th January 2027. (ML)

Count Florida – ‘Last Selfie’
Another new discovery from Glasgow, Count Florida look set to take the place of my indie-pop faves imminently. With its lilting melodies, stripped back bass and honey-sweet Belle and Sebastian reminiscent vocals, new single ‘Last Selfie’ offers a first taste of the band’s upcoming second album, in the form of a dreamy reflection on the trials and tribulations of an old relationship. With each of the band no stranger to the DIY music scene (bassist Andrew used to be in Shopping), and their new album promising “a witty, warm and proudly queer record”, I’m looking forward to hearing more from this Scottish trio. (ML)

Had Sandy – ‘I Hate My Parents and I Wanna Learn How To Swim’
The latest single from Brighton’s Had Sandy, ‘I Hate My Parents and I Wanna Learn How To Swim’ offers a nostalgic emo-tinged reflection on teenage angst that promises to “make you feel 16 again”. It does just that, and has me wishing I had a band like Had Sandy to resonate with when I was an angsty teen – the way their scuzzy, impassioned energy fizzes alongside their driving, catchy hooks would have been (and still is) just what I needed. (ML)

The Oozes – ‘Pump Out Some Kids’
Having had the honour of having art-punk queercore legends The Oozes play our GIHE 10th Anniversary party at The Cavendish Arms last year, I’m super excited that they’ve now announced the release of their debut album. Taken from the album, ‘Pump Out Some Kids’ is propelled by a driving frenzied energy, as the duo rage against the villainisation of the trans community and the deeply harmful rhetoric of trans exclusionary groups. Racing with a necessary sense of urgency, the track’s immediacy coupled with the seething emotion of its visceral vocals highlight the importance of the message behind it. The Oozes’ debut album will be released on 15th January 2027 and covers themes including navigating intersectionality within political spaces, disrupting stability in structures of power, and pushing against the relentless suppression of community used to maintain the holds of capitalism, fascism and colonialism. (ML)

Heavens To Betsy – ‘My Secret’
Sharing their first music since 1994, feminist punk trailblazers Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney) and Tracy Sawyer (The Husbands, The Flying Tigers, The Lies) aka Heavens To Betsy are making an extremely welcome return to our ears. As huge inspirations to us, both as fans of their music and influenced by their rebellious voices and desire to create safe spaces for women and the queer community within the Riot Grrrl movement, we’re excited by this recent announcement. A 16-track mission statement comprising a never-before-heard demo tape, baby’s gone was originally recorded by Bratmobile’s Molly Neuman and is now finally being digitised and released into the world, at a time when it seems more urgent than ever to bring attention to certain important issues. Album track ‘my secret’, for example, sees Corin Tucker grappling with the aftermath of a sexual assault; a subject that seems particularly resonant with what’s been in the news this week, and the pervasiveness of rape culture that continues to dominate society. (ML)

 

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INTERVIEW: NYX (Sian O’Gorman)

By harnessing the sublime power of the collective human voice, the NYX drone choir have crafted a unique form of psychedelic rebellion. Originally formed by New Zealand-born composer and director Sian O’Gorman, the ensemble – made up of multi-talented vocalists, artists, musicians and movement specialists – use electronics to layer and manipulate their vocals, creating their own idiosyncratic sounds and expanding what a traditional choir is capable of.

I have witnessed the immense musical alchemy of NYX many times. I saw them perform their collaborative work Deep England with Gazelle Twin – originally at London’s Oval Space back in 2018 – and I’ve seen them showcase their own work at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. Their sound enraptures, inspires and intrigues the more that you engage with it. The collective have now harnessed this deeply emotive listening experience on their debut eponymous solo album, which they have just released via their own label.

NYX is a body of work that has been years in the making. When I spoke with collective members Alicia Jane Turner and Philippa Neels on our Soho Radio show back in 2023, they hinted that we could be expecting a solo record in the near future, as well as sharing stories about their experiences of recording the soundtrack for the Diablo video game. The last time I spoke with Sian O’Gorman was in 2021. We took a deep dive into her own experiences of listening to and creating music, as well as her inspirations for forming NYX.

A lot has happened since then – most recently Sian curated the score for acclaimed BBC drama Dope Girls – but one thing that has remained a constant is her holistic and deeply human approach to singing. This becomes especially clear when we begin discussing the vocal workshops that she facilitates: “Tones, Bones and Drones”. The workshops are for singers and non-singers of all ages and genders and are focused around using the voice as a “vessel for connection”. They have been a part of her practice for a long time.

“Singing is free and anyone can do it anywhere. It seems such a shame that it’s locked out of most people’s lives,” Sian reflects. She finds it strange that people will go to a gig or a club and move their bodies and dance together despite not being technically “good dancers,” but the idea of singing or using your voice in public doesn’t seem to be as socially accepted. “It’s always made me really sad that there aren’t many public spaces for people to use their voice in a way that isn’t speaking,” she continues. “Speaking is very cognitive and thought based and heady. The way that some people speak and use their words is very embodied, but I would say in general, we’re only really using a very small percentage of our voices.”

Sian is quick to acknowledge that sometimes these opportunities – like joining a choir – are limited to those who have a technical singing ability or who can read music, but she also thinks there are other barriers to this type of expression too.

“There’s something about the voice that’s just so intimate to people,” she extrapolates, visibly passionate as she does so. “Every single time you think you’ve said something wrong, or used your voice in a way that wasn’t how you planned, or you made a noise that you think you shouldn’t have – the actual muscles shut down. They contract and it becomes harder to loosen them. So when people say they can’t hold a note, well, it would be the same for me if one day I just woke up and decided I was going to do the splits. It’s going to take me a while to get my muscles ready to build up to that. Your voice is just the same. The muscular system just needs attention and practice, and playfulness as well.”

Playfulness is at the core of what Sian encourages during her workshop practices. She explains that some attendees are too nervous to even make a noise or maintain eye contact with others when they first arrive, but the nurturing atmosphere she creates with the group gently encourages them to express themselves, culminating in a collective “sigh of relief” once they have overcome these fears.

“It always devastates me when I hear someone saying ‘Oh I’d love to come to your workshop, but I can’t sing’ – and I’m like, ‘mate, that’s the whole fucking point!’,” she laughs. “There’s so much benefit in using your voice. There’s neuroscience research and research across all sorts of mental and physical health issues that proves that singing – both on your own and in groups of people – is incredibly beneficial to your own well being.”

“Everyone that comes to these workshops has some level of vocal tension that they are working with. So it’s a very beautiful meeting ground [where we] drop all of our expectations and just have a playful time together, remembering the essence of being human and the essence of using your voice. Being in a group with others [like this] always teaches me that humans do have the power to create good stuff. We can make good things together really easily.”

Together with her fellow choir members, Sian has captured this “essence” on NYX’s spectacular debut self-titled solo album. Inspired by the duality of the mythic ancient goddess they share their name with – who personifies night, but gave birth to light and day – the ten tracks that form the record take listeners on a breath-taking journey through the vast spectrum of human emotion.

NYX use their ‘Bright Tongues’ in unison to inspire a deep sense of ‘Awe’ within their listeners, shifting seamlessly between celestial sounds and potent bursts of primal noise. It was important to Sian to capture the complexities of NYX’s sound in this way, as she didn’t want the collective to be viewed through a singular lens, both musically and aesthetically.

“I think especially after Deep England and the work that we did with Diablo the computer game, it was becoming quite clear that we were being cast as these very cool, very dark witches,” she shares. “I really love that, and that’s very much a big part of me and of us – but I think it’s very limiting to just have that dark witch connotation and description when it’s women and gender non-conforming people using their voices in ways that aren’t traditional. It’s quite easy to just be like ‘you crazy witches’ when really I think there’s so much more breadth and so much more possibility in embodying all of the spectrum of emotions. So through this project – because we’re presenting our own body of work – we can choose what colours of that spectrum we want to share with the world.”

This freedom has bled into all areas of NYX’s solo record, from the “breadth” in sound that Sian describes, to the vibrant eye-catching album artwork created by NYX member Shireen Qureshi. Sian believes that her friend and collaborator has managed to capture the “deeply psychedelic” quality of NYX’s sound through her art.

“[Shireen’s] paintings just draw you into this really intensive, magical, liminal space and they shock me a little bit sometimes,” Sian reveals. “She really dances this line between the psychedelic and the very human, and I think that’s the other thing; a lot of this music is deeply human. It’s been crafted and manipulated through electronics, but it is very viscerally human sounding.”

“I think the colourful aspect of it is [also] really important to me, because I really visually see music,” Sian continues. “When I’m composing, or when I’m listening, or when I’m performing; it is a very visual, quite psychedelic, quite altered state of consciousness. So it felt really important to get those colours in. It’s really for people to go on their own personal journey with it. One of my favourite things ever is people sharing a story about what they saw or imagined [when they were listening to our music]. I think that’s the benefit that comes with having music that doesn’t have any kind of specific lyrical content.”

Talking about this visual element and feeling of transience that underscores NYX’s music prompts a formative childhood memory for Sian. “I remember being at school, and the teacher would put on a piece of classical music and didn’t necessarily say what it was, then they got the class to write down what they imagined was happening and that’s always stuck with me as being a very powerful way of consuming music. Offering it to people. They can sense what frequencies we’ve put in from our bodies into the music, but then it’s up to people to kind of interpret that as they will. It’s the same for us when we’re performing it and the same for me as I’m listening to it – a lot of these songs we’ve been performing for six years now – and some of them just mean a totally different thing to me than they meant six years ago.”

This shape-shifting extends into the physical positions that NYX assumed when they were recording the songs for their debut album, particularly for the track ‘Awe‘. “I always love recording in a circle,” offers Sian. “It’s not technically a very good idea and it’s actually really annoying to mix because you’ve got ten different microphones, but I like the energy of standing in a circle. I think it’s got that kind of ancient connective magic and the focus inwards is really powerful.”

“So, we were all standing in a circle and I just had the synth part running on a loop and then everyone went round and improvised and occasionally I’d get people to kind of blend together and sing over the top of each other. So in a way, it really felt almost like a sharing circle, so someone would just share and then everyone would hold them in that and be fully focused and fully present with that person until they’d shared what they’d needed to share. I think the version [of ‘Awe’] that you hear on the album is six minutes, but we probably did that exercise for about forty-five minutes, which is a really magical way of doing it. There’s probably about four or five different versions of that song that we could have made.”

Another song that demonstrates NYX’s unique collective talents is ‘Silent Union’. Sian describes the moment of getting the song to sound “perfect”, but she doesn’t feel fully comfortable with that word, as NYX don’t aspire to be “perfect” in any way, shape or form.

“I think that’s also another thing that makes us slightly different from most vocal groups – people aren’t chosen based on their capacity to blend with others, we’re all in the group together because everybody has their own personal musical vocal practice and electronic practice as well. In most choral groups, certain timbres of voice would be chosen for their capacity and their way of making sure the collective sound was even. So when we’re all singing together, I think it’s really nice that you can hear individual voices pop out from one another.”

This is one of many things that Sian is proud of about NYX’s debut album. She is evidently enthused by the fact that this body of work has developed in a natural way and how it’s harnessed what she believes to be something that feels “uniquely us”. She also acknowledges that releasing a record on their own label has come with its challenges. She speaks with a deep sense of gratitude about the community of friends and professionals who helped bring NYX’s creative vision to life, including Philippa Neels, Andrew Ellis, Isis O’Regan, Elizabeth Bernholz, the team at State51 and many, many more. She also shares that learning about and interacting with the technical infrastructure of the digital platforms that listeners use to engage with, share, and consume new music has left her “struggling” at points.

“I really wanted to do it just as us, and not go through anyone else. But then you start doing it, and you’re like ‘Oh, this is why there’s offices full of people working on one release’”, she laughs, reflecting on the process. “I think a lot of the time, it’s shown me just the kind of annoying social media barriers that get put on you unless you’re already at a certain level [as an artist],” she shares. “Apparently, it’s much easier to get your streaming numbers up if you get playlisted and get pre-saves on your songs, but in order to get pre-saves on your songs, you have to have 10,000 minimum listeners. So there’s functions on the apps that you can’t even use until you’re at a certain level. A lot of the time, it does feel like the algorithm is against you. You’re making all this stuff and you’re like ‘is anyone even hearing it?’ so it’s been hard, actually. It’s been a lot harder than I thought.

But, in saying that, a lot of it is just kind of surrendering to the fact that we’ve made this body of work and we’re really proud of it, and all the people that were involved absolutely love it as well. It’s just so lovely to hear the feedback from the people that we know. Again, coming back to that thing of people listening to it and being like ‘wow, I was listening to this and I felt like this…’ that to me is the most important thing. We’ve also had this television soundtrack for Dope Girls come out at the same time, which has been a massive learning curve as well. It’s really nice to have both of those bodies of work come out together, so now that if someone does search for us, they can hear a big range of sound.”

NYX will be demonstrating their expansive collective talent at their upcoming headline show at London’s ICA on Friday 23rd May. It will be a celebration of their new album and I can’t wait to experience it.

To close our conversation, I ask Sian what advice she would give to artists who are considering releasing their music on their own label. True to form, she actively encourages people to connect with each other. “Just try to get out there and meet people,” she offers warmly. “Talk to people, connect with people, and see how you can collaborate and skill swap. It’s just finding people to help you, finding these relationships and keeping them going.”

Buy tickets for NYX’s London headline show at ICA on 23rd May here

Listen to NYX’s debut album here

Follow NYX on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, X & Facebook

Photo Credit: Joseph Lynn 

Kate Crudgington
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