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: Lisa Meyer (Supersonic Festival)

(Photo: Lisa Meyer)

Championing alternative music and celebrating experimental art-forms is the lifeblood of Birmingham’s Supersonic Festival. Founded in 2003, the multi-venue event has become renowned for showcasing a unique array of musical and artistic talent from heavy and alternative genres. Get In Her Ears were lucky enough to attend the festival for the first time in 2024, where we saw Gazelle Twin, THE NONE, Emma Ruth Rundle, Tristwch Y Fenywod and many more (read our highlights feature here.)

The line-up for this year’s edition of Supersonic – which runs from 29th-31st of August – is equally as impressive. GIHE favourite Penelope Trappes brings her stunning album A Requiem to the festival for the first time. Aussie instrumental-doom project Divide and Dissolve will return to pulverize eardrums with their gargantuan-yet-graceful noises and inimitable Zambian-Canadian rapper BACKXWASH will also return to share her corrosive beats and scathing lyrics with festival goers.

“I think of heaviness not necessarily as an amplification, but as music that is reflective of our world that we’re living in, and we’re living in really heavy times,” shares Artistic Director Lisa Meyer, deftly articulating why Supersonic Festival resonates so strongly with its loyal attendees. She is the creative force leading the dedicated team who have been curating this eclectic event for over twenty years. As the CEO of Capsule and the founder of the Home Of Metal project too, Lisa has dedicated her life to following and championing alternative culture.

“I think because we’re in Birmingham; the DNA of Birmingham is Black Sabbath, Godflesh and Napalm Death, but [Supersonic] is not, as I would call it, a ‘dude fest’ or a straight-forward metal fest,” she explains. “It’s about exploring heaviness across genres. There is a darkness to a lot of folk or electronic music and sometimes the most gentle, beautiful music has a sadness and a heaviness [to it],” she continues, citing Irish experimental doom-folk band ØXN as a great example. “There are heavy drones within their music, but Radie Peat’s voice cuts through you in a way that I think is as full-on as a metal band. It’s more about the feeling that [the music] creates within you.”

This emotional connection is something we were struck by at our first experience of Supersonic in 2024. It made us want to dig deeper and find out what goes on behind the scenes in order to bring this eclectic community-based festival to life. When we speak to Lisa over Zoom, it’s just three weeks until the next edition of Supersonic. Despite mentioning several setbacks throughout our conversation (which we’ll get into in more detail later), Lisa’s aura is equally as calm as it is enthusiastic. She clearly relishes talking about artists, past and present, who have shaped her personal tastes and who ultimately lead her to start Supersonic.

Originally from London where she felt “spoiled” in terms of her exposure to alternative music and culture, Lisa moved to Birmingham in 1994 to gain independence and to study a fine art degree. As a young teen, she says she frequented the weekly Feet First indie club night at the Camden Palace (now KOKO), which she considers to be her “grounding” for getting into music. “Looking back on it, it was probably dodgy as hell,” she smiles, “but I was 14 and me and my friend Lisa – we were called ‘The Two Lisas’ – got to see so many live indie bands; from Doctor and The Medics through to Lawn Mower Death and Meat Beat Manifesto.”

Lisa also recalls her parents playing Black Sabbath and Jethro Toll on the stereo on car journeys as a child, hearing the Songs of Leonard Cohen and The Velvet Underground around the house, and obsessively playing the 7” vinyl of Kate Bush’s iconic ‘80s hit ‘Babooshka’ from her Dad’s record collection. She also cites the Pixies, The Cure and Sisters of Mercy as big influences during her teens. This exposure to so many varied and contrasting musical genres seems to have been the catalyst for everything that she did next.

When she moved to the midlands, she remembers being “shocked” at the lack of cultural spaces in Birmingham compared to London, where she had constant access to gigs and art exhibitions. “But when there isn’t anything there, you [can] create from nothing,” she adds wisely. “It’s the perfect environment to create something yourself.” She began frequenting DIY punk all-dayers in places like Bradford, Leeds and Nottingham, before she started hosting gigs herself in the basement of the student house that she shared with 11 other people. “It sounds glamorous, but it was a very rundown house, and because of that, it gave us absolute freedom,” she comments. She quickly gained a solid reputation in the DIY scene for being a great promoter; always paying bands fairly and making sure they were fed and looked after, something she states was a rarity on the local scene at the time.

From these early experiences, Lisa gained the essential knowledge which led her to start up her own official arts organisation. In 1999, alongside friend Jenny Moore, she co-founded Capsule, a platform dedicated to producing events and exhibitions for curious audiences in Birmingham. As well as championing new and exciting alternative art, Capsule serves a more personal purpose for Lisa. “Although I’d studied fine art, my passion was music and being a music fan, but I was also incredibly, painfully shy,” she reveals. “I wasn’t someone that stood at the front of a gig or wrote a zine. I didn’t feel like I had a voice particularly. I think putting on gigs gives you a purpose. It gives you a reason to be sociable, but kind of on your own terms.”

This new found confidence, combined with an eye-opening trip to Barcelona’s Sonar Festival in 2001, laid the foundations for Supersonic. “I was absolutely blown away by the fact that the festival happened at the MACBA, which is the Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona,” she recalls about the galvanizing live music experience. “At that time, Jenny was doing a photography degree and I had done a fine art degree, so we wanted to bring together that sort of visual aesthetic [too]”. Seeing UK experimental-noise artist V/Vm (aka Leyland James Kirby) play inside a beautiful Gothic church seemed to blend these two things together for Lisa.

“V/Vm were dressed as a chicken and a love heart. They had those big Spanish hams and they were on turntables with cabbages and meat juice was flying out into the audience,” she shares. Fast forward two years later to 2003, and Lisa and Jenny had booked V/Vm to play the first ever Supersonic Festival at The Custard Factory in Digbeth, alongside Coil, Pram, The Bug with The Warrior Queen, LCD Soundsystem and metal bands from the local scene.

“It was a really eclectic mix and I guess at that time, no one else was really doing that,” Lisa comments. She acknowledges that festival line-ups were generally geared towards a single genre, and that the electronic music scene in particular felt inaccessible to lots of fans. “It was very boy-sy…you had to be an ‘expert’ to be into electronic music at that time, it just felt really hostile,” she shares. Lisa wanted to create a “welcoming space” with no rigid genre barriers and no gate-keeping – something that GIHE felt was one of the most impressive and coherent elements of last year’s Supersonic festival.

Creating and sustaining something as original as Supersonic has been equally as life-affirming as it has been challenging for Lisa, for numerous reasons. In 2012, her creative business partner Jenny took a step back from Capsule and Supersonic in order to focus on her young family, which was an eye-opening experience for Lisa, who became the sole Director, Artistic Director and CEO. “I think because we ran it together, we were almost oblivious to risk, because we had each other, so we just made stuff happen,” she shares. “Jenny was absolutely brilliant at fundraising and the budgets and as I used to call it ‘the adult stuff’. So suddenly, I had to inherit this weight of responsibility and it was also at a time when the Arts Council really didn’t understand the value of experimental music or adventurous music.”

Lisa explains that Supersonic received “tremendous pushback” from Arts Council England in the early days of applying for funding. She tried to make it clear in her applications that at its core, Supersonic was about supporting an ecosystem that was not too dissimilar to theatre. Theatre brings in ticket income, but this is subsidised to support the production and the making of it – whether that’s a West End musical or an obscure performance piece. She had to lobby hard to make sure that the festival was not misinterpreted as a purely commercial venture.

“I started to understand the role I can play in terms of supporting more emergent artists and making sure that the line-up is diverse,” Lisa extrapolates. “I think in the early days, just making the thing happen was an act of resistance. Being two young women in that male-dominated field was enough of a thing. Whereas now, I wouldn’t say we’re in a comfortable position, but there’s an inner confidence to be able to kind of make sure that that’s part of our mission and our goal with Supersonic.”

This year’s edition of the festival continues that vital mission. Between BACKXWASH, Divide and Dissolve, Zahra Haji Fath Ali Tehrani, BUÑUEL and Penelope Trappes (to name just a few), Supersonic’s line-up seamlessly sets an exciting and necessary precedent for diversity in all its forms. Lisa has always been meticulous with her curation though, and this is something that’s developed over time. “Because we’re really limited in our budgets, that makes me have to be extremely creative and really careful in terms of who I’m programming, so there’s no filler and it means that everyone’s there for a reason,” she shares. “There’s an un-said relationship between each artist and the journey that I’m trying to create within a day or over the weekend.”

Despite this dedication and attention to detail, Lisa confesses that she is not immune to imposter syndrome. She has always felt that her relationship to music has been based on gut feeling, obsessive listening and intuition, rather than technicalities like being an “expert” producer or a music-maker herself. When asked if she has ever seriously considered giving up Capsule and Supersonic because of this, she humbly replies that despite the numerous sleepless nights, it doesn’t really feel like a “job” to her – it’s more of a calling.

“I think probably now I’m unemployable,” she laughs. “I’ve done this for 20+ years, I don’t know anything different. When it actually comes together and you have that weekend where there’s that sense of community and you’ve been able to create a sort of critical mass for relatively unknown artists, and your audience feels part of something that feels really important, like we’re part of this global community – that spurs us on for the next year.”

It’s not just imposter syndrome that Lisa has had to battle. In recent years, the gentrification of the Digbeth area where Supersonic is held has caused her immense stress. In the inaugural days of the festival, Lisa remembers Digbeth feeling a bit like the “Wild West” as it had minimal infrastructure in terms of proper street lighting or cash points. This allowed her and her team to build their own infrastructures within the warehouse spaces they rented and to create the “blueprint” for Supersonic, but it’s a different story today.

“As the years have gone on, developers have come in and taken those spaces, and developers are not supportive of culture, especially outsider or counterculture,” she comments. Lisa has had to compromise to keep Supersonic alive. In 2024, for the first time ever, they had to switch to using a commercial venue – The O2 Institute – due to developers making it too difficult to use their original, formerly independent space. This year, Lisa has shared the news that Supersonic’s Marketplace – the festival’s hub for food, selling records, socialising and DJ sets – will have to relocate to Zellig Building for similar reasons.

These changes are not just inconvenient logistically, they incur costs that Lisa is desperately trying not to pass on to the festival’s loyal attendees, but this is becoming increasingly difficult. “Supersonic is meant to be a celebration of the underground, but if it’s too expensive, people can’t attend,” she states, but she is battling hard to make sure this doesn’t happen. “We have started a solidarity ticket scheme where people who can afford to pay a bit more, buy a more expensive ticket and that means that we can work with partners like O121 Queercore and Decolonise Fest to do massively subsidised tickets to their networks. So we’re trying, but it sort of feels now like Supersonic happens against all odds, which is quite exhausting. I’d say this year, I’ve never known it as hard as ever before, in every element of putting a festival together. It feels like this year may well be the nail in the coffin of it being in Birmingham,” Lisa sighs, “unless something really radically changes in terms of whether the council starts to intervene in some way.”

Lisa’s determination in the face of such adversity isn’t just admirable – it’s vital. She has invested time and money creating a platform where artists and fans feel truly valued, and in today’s climate of grassroots music venues closing on a fortnightly basis according to The Music Venue Trust, that cannot be underestimated. She has spent time nurturing authentic relationships with the artists who play Supersonic, leading them to not only return to play, but to also become fans of the festival themselves.

“Last year, we had Bonnie Prince Billy headlining, but he came because he was interested in seeing ØXN and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe,” Lisa shares. “This year, we’ve got Poor Creature performing, who is Cormac from Lankum [who played last year], and Ian Lynch and Maxine Peake are coming back to DJ too. They want to come as punters, which is really lovely. We’ve built up relationships with people like Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai) and Elizabeth Bernholz (Gazelle Twin) over the years, so they feel that if they’ve got a new project, Supersonic’s the place for them to try that out, which is great.”

Connecting curious minds and cultivating pure, primal connection to music is what the festival is all about. Unfortunately, we can’t attend Supersonic this year, but we urge you to buy a ticket and immerse yourself in all of the weird and wonderful creations that the festival has to offer. You won’t be disappointed.

Photo Credit: Cat Dineley

Kate Crudgington
kate_getinherears

GIHE Highlights: Supersonic Festival 2024

In her welcome note to Supersonic Festival goers in the official printed guide for this year, Artistic Director Lisa Meyer expressed her aspirations for the three day event: “I hope that Supersonic will be a space for people to find comfort in one another, catharsis in music and a celebration of an amazing community and extraordinary art.”

Get In Her Ears have been long-time admirers of Supersonic – which has been running for 21 years – so we were thrilled to finally be able to attend the Birmingham-based festival in person for the first time this year. We are also delighted to confirm that Lisa’s introductory words transcended from the page into a real life experience for us.

Described as “championing experimental and adventurous music,” we found Supersonic to be an immersive and fascinating encounter and not just because of the eclectic performances from artists on the line-up, which included Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Dame Area, Senyawa, The Body & Dis Fig, Melt Banana, F*Choir, Matana Roberts, GROVE x Taliable x Toya Delazy, OXN and Daisy Rickman.

The complimentary events and workshops running alongside the festival’s live music programme – Do.om Yoga‘s guided meditation, Stuart Maconie’s Freak Zone Quiz, zine-making with Decolonise Fest – provided attendees with the opportunity to indulge their curious nature in a vibrant but low pressure environment, which is something we value highly at Get In Her Ears. We could wax lyrical about the power of Supersonic infinitely, but we’ve tried to condense our experience of the festival into eight highlights, which you can read below…

THE NONE are our new favourite band

With Kaila Whyte on vocals (Blue Ruth, Youth Man), Gordon Moakes on bass (Bloc Party, Young Legionnaire), Jim Beck on guitar (Cassels) and Chris Francombe on drums (Frauds), THE NONE are an experimental super-group in our eyes.

Formed at the start of 2023, the band bonded over hours spent in their rehearsal room making noise and discussing shared obsessions together. The elusive nature of their name reflects their creative approach; ego-less experimentation and open collaboration. This passion comes screaming through in their live performances. Their set at Birmingham’s O2 Institute was a riot of abrasive punk cacophonies that completely pulverized the senses.

The lung capacity on Kaila – who admitted she was nervous between songs whilst sipping on a can of Liquid Death – was deeply impressive. She ripped through each track, grasping her double mics, thrashing around as she unleashed her voice into them. THE NONE have recently shared their debut EP, MATTER, on bandcamp – but you NEED to hear their music in the flesh to fully appreciate its raw, tenacious spirit.

(Photo Credit: Robert Barratt)

Gazelle Twin is in a league of her own

Having already witnessed her shape-shifting Black Dog performance live at Bush Hall in London last year, we were expecting great things from Elizabeth Bernholz aka Gazelle Twin as she brought her shadowy spectacle to Supersonic. We were not disappointed. Falling somewhere between a dark lullaby and intense sleep paralysis, her varied and visceral electronic textures came with bass drops that made speakers and shoulders shudder.

With her face on full display – a first for the artist who usually veils her features – the crowd were entranced by Bernholz as she sat in her vintage armchair, her dynamic vocals untethering the atmosphere like the paranormal forces that originally inspired the inception of Black Dog. Her theatrical performance of her fourth record was an exquisitely raw, haunting exhibition of the power of intangible fear and we were completely gripped by it.

(Photo Credit: Catherine Dineley)

Maxine Peake has a great interviewing technique

Despite insisting she would “never be doing it again”, listening to actress Maxine Peake in conversation with Elizabeth Bernholz (Gazelle Twin) was a real festival highlight. A last minute change to the programming – Peake was originally supposed to be speaking with Throbbing Gristle’s Cosey Fanni Tutti, who withdrew due to a family emergency – her improvisational interviewing style and fun anecdotes gave the event its relaxed and informal atmosphere.

Peake and Bernholz have collaborated on projects together before – a stage adaptation of 1970s TV play Robin Red Breast and an installation titled We Wax We Shall Not Wane at The Horror Show exhibition at Somerset House – which meant they had a natural rapport when sharing stories about these works. What shone throughout their conversation was Peake and Bernholz’s joint commitment to authentic self-expression through art, and their desire to make the stages and institutions they work on into more inclusive and equal spaces. To simplify our thoughts: a pair of total legends.

(Photo Credit: Robert Barrett)

(Photo Credit: John Convery)

Decolonise Fest are a force for change

Get In Her Ears have been following the vital work of Decolonise Fest – a DIY collective of organisers, activists and musicians who advocate for punx of colour – for some time now, so we were thrilled to see that they were partnered with the festival, as well as hosting a workshop on the rooftop of Supersonic’s hub venue XOYO.

Titled “Decolonising Publishing Through Zine Making” the informal event was run by an inviting team who helped attendees create their own mini zines. Between the cutting, sticking, folding and drawing, Decolonise members explained that the process of zine-making has historically been vital for DIY artists of colour. It has helped them to express themselves authentically and provided an alternative means of connection and promotion in media spaces that are often biased or whitewashed.

Decolonise are hosting their own festival in London at Signature Brew Haggerston this weekend (13th-15th Sept). Spider, Cuurls, Dogviolet, Grunt, Lilith Ai, Maya Lakhani plus loads of other acts will be playing across the 3 day event. Tickets are available here.

(Photo Credit: Ewan Williamson)

 

Brìghde Chaimbeul’s experimental Celtic sounds were beguiling

Offering something completely unique to the festival’s line-up was Isle Of Sky native Brìghde Chaimbeul. Her performance at the O2 Institute was a captivating blend of immersive drone sounds, courtesy of her traditional Scottish smallpipes and her hypnotic Gaelic vocals. Her visual accompaniments – monochrome footage of a dancer in casual clothes performing a traditional Scottish dance in the empty highlands – beautifully complimented Chaimbeul’s music, which breathes new life into ancient sounds that have been in danger of being forgotten. Her music held deep resonance with the crowd, who gave her their full attention throughout the set.

(Photo Credit: Robert Barrett)

We want to form a coven with Tristwch y Fenywod

We only managed to catch three of their songs, but we were spellbound by Welsh-language gothic rockers Tristwch y Fenywod (which translates as “The Sadness Of Women”). With Banshee screams worthy of their namesake, we were deeply impressed by the delightfully discordant sounds that Gwretsien Ferch Lisbeth (Guttersnipe, Petronn Sphene), Leila Lygad (Hawthonn) and Sidni Sarffwraig (Slaylor Moon, The Courtneys) created together – led by Gwretsien’s innovative multi-stringed dual-zither.

The band released their self-titled debut album at the end of August via Night School Records and we’re looking forward to giving it the deep listening experience it fully deserves.

Emma Ruth Rundle enchanted us

American songwriter and visual artist Emma Ruth Rundle celebrated the 10th anniversary of her first official album, Some Heavy Ocean, with festival-goers at the O2 Institute. She performed the tracks from her impassioned debut with unwavering focus, her emotive vocals drifting through the busy venue. This is the first time we’ve seen Rundle live and we were moved by her rich acoustic guitar sounds and majestic-yet-melancholic voice.

(Photo Credit: Robert Barrett)

From the artists, to the fans, to the people behind the scenes – people really commit to the Supersonic experience

Circling back to the community sentiment that Artistic Director Lisa Meyer expressed in her welcome note that we cited at the beginning of this feature – it was endearing to witness an unwavering level of commitment manifest itself in so many different ways across the weekend at Supersonic Festival.

As first-time attendees, we were struck by the friendliness of everyone. This ranged from quizzing with total strangers at the Freak Zone Quiz and ultimately making friends from it, to a casual chat we had with a woman who attended the zine-making workshop, the willingness of other individuals and organisations to interact with us at networking events, through to the security guard who spotted the Nine Inch Nails logo on our t-shirt and promptly struck up a fun conversation about the band after proudly displaying his “NIN” tattoo in solidarity. Maxine Peake even mentioned how much she liked our tattoos while we were waiting for the loo. By the end of the weekend, we didn’t feel like newcomers anymore.

International acts on the bill such as MC Yallah x Debmaster (who were unable to perform last year due to visa issues), Tokyo grindcore legends MELT BANANA and experimental harpist Mary Lattimore were granted incredibly warm welcomes by their full crowds. The fluctuations in genre and volume between these eclectic acts did not deter festival-goers from giving their full attention to the stages, reiterating that Supersonic truly is a place that nurtures fan-bases that love adventurous music.

Ahead of the event, we interviewed Elizabeth Bernholz (Gazelle Twin) about her Black Dog performance and her anticipations for her return to Supersonic, where she wholeheartedly cited it as her “favourite festival in the UK” and now, we feel a similar way.

Like many arts communities, despite its passion and commitment, Supersonic is unfortunately not immune to struggle. Lisa Meyer also noted in her intro that we are living through “heavy times”, plagued by uncertainty on global and local scales. It would be awful to see the community spirit of Supersonic Festival crushed because of accelerated gentrification in Digbeth – so please consider supporting and attending the festival next year if you can.

Freak Zone Quiz (Photo Credit: John Convery)

Supersonic Networking Brunch (Photo Credit: John Convery)

Artistic Director Lisa Meyer (Photo Credit: John Convery)

MC Yallah x Debmaster (Photo Credit: Alice Needham)

Mary Lattimore (Photo Credit: Alice Needham)

The Body & Dis Fig (Photo Credit: James Thompson)

Melt-Banana (Photo Credit: Catherine Dineley)

GUIDE & PLAYLIST: Supersonic Festival 2024

EVENT: Supersonic Festival

WHERE: Digbeth, Birmingham, UK (O2 Institute & XOYO)

WHEN: 30th August – 1st September 2024

TICKET INFO:
Weekend ticket: £170 / Day tickets & 2 Day tickets: £40-£110

Full info about other ticket options available here

GENERAL INFO:
Supersonic Festival returns with another eclectic and exciting programme of alternative music and events for their 2024 line-up! Described as “championing experimental and adventurous music and creating an inclusive and joyful space where all are welcome,” the team have organised another three days of arts and intrigue for curious festival-goers to immerse themselves in.

DJ SETS & EXCITING EXTRAS

Alongside the music line-up (which you can read more about below), Supersonic have a vast selection of extracurricular activities to get involved in. There will be DJ takeovers all weekend, featuring actress and activist Maxine Peake, Boss Morris (a group of female creatives & musicians who share a progressive vision of morris dancing), Poor Creature, Hesska and Nyahh Records. On Saturday night, there will also be a huge gothic camp queer party courtesy of Homobloc x Fvck Pigs.

BBC 6Music presenter Stuart Maconie will return to host the iconic Freak Zone pub quiz, and there will be an ‘In Conversation’ event with two icons: Maxine Peake will be speaking with performance artist Cosey Fanni Tutti about her life and art on 31st August.

WORKSHOPS

FYI: Entry to most of these workshops is included in the Supersonic Festival ticket – a festival ticket for the relevant day (or the full weekend) is required

On Saturday 31st August, Do.om Yoga will return to the festival for a “Cosmic Resonance” meditation workshop (tickets here). Decolonise Fest (a collective of DIY punx of colour) will also be back hosting a “Decolonising Publishing Through Zine Making” workshop on the XOYO rooftop. You can also join Birmingham-based creative Maisie Violet Rees at her drop-in “Upcycled Objects” workshop, where she will assist you in creating your own unique upcycled objects.

On Sunday 1st September, experimental folk artist Debbie Armour (Burd Ellen) will be leading the “Ghost Songs – Exploring Revenant Ballads” workshop. Attendees will learn about Revenant Ballads – “manifestations of grief occupying a third space — an ambiguous zone between this life and what is beyond.” This event it currently at capacity, but you can sign up for the waiting list here. You can also try Transfer Printing with Shelanu, which translates as ‘belonging to us’. They are a collective of migrant and refugee women working with Craftspace to develop craft and social skills, and you can join them in making your own Supersonic key ring or pendant to take home with you.

LINE UP & RECOMMENDATIONS

As always, there are so many excellent bands and artists on the Supersonic line-up that it’s hard to pick favourites. But, at Get In Her Ears, we focus on female, non-binary and LGBTQ+ talent, so we’re putting the spotlight on sets from eclectic artists like Brìghde Chaimbeul, Dame Area, Daisy Rickman, Jacken Elswyth, Mary Lattimore, MC YALLAH & DEBMASTER, The Body & Dis Fig and Womb x Water.

You can listen to their work on our accompanying Spotify Playlist at the end of this feature. We also have a more fleshed out list of artist recommendations below…

GAZELLE TWIN

Having already witnessed the spine-tingling sensation of Elizabeth Bernholz aka Gazelle Twin’s live interpretation of her latest album Black Dog at Bush Hall in London, we can’t wait to relive it all again on Friday night at Supersonic. The electronic artist’s fourth record is an exquisitely raw, truly haunting piece of art, on which Bernholz reflects on her experiences with the paranormal, postpartum depression and the powerful fears and inner forces that direct us through life. We spoke to the artist about her anticipations for this year’s festival and much more in a recent interview, which you can read in full here.

TRISTWCH Y FENYWOD

Tristwch y Fenywod – which translates as “The Sadness Of Women” – are a Welsh-language gothic rock power-coven. Conjured from the experimental underground of Leeds, the collective take inspiration for their songs from bog bodies, flickering landscapes and queer enchantment. Formed of Gwretsien Ferch Lisbeth (Guttersnipe, Petronn Sphene), Leila Lygad (Hawthonn) and Sidni Sarffwraig (Slaylor Moon, The Courtneys), their music has been described as the “rediscovered unholy grail of edgy, atmospheric, occult feminist goth.” The dual-zither which leads their music is Gwretsien’s innovation, giving them a unique Celtic darkwave sound. Their first record will be released this summer by Night School Records. Catch them at the festival on Friday.

GROVE PRESENTS: TOYA DELAZY & TALIABlE

Returning to Supersonic festival for the second time, electronic artist & producer Grove will be presenting their new collaborative project featuring Toya Delazy and TaliaBle. Fascinated by each artist’s ability to blend genres like afrorave, Hip Hop and punk, Grove shares their expectations for the eclectic set:

“Toya Delazy and TaliaBle are two of the most incendiary, powerful and badass live performers I’ve ever seen, so to host them head to head for a soundclash at Supersonic is a dream. Both are pioneers in fusing genres, with Toya’s statement ‘afrorave’ combining their Zulu roots with heavy rave music, to TaliaBle’s punk-drenched hip-hop setting rooms into a frenzy. If my past experiences with these two is anything to go by, this SOUNDCLASH is going to be heavy, energetic and WILD. I feel Supersonic Festival is the perfect place for this big, bad extravaganza. It’s one of the UK’s best melting pots of sonic wizardry, with the best audience to match.” The performance will take place on Friday.

EMMA RUTH RUNDLE

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of her first official album, Some Heavy Ocean, American songwriter and visual artist Emma Ruth Rundle will be performing the record in full on Saturday night. Described as “a collection of impassioned, cathartic songs, exorcising the ghosts of one of life’s dark detours,” we’re looking forward to hearing the artist’s melancholic sounds live for the very first time.

ØXN

ØXN are an experimental Irish super-group consisting of Percolator’s John ‘Spud’ Murphy and Eleanor Myler, Lankum’s Radie Peat and multi-instrumentalist Katie Kim. The first signing to Ireland’s iconic label Claddagh Records in 18 years, ØXN dig deep into the earth and excavate tales of love, loss, longing, revenge and ritual. Blending these traditional folk elements with their eclectic sonic textures means that their set on Sunday is not one to be missed.

F*CHOIR

F*Choir are firm favourites here at Get In Her Ears. They are a queer, all-genders community choir led by composer and multidisciplinary artist Jenny Moore. Collectively, they use their voices to sing songs about gender, sexuality, freedom and rage, rejecting the use of traditional sheet music and gendered voice parts. We have witnessed the raw joy and power of their live performances many times, and we recommend you do the same on Friday evening.

MATANA ROBERTS

Critically acclaimed avant-jazz practitioner Matana Roberts will be bringing their radical “panoramic sound quilting” to Supersonic on Sunday. Roberts creates a “sound art tapestry” from a mixture of field recordings, loop & effects pedals, saxophone sounds and spoken word recitations. On their most recent offering from their Coin Coin project, Roberts creates an “adventurous and socially engaged definition of what jazz can mean today, maintaining a deep and substantive engagement with narrative, history, community, and political expression within sonic structures.”

UPCHUCK

Festival-goers will be able to immerse themselves in Atlanta five-piece Upchuck’s boisterous blend of punk, psych and hardcore noise on Saturday. Formed from connections made in skateboarding, construction, and teenage delinquency, the band offer their listeners the opportunity to transcend the chaos of everyday existence by swirling around in the pit, sweating the stress out together.

THE NONE

Another experimental super-group here! With Birmingham and Supersonic Recordings’ Kaila Whyte (Blue Ruth, Youth Man) on vocals, Gordon Moakes on bass (Bloc Party, Young Legionnaire), Jim Beck (Cassels) on guitar and drummer Chris Francombe (Frauds), THE NONE are a live force to be reckoned with. They formed at the start of 2023 and bonded over hours in the rehearsal room together, making noise and discussing shared obsessions. The elusive nature of their name reflects the band’s creative approach; ego-less experimentation and open collaboration.

 

MELT-BANANA

Tokyo grindcore icons Melt-Banana will be pulverzing festival-goers ear drums on Friday night. Since they formed in 1992, the band have released numerous albums, toured worldwide with bands like Melvins and Napalm Death, and won high profile fans in Steve Albini, Kurt Cobain and Lou Reed. Their relentless, unclassified heavy sound will make for a manic and unique live experience.

MODIFIED YOUTH

This DIY two-piece from Shropshire know how to pack a punk with their grunge and Riot Grrrl inspired sounds. Armed with a drum set and a guitar, they deliver politically-charged, gritty anthems fuelled by power chords and pure DIY enthusiasm. Catch them at the festival on Saturday.

For more information visit Supersonic Festival’s official website

Check out our Supersonic Playlist below, featuring some of the female, non-binary and LGBTQ+ talent playing the festival this year!

 

Kate Crudgington
@kate_crudge