Track Of The Day: HOST – ‘Taste of Your Love’

An electro-pop gem that contemplates the short-comings of an unhealthy romance; Irish artist Host has shared her new single ‘Taste of Your Love’. Taken from her upcoming debut EP Adolescent Content (set for release later this year) the synth-pop star channels her love of bands like Diiv, Wolf Alice, The Japanese House, and The Cure on her new tune.

Speaking about her new track, Host explains: “Have you ever had someone you really care about do something so idiotic that it makes you look at them in a completely different light? ‘Taste of Your Love’ is that lingering bad impression that I just couldn’t shake, and everything built with this person, this solid foundation, just turned to quicksand. It’s sad really… this idiot, that you still adore nonetheless, has now forced you to cut them out and change your entire life.”

Despite its sad premise, we guarantee Host’s new single will have you up and dancing around your bedroom in no time. Listen to ‘Taste of Your Love’ below and follow Host on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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EP: Hockeysmith – ‘Tears At My Age’

Self-described as “Kylie on acid”, Falmouth-based Hockeysmith‘s new EP Tears At My Age is a sympathetic lo-fi dance-pop infusion designed to overcome romantic unhappiness. Released via Ex-Local in January, Hockeysmith (aka Annie Hockeysmith) has created four new tracks that cover uncomfortable emotions in a breezy, effervescent way.

Most listeners will be able to identify with the sentiments expressed in eponymous opening track ‘Tears At My Age’. It’s five minutes of ambient electronics that wash away the shame of tears shed by girls over their undeserving lovers. Hockeysmith has reclaimed these sad hours and transformed them in to something positive here via shoe-gazey synths and gentle vocals.

Up next is shimmering electro-pop gem ‘Lonely Loving Me’. Speaking about the track, Annie explains: “I wrote this in a cabin in Cornwall one winter after listening to tuns and tuns of early Kylie Minogue. It explores the idea of loving and being loved as an ambitious person. It can be lonely loving yourself and lonely for someone else”. It’s an 80s inspired feel-good tune designed to get you moving around like Minogue, whether in your bedroom or on the dance floor.

Inspired by both dance & rave subculture in her hometown of Falmouth and in the frequently visited Copenhagen, Hockeysmith’s love and exploration of these scenes shows clearest on the final two tracks of her EP. ‘Messed Up’ is six minutes full of excitable dance beats that form the perfect backdrop for getting “dressed up messed up” to. It’s an ode to the blissful but tainted state of diluting your sorrows on a night out, encouraged by siren-like synths and layered beats.’Dare You’ sees Hockeysmith’s former sadness come full circle, as she calmly embraces the idea of loving anew and moving on. More rave-inspired beats and gentle vocals combine in hypnotic fashion here, closing the EP on an optimistic note.

On Tears At My Age, Hockeysmith has crafted an intriguing mix of synth textures and beats inspired by her surroundings in Cornwall and experiences in Copenhagen that work together to distill any shame or uneasiness leftover from broken relationships. A definite mood-lifter.

Listen to Tears At My Age on Spotify. Follow Hockeysmith on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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EP: Kid Cupid – ‘Unholy Ceremony’

The release of ‘Easy’ last year had many in eager anticipation for Kid Cupid‘s debut EP. And so it’s with excitement that we’ve greeted the release of Unholy Ceremony. And a multi-layered offering with Laura Shaw’s soaring vocals throughout has ensured that excitement was not misplaced.

Pumping basslines provide the heartbeat beneath Shaw’s velvet vocals on ‘Low’, deeming the track a strong opening for Unholy Ceremony. The variations of the tempo throughout aids the message which is nestled within the lyrics, as Shaw reflects upon the ups and downs of co-dependent relationships, as building riffs underpin the drama of the track.

‘Better’ provides us with dose of daily motivation via uplifting lyrics in a mellow, lo-fi setting. “I want to tell you, all the good things about you” Shaw sings amongst a subtle touch of catchy electro-pop whilst the dramatic percussion within the bridge exposes the vulnerabilities we all have within ourselves. ‘Cold Body’ continues with the theme of vulnerabilities as a haunting atmosphere greets us in the intro before Shaw’s vocals float atop keys and bass, and tribal rhythms have the track bursting at the seams with energy.

 

‘Burn’ is a beautifully appropriate closer to Unholy Ceremony. The tangible electrical energy of the intro leads us into a marching beat. Like the overall atmosphere of the EP, ‘Burn’ takes us down an emotional rabbit hole as the complexities of human emotions are dissected.

Unholy Ceremony carries an unapologetic attitude which is carried within Kid Cupid’s style of perpetual energy and noticeably passionate vocals. With this debut collection, Kid Cupid have left us once again in eager anticipation of their next offering. 

Unholy Ceremony is out now.

Nicky Lee-Delisle 
@Nicky___Lee

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PREMIERE: Host – ‘b4me’

“Cut your hair but not your ties,” advises Irish artist Host on her new track ‘b4me’, which we’re premiering exclusively on Get In Her Ears today. The song is an infectious slice of electro-pop that navigates the tricky territory between being in love with the idea of being loved, and not being able to reciprocate that desire.

Following on from her debut single ‘Goodbye’, Host has spent most of her year writing, recording and producing music alone. ‘b4me’ is another sharply produced offering from the newcomer, who had this to say about her new track: “Usually, like many other artists, I write my songs based off an exaggerated version of the truth; but ‘b4me’ is far from fiction. I produced the song fully before adding a lyrical element to the music and for me, that alone spoke volumes, but sometimes you just have to speak your thoughts aloud to make them fully register”.

Fact or fiction, we’re happy to dance along to Host’s upbeat tunes. Listen to ‘b4me’ below and follow her on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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