PLAYLIST: August 2023

The Get In Her Ears team have put together another eclectic mix of indie & alternative tunes, guitar anthems, alt-pop gems and electronic sounds for your listening pleasure. Take some time to scroll through our track choices below, and make sure you press play on the playlist at the end of this post.

Follow GIHE on Spotify to hear all of our previous playlists too.

Human Interest – ‘Step On’
Following the success of previous singles ‘Mixing Paint’ and ‘Cool Cats’, and with recent acclaim from the likes of Steve LaMacq on BBC 6Music, East-London band Human Interest have now announced the release of an upcoming EP later this year. Combining a fierce post-punk drive with a fuzzy, lilting energy, lead single ‘Step On’ reflects on “appreciating the duality of yourself and your friends” and builds with an anthemic power to a swirling slice of infectious indie-pop. ‘Step On’ is out now via Nice Swan records.
(Mari Lane)

CLT DRP – ‘I See My Body Through You’
Following on from their incendiary anthems ‘New Boy‘ and ‘Nothing Clever, Just Feelings‘, this is the latest banger from Brighton feminist electro-punks CLT DRP. Taken from their upcoming second album, Nothing Clever, Just Feelings, which is set for release on 8th September via Venn Records, the track is a dynamic, corrosive rumination on objectification and how it can affect our own identity and self worth. By combining quieter verses with a blistering chorus, CLT DRP reflect the tumultuous emotions and lack of control that can come from feeling exposed and viewed through a skewed and restricting lens.
(Kate Crudgington)

Chroma – ‘Don’t Wanna Go Out’
Having just announced the release of their debut album, and with news of an exciting support slot with (my most watched band in the world) Foo Fighters next year, Welsh band Chroma are definite ones to watch right now, and so we couldn’t be more thrilled that they’ll be headlining our night at Shacklewell Arms next Friday! (8th September). To celebrate the news, they’ve shared ‘Don’t Wanna Go Out’, a fierce new single reflecting on feelings of FOMO and propelled by the band’s distinctive raw, relentless energy. An instant earworm that I can’t wait for East London to mosh along to very soon! Ask For Angela, the debut album from Chroma, is set for release on 20th October via Alcopop! Records. Nab tickets to see them live on 8th September along with wormboys and UrgentSea here. (ML)

Duvet – ‘Girlcow’
‘Girlcow’ is the latest single from Manchester post punks Duvet, who are gearing up to to release their split 7″ ‘Girlcow/Sweaty Dog’ on 29th September via Fear of Missing Out Records. I love their sleazy, chaotic sound on this track, which the band say is “a bit of fictional story telling about a confident cowboy pursuing a play girl bunny type character,” explored from both perspectives. (KC)

Gender Chores – ‘Dysphurious’
A reflection on coming out as non-binary – a subject that’s very close to Northern Irish punks Gender Chores’ hearts – ‘Dysphurious’ offers a truly uplifting dose of punk-pop, oozing a fierce colourful spirit. Filled with scuzzy hooks and a refreshingly honest lyricism, it’s an empowering ode to freeing yourself from the constrictions of conventional gender ‘norms’; an energising boost of confidence to be your true self in the face of adversity. (ML)

Femegades – ‘Depleted’
Following their debut EP Pornsick and last year’s ironically entitled Not All Men, punk-rockers Femegades are back with a gloriously riotous new single. Reflecting on society’s expectation on women to be – and want to be – perfect, happy mothers, ‘Depleted’ rages with a snarling energy and fierce, raw power. (ML)

ALT BLK ERA – ‘Misfits: SOLAR’
Combining jagged electronics and racing beats with their raging lyrics, genre-defying sister duo ALT BLK ERA have created another alternative statement of self autonomy on ‘Misfits: SOLAR’. Taken from their upcoming EP, Freak Show, which is set for release on 1st September, the track is a frenzied anthem fuelled by their antagonistic, youthful spirit. (KC)

The Dead Zoo – ‘Hoover Damned’
Having recently wowed us live at our last gig at Shacklewell Arms in July, London-based The Dead Zoo have now shared an uplifting new single. Propelled by a scuzzy energy reminiscent of brit-pop bands of the ‘90s, ‘Hoover Damned’ oozes catchy hooks and swirling harmonies, accompanying the sultry allure of front woman Kaoru’s gritty vocals. Of the track, Kaoru explains: “I wanted to write about a world where women are as free to make mistakes and walk away as men traditionally have…” Produced by James Aparicio, ‘Hoover Damned’ is out now via Rock Noir Recordings. Watch the new video here. (ML)

Deerhoof – ‘My Lovely Cat!’
Following the release of their 19th album earlier this year, I was lucky enough to experience the utter magic of legendary avant-garde sound creators Deerhoof last week. And when I say ‘magic’, I’m not exaggerating… The pure immense cacophonies they’re able to create are a spectacle to behold; their frenzied colourful energy like nothing I’ve ever seen. ‘My Lovely Cat!’ is probably my favourite track taken from the latest album (which is sung entirely in Satomi’s native Japanese), not only because of its cute, relatable title, but I just love its swirling sonic brilliance and joyous drive. Miracle Level, the latest album from Deerhoof, is out now via Joyful Noise. (ML)

HAVVK – ‘Expiry’
The new single from Irish based trio, and GIHE faves, HAVVK, ‘Expiry’ channels a seething raging energy, ‘Expiry’ reflects on society’s expectations of women to ‘age gracefully’, whilst giving a middle finger to these restrictions on how you should dress or behave. I just love how its fierce sense of urgency is propelled by the raw power of lead singer Julie’s distinctive celestial vocals. (ML)

Shaene – ‘june’
This melancholy song from Leeds-based songwriter shaene is lifted from her self-produced debut album, time lost / time regained, which is set for release on 1st September. The track is a reflection on her fluctuating relationship with their Dad, which she is reminded of on Father’s Day each year during June. As with her previous single ‘sad’, shaene filters these conflicting feelings through a soft, shoegazey lens, which makes for sad-yet-sweet listening. (KC)

GENN – ‘Calypso’
GIHE favourites GENN are gearing up to release their debut album, unum, on the 6th October, and this track ‘Calypso’ is lifted from it. The track showcases the truly versatile sound of the Brighton-via-Malta art-punk quartet, who totally blew us away with their live performances at The Great Escape Festival earlier this year. (KC)

Ideal Host – ‘The Resolution’
A tender, synth-led rumination that showcases the evolving nature of their sound, this is the third single from Ideal Host. Led by Heather Perkins and Sean Hughes – who are both former members of the band Slowcoaches – Ideal Host are dedicated to making music on their own terms. ‘The Resolution’ acts as a bookend to the band’s previous single ‘The Conflict‘, exploring the softer side of their brooding, intuitive songwriting. Ideal Host are currently writing and recording their full length album, which they plan to release and tour next year. (KC)

O Hell – ‘hard times’
The chorus to this O Hell track hit me right in sternum. Her direct lyrics, clear vocals and evocative electronics make for captivating listening. Speaking about ‘hard times’, O Hell explains: “What I wanted to say in the chorus is: get back to what love really is, ‘cus it’s way bigger and better than the bullshit possessiveness we’re told it needs to centre around. It might change state, it might morph between romantic and platonic, or everything in between – but fuck all the drama off, if you love someone, let that love take its course. It was always bigger than the first label you smacked on it anyway.” (KC)

Hinako Omori – ‘cyanotype memories’
A mood-lifting soundscape that offers listeners a moment of respite in an uncertain world, I love this single from London-based artist and composer Hinako Omori. Taken from her upcoming album, stillness, softness…, which is set for release via Houndstooth on 27th October, the track is an ode to surrendering yourself to the unknown and finding peace within that process. (KC)

Mint Field – ‘El Suspiro Cambia Todo’
Having just announced the release of their upcoming new album, Mexican psych duo Mint Field have now shared a dreamy new single. Flowing with a whirring, hypnotic grace, ‘El Suspiro Cambia Todo’ (The Sigh Changes Everything) offers a spellbinding soundscape, enchanting the ears with its glistening splendour. Of the track, the band explain: “Sighing is the desire for melancholy. It denotes that something is happening. Sometimes we just need to sigh to let go. Sighing is something we do unconsciously but it says a lot about what is going on inside our mind.” Aprender a Ser, the upcoming new album from Mint Field, is set for release on 27th October via felte. (ML)

Amaroun – ‘Dopamine’
Taken from her upcoming EP of the same name, which is set for release on 29th September, ‘Dopamine’ is the latest single from ‘GIHE favourite Amaroun. Inspired by “the minuscule euphoric moments that keep her ADHD brain hooked throughout the day,” this track oozes with Amroun’s trademark alt-pop style. (KC)

CHIKA ft. Charlie Wilson – ‘Can’t Explain It’
I’m a bit late to the party, but recently loved watching ‘Ladies First’, a short (not long enough!) docu-series on Netflix about and by women in hip-hop. As well as featuring a number of artists I already know and love – such as the legendary Queen Latifah and contemporary rappers Rapsody and Tierrra Whack – it also introduced me to a few that I’d not come across before. One of these was Alabama-born MC/rapper CHIKA, who spoke at length about her position as a queer woman in the industry. I just love her driving energy, gritty allure and refreshingly honest lyricism, and urge you to check out this celebration of queer black love, as well as her epic recent album Samson. (ML)

Mykki Blanco – ‘Holidays In The Sun’
I can’t get enough of the funk-fuelled energy and infectious uplifting spirit of the new single from pioneering artist Mykki Blanco. “A feel good summer anthem about lazy summer days swimming in the sea, hopping from one music festival to the next, feeling good about life and living la dolce vita soaking up the sun.”, its only negative is that it does make me quite desperate for a holiday in the sun myself… Mykki Blanco’s upcoming new album, Postcards from Italia, is set for release on 22nd September via Transgressive, and keep your eyes peeled for an exclusive interview with them on our website very soon! (ML)

Aderyn – ‘Distraction’
Reflecting on the restlessness one can feel during the summer break, ‘Distraction’ is the latest single from South Wales artist Aderyn. Propelled by shimmering hooks and a driving punk-pop energy, it showcases Aderyn’s honey-sweet vocals and ability to create instantly catchy, emotion-rich singalong anthems. Aderyn’s debut EP, Sea Glass, is set for release on 14th September. (ML)

Catherine Moan – ‘Jawbreaker’
Angel Jefferson aka Catherine Moan is back with this new single which marks a “new era” of her electro-pop project. ‘Jawbreaker’ is written from the point of view of “someone who feels replaceable, hard to love, and ultimately feels damaged by another’s actions” – all underscored by buoyant 80s-inspired synths and Catherine’s bittersweet vocal. (KC)

SOFT LAD – ‘The Human Condition’
“This song came as a result of the worst hangover of my life!” explains Sophie Galpin aka SOFT LAD about this single – respect to her for telling it like it is! The multi-instrumentalist, who also plays in Self Esteem’s band, encourages her listeners to treat those closest to us with kindness; all underscored by her buoyant beats, melodic riffs and clear vocals. (KC)

Cutty – ‘Overdrive’
This is the latest single from Hull-based duo Cutty, who formed after meeting at their local dive bar. Amy and Kev explain that ‘Overdrive’ is a crowd-pleasing favourite when they play it live at local gigs, so it made sense to record it and share it for everyone else to hear too. (KC)

Sirene – ‘Don’t Let Me Fall (Out Your Mind)’
With acclaim from the likes of Deb Grant on BBC 6Music, Yorkshire-born, London-based artist Sirene released her debut album last year, and has now shared a poignant new single. Reflecting on the desire to consistently do your best for the ones you love, ‘Don’t Let Me Fall (Out Your Mind)’ is a beautifully stirring ballad, showcasing Sirene’s distinctive rich vocals and an exquisite twinkling emotion. (ML)

NEW TRACK: CLT DRP – ‘I See My Body Through You’

Following on from their incendiary anthems ‘New Boy‘ and ‘Nothing Clever, Just Feelings‘, Brighton feminist electro-punks CLT DRP have shared their powerful new single ‘I See My Body Through You’. Taken from their upcoming second album, Nothing Clever, Just Feelings, which is set for release on 8th September via Venn Records, the track is a dynamic, corrosive rumination on objectification and how it can affect our own identity and self worth.

Annie Dorrett’s distinctive, self-possessed vocals lead the charge alongside drummer Daphne’s considered percussion and guitarist Scott’s blend of melodic and visceral riffs. By combining quieter verses with a blistering chorus, CLT DRP reflect the tumultuous emotions and lack of control that can come from feeling exposed and viewed through a skewed and restricting lens. “They just say grin and bear it” Annie muses, before listeners are pummelled by a wall of cathartic, abrasive sound.

The single is accompanied by an intriguing set of visuals, directed by Alice Strutt. Annie explains the thought process behind the video: “‘I See My Body Through You’ is probably one of the tracks we’re looking forward to putting out the most. The content of the song set against the visuals all came out perfectly.”

“There’s a lot behind this song,” she continues, “different ways to interpret it, but the unsettling feeling and tension in the orchestration and in the video match up to the emotions that created this song in the first place—the emotions of being constantly on show, being objectified, and your own confidence being warped because of other people’s gaze. I think Alice heard the song and understood those feelings immediately, as most women do, and came up with some striking and strange concepts for the video.”

Director Alice Strutt comments further: “Inspired by the song’s content, the video embraces the use of ambiguous imagery, employing fractured reflections and obscured veils to symbolise the interplay between how we imagine others perceive us and its effect on our self-perception. The aim was to create impactful and disjointed visuals that invite contemplation of the blurred lines between reality and interpretation.”

Fresh from performing in their hometown at The Great Escape Festival earlier this year and a recent support slot with electronic music pioneer Gary Numan in Antwerp, CLT DRP are set to headline one of the stages at ArcTanGent Festival this weekend (18th August). The band have also announced a string of winter UK headline tour dates, including a show at The Lexington in London on 29th November. Full listings are below and tickets are on sale here.

Watch the video for ‘I See My Body Through You’ below.

CLT DRP UK Live Dates 2023
11.08.23 – Winchester, UK – Boomtown
18.08.23 – Somerset, UK – ArcTanGent
08.09.23 – Brighton, Green Door Store
15.09.23 – Sofia, BG – Wrong Fest
12.10.23 – Manchester, Beyond The Music
02.11.23 – Leeds, Oporto
03.11.23 – Glasgow, Hug & Pint
23.11.23 – Southampton, Joiners
24.11.23 – Bristol, Rough Trade
29.11.23 – London, Lexington

Pre-order CLT DRP’s new album Nothing Clever, Just Feelings here

Follow CLT DRP on bandcampSpotifyTwitterFacebook & Instagram

Photo Credit: Libby Malandrone

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

NEW TRACK: CLT DRP – ‘Nothing Clever, Just Feelings’

Following on from their visceral, incendiary anthem ‘New Boy‘, Brighton feminist art punks CLT DRP have shared their latest single ‘Nothing Clever, Just Feelings’. The title track from their upcoming second album, which is set for release on 8th September via Venn Records, ‘Nothing Clever, Just Feelings’ is a thumping, primal, tenacious offering that champions the immediacy and the transitory nature of thoughts and emotions.

CLT DRP blew us away when they performed at The Great Escape Festival earlier this year, with this new single providing one of many highlights during their set. Fuelled by Annie’s powerful, crystalline vocals, Daphne’s phenomenal percussion and Scott’s jagged guitar FX, ‘Nothing Clever, Just Feelings’ is a cathartic anthem that celebrates the act of feeling your emotions without over-analysing them. “I’m learning to manage my distractions / I’m getting better at talking less shit” Annie sings, her defiance and directness as intoxicating as the cacophony of potent noise behind her.

“This is the title track for a reason!” she explains about the single. “Desperation, anger, confusion—ALL the feelings. I think I spent a lot of time when I was younger trying to be clever about lyrics. I wanted to try and be witty or something ‘mature’. As a younger woman in the industry, I felt like I wasn’t going to be taken seriously writing the way I did. I quickly realised that the music I listen to the most is nothing like that, so why would I try and emulate something I don’t even listen to? The lyrics I connect with are always straight forward emotions or familiar scenarios that I can identify right away when I first hear a song. Being present in the lyrics and emotions are important to me as a lyricist. I want you in the car with your friends screaming the lyrics at full blast cursing your ex! That’s what this song is supposed to do.”

This desire for unfiltered self-expression permeates CLT DRP’s new album. Nothing Clever, Just Feelings touches on themes of queerness, heartbreak, new-found strength in vulnerability and gender fluidity, as well as new-found femininity in humour and the fear of being alone. We can’t wait to hear it!

Watch the accompanying video for ‘Nothing Clever, Just Feelings’ directed by Harry Steel (Haunted Mattress) below.

Follow CLT DRP on bandcampSpotifyTwitterFacebook & Instagram

Photo Credit: Bridie Florence

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

ALBUM: Dream Wife – ‘Social Lubrication’

“Music isn’t the cure, it’s the remedy.”

Following their 2018 self-titled debut LP, and 2020’s sophomore record, So When You Gonna…, London-based trio Dream Wife – consisting of Rakel Mjöll on lead vocals, Alice Go on guitar/backing vocals, and Bella Podpadec on bass/backing vocals – are set to release their highly anticipated, riotous third record, Social Lubrication on 9th June via Lucky Number; a collection of playful, political punk with a lust for life. Entirely self-written and self-produced by Dream Wife and mixed by legendary duo Alan Moulder (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Killers, Depeche Mode) and Caesar Edmunds (Wet Leg, Beach House), Social Lubrication perfectly channels their live wire intensity into ten tracks of raw truth.

Opening with riot grrrl moxie, the infectious Bella bassline of ‘Kick in the Teeth’ (“I spent so much of this youth questioning my value / Lolita’s all grown up now, who knew?”) is followed by the scuzzy Alice Go Go Go riffs of ‘Who Do You Wanna Be?’. Rakel’s rebellious attitude screaming for increased collective action – away from soul-destroying “social media activism without action” – and decreased hyper-individualism. “Exhausted by the pressure to feel somewhat empowered / It’s only 8AM, and I haven’t even showered / Guess perseverance is the boldest thing one can do.”

‘Hot (Don’t Date a Musician)’ evokes the playfulness of CSS and the rock and roll grit of Motörhead. “Don’t date a musician / They’ll think your competition / I was never competition / I was just… hot” Rakel states, her on-the-nose humour backed up by a refusal to be reduced or intimated for being a woman who makes music. Title track’Social Lubrication’ flows in a similar vein, as the trio, exhausted, refuse to pander to patriarchal bullshit. Rakel delivers her spoken word verses with urgency across distorted garage guitar: “What’s it like to be a woman in music, dear? / You’d never ask me that if you regarded me as your peer.”

‘Mascara’ is a love letter to the mundane – but no less important – moments of life, and provides brief respite before Dream Wife are out for blood with ‘Leech’. Screaming for empathy and calling out double standards through frenetic fuzz (“Fuck those who call themselves a friend, but they don’t lift a finger! / Fuck that WhatsApp group where they got points for nailing a fresh-faced singer!”) before crescendo-ing into cathartic feedback. (“Nobody really wins in a patriarchal society. We all lose.”)

‘I Want You’ and ‘Curious’ leave us lusting over Social Lubrication. the first is a filthy Be Your Own Pet-esque punk rocker, and the second is a hot bisexual/polyamorous anthem (“She loves you but she is curious about her love for me… / You’ll all be middle-aged men one day / And I’ll be a middle-aged Dream Wife”). Nostalgic for the early noughties, Dream Wife enter the stratosphere with the New Pony Club/Yeah Yeah Yeahs-inspired ‘Orbit’, closing Social Lubrication with a pulse-racing, disco-punk groove. It’s an unapologetic record that speaks to “systemic problems that cannot be glossed over by lube,” and that’s something we fully endorse at Get In Her Ears.

Pre-order your copy of Dream Wife’s new album Social Lubrication here

Follow Dream Wife on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Ken Wynne
@Ken_Wynne

Photo Credit: Sophie Webster