Introducing Interview: Badliana

Having received acclaim from the likes of Clash magazine and BBC Radio 1XTRA’s Jamz Supernova for her 2021 debut EP Diary Of A Loner, and having wowed crowds at Glastonbury last year, Bristol based artist Badliana is a definite one to watch on the UK R&B and grime scene. Propelled by immersive trippy beats as glistening, soulful vocals soar, recent single ‘Mayday‘ showcases Badliana’s ability to create fierce soundscapes with a raw emotion.

We caught up with Badliana to find out more…

Hi Badliana! Welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourself? 
Hey I’m Badliana, I’m a singer, songwriter & rapper based in Bristol. I also love dancing, playing cards and putting hot chocolate in my coffee…

Are you able to tell us a bit about how and why you initially started creating music? 
It’s my way of expressing myself and I’ve always felt like it’s something I’ve needed to do. I was always singing and making up songs when I was younger, and I’ve just continued to do that and develop and grow into my sound.

We love your trippy electronic sounds, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
My musical influences differ & my playlists are a complete mixture of genres to be honest, ranging from artists like Busta Rhymes to Beabadoobee. I’m currently really loving Audrey Nuna – she’s so cool. For more electronic vibes, I would definitely recommend checking out Tlya X An’s recent release with Yard Woman – ‘Steps’, it’s such a banger. 

You recently released your single ‘Mayday’. Are you able to tell us a bit about it?
‘Mayday’ is produced by Mussi, who I frequently work with. We’ve been sitting on it for quite a while and finally felt ready to release it. I love this track because I love the energy in it and it’s really fun to play live and dance around.

Being based in Bristol, do you get to see lots of live music? Would you say it’s recovered since the pandemic?
Yeah there’s always stuff going on – Strange Brew is a really cool venue that I’ve been to a few times recently & I saw a sick DJ at The Jam Jar a few weeks back too, but sadly I don’t know what they were called & I’m gutted I didn’t find out! My friend is running a wicked event at the Love Inn on Friday too, so I’ll likely be heading to that! It’s good to see the city thriving again, that’s for sure.

And what can fans expect from your live shows?  
Lot’s of energy and sass, I love a bit of sass! I just want to enjoy myself and have fun, and I want people watching to do the same. Let loose and let go!

How do you feel the industry is for new artists at the moment? And do you feel much has changed over the last few years in its treatment of female and queer/LGBTQ+  artists? 
I mean, it’s ever changing and there’s so many routes you can go down now to try and get heard, but as long as you’re doing it because you’re enjoying what you do, then you’re winning really. I love to see the inclusivity and I also think Bristol is a great city for that – it’s very welcoming and accepting. I did a show with FUZE back in June last year, where I debuted ‘Mayday’ and danced with my own backing dancers – proper Britney moment for me, it was lit. They’re a non-profit charity organisation who raise money for a lot of current issues within this generation – LGBTQ+ and Transgender issues included. They’re ALL about expressing yourself, whoever you are, and are such an amazing group of people, I’ll be playing with them again in June this year and I seriously can’t wait. 

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any other upcoming artists or bands you’re loving right now that you’d recommend we check out?
You should check out Baby Pink, her new single ‘Unbothered’ is so smooth. Alamay is another amazing artist, she has the voice of an angel. Nat Oaks is absolutely popping off right now too, & I’m a big fan of LEMFRECK as well, the list goes on and on…

What does the rest of the year have in store for you? 
I’ve got a couple of videos on the way and you can catch me gigging, I’ll post all my updates on my socials and I’m working on my next few releases too!

Massive thanks to Badliana for answering our questions, watch her lyric video for ‘Mayday’ below:

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New Track: Miss Grit – ‘Lain (phone clone)’

An anime-inspired, alt-pop tune that explores the duality of self perception, New York-based, Korean-American musician Margaret Sohn aka Miss Grit has shared their latest single, ‘Lain (phone clone)’. Taken from their upcoming debut album, Follow The Cyborg, which is set for release on 24th February via Mute Records, Sohn’s latest offering is another altruistic mix of cinematic electronics, ultra clear vocals and glitchy beats.

“I feel like the divide between my inner and outer self can grow so big sometimes that it feels like I’m being eclipsed by this big cringey monster,” Sohn explains about the conflicting states that informed their new track. “I wanted to write this to mock the monster and remind myself I’m not powerless against it.” Taking cues from the anime Serial Experiments Lain (Yasuyuki Ueda) – which centers around a girl whose online self attempts to drag her physical self away from reality – ‘Lain (phone clone)’ is Sohn’s musical interpretation of this push-and-pull scenario.

As a mixed-race, non-binary artist, Sohn has always used their art in order to explore, connect with, and understand their own identity further. Their self-released 2021 EP, Impostor, addressed a “life-long journey through racial impostor syndrome,” whilst their Talk Talk EP tackled the complexities of relationships.

Intrigued by the duality of android life, Sohn’s upcoming full length record was heavily inspired by films such as Her, Ex Machina, and Ghost in the Shell, as well as essays by Jia Tolentino (from Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion) and Donna Horroway’s A Cyborg Manifesto. They continue to find new ways of dismantling these concepts on their latest offering ‘Lain (phone clone), adding more evocative and stimulating electronic soundscapes to their impressive repertoire.

Watch the video for ‘Lain (phone clone)’ below.

Pre-order Follow The Cyborg the debut album from Miss Grit here

Follow Miss Grit on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Hoseon Sohn

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Jessica Winter ft. Lynks – ‘Clutter’

A buoyant alt-pop anthem that celebrates the relief that comes with destroying the relics of an old relationship, London-based artist Jessica Winter has shared her latest single ‘Clutter’. Taken from her upcoming EP, Limerence, which is set for release on 10th February via Lucky Number, the track is a cathartic blend of playful synths and dancing beats, featuring the vocals of avant-garde artist Lynks.

Inspired by her desire to de-clutter her life both physically and mentally, Winter wrote this single whilst in the midst of a house move. “I found love letters, photos and other bits from relationships over the years that at the time meant so much, yet hold no significance now,” she explains about the process. “I’ve carried these things around with me all this time and a spring clean was needed; physically and spiritually from all past and present relationships! Lynks embodies a divine solitary strength so there’s no one better than him to help deliver this message.”

The single is accompanied by a music video directed by Ella Margolin. The visuals feature Winter and Lynks as they follow a group of women who have have left their husbands in order to seek a new life, filled with independent energy and hotness. The tumultuous effect of romantic relationships is something Winter explores from different perspective on her upcoming EP. “Limerence was written during a time when I was trying to understand my relationship to love and my behaviours around it,” she comments. “Love confuses me so much and I think this EP demonstrates that.”

Winter not only self-produces and writes all of her own music, she has also collaborated with the likes of The Big Moon, Jazmin Bean, Phoebe Green, Sundara Karma, Walt Disco and Brodka. In February, she will support Rebecca Black on her UK and Ireland tour, including a  show at London’s Heaven. Grab your tickets here.

Watch the video for ‘Clutter’ below.

 

Follow Jessica Winter on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok & Facebook

Photo credit: Nan Moore

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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New Track: Frankie Rose – ‘Anything’

Set to release her fifth studio album this Spring, New York based artist Frankie Rose has now shared her latest single ‘Anything’ – an inspiring, exploratory track. While following the latest release of her own interpretation of The Cure’s ‘Seventeen Seconds’, Rose has dived into something fresh at this time in her career. 

Filled with beautiful ’80s-inspired electro-pop nuances, in ‘Anything’ Rose showcases her ability to fuse together new sounds with a hybrid of inspirations of her past, creating something that sounds refreshingly ultra-modern. Nostalgia for post-punk remains while ‘Anything’ glamourises grunge to a shiny finish of crisp vocals across a sweeping electronic landscape. At its core, ‘Anything’ is confident and undimmed while grabbing an array of eclectic influences into its mix of excitement for the now. 

Slowly building with sharp drums and choral synth pads, as Rose’s vocals float on top of her mix with an irresistibly catchy and contagious allure, ‘Anything’ feels like a poignant reflection, but specifically one that does not feel too heavy – executing the idea that we are in a constant state of learning. 

‘Anything’ feels like accepting that we make mistakes and must move on from them, learning from them in a way that offers not only self-disappointment, but a cycle of valuable growth. Frankie Rose is all-seeing in ‘Anything’, as she brings us along on a beautifully cathartic, optimistic sonic journey.

Love As Projection, the upcoming new album from Frankie Rose, is set for release on 10th March via Night School Records.

Jill Goyeau
@jilliangoyeau

Photo Credit: Esme Rogers Smith

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