Track Of The Day: Mai – ‘Control’

An evocative electronic gem that urges listeners to surrender to the inevitability of change, Essex-based musician and vocalist Mai has shared her debut single ‘Control’. Released via Cool Thing Records, the track is a collaboration between Mai, aka Rosie Gulliver of Petty Phase and songwriter and producer Liam Watkins from A Cause In Distress.

Originally developed as a project during lockdown, Mai creates music inspired by the ethereal sonics of This Mortal Coil, Cocteau Twins and Zola Jesus, as well as the tenebrous soundscapes of Nine Inch Nails and My Bloody Valentine. On ‘Control’, her gentle vocals float over shadowy beats and urgent electronics, reflecting the track’s theme of submitting to the relentless and random changes that have an impact our lives, especially during the last year.

“The song is about accepting a lack of control and embracing the unpredictability of life,” Mai explains about ‘Control’. “Realising that you can make endless plans and fail-safes but ultimately you can never have total control, and that’s okay.” Finding catharsis via thoughtful lyrics and compelling synth textures, Mai’s debut single provides momentary relief from life’s more hectic moments.

Listen to ‘Control’ below.

Follow Mai on Spotify & Instagram

Photo Credit: Owen Stephen Foran

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

PLAYLIST: September 2021

The GIHE team have unearthed more new music gems for you to listen to on our September Playlist! There’s an eclectic mix of shadowy post punk anthems, wholesome emotional tunes, alt-pop tracks & immersive electronic sounds. Take some time to scroll through our track choices below and make sure you hit play on the Spotify playlist at the end of this post.

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

LIINES – ‘Keep On Going’
The latest single from GIHE faves, Manchester trio LIINES ‘Keep On Going’ is an empowering call to arms. Propelled by a frenetic sense of urgency, I just love its fierce, unrelenting energy and Zoe McVeigh’s trademark seething, soaring vocals. (Mari Lane)

Fräulein – ‘Belly’
I’ve been obsessed with London based duo Joni Samuels and Karsten van der Tol aka Fräulein for over a year now, and their latest single does not disappoint. Propelled by sparse hooks and raw, loose beats, as Joni’s sweeping vocals take centre stage, ‘Belly’ showcases the band’s knack for creating gritty, grunge-fuelled offerings with a unique, brooding energy. Fräulein headline The Windmill in Brixton on 25th October. (ML)

Grandmas House – ‘Girl’
Taken from their upcoming self-titled debut EP, which is set for release on 15th October via Brace Yourself Records (JOHN, Nuha Ruby Ra, Laundromat, Peeping Drexels), the latest single from Bristol punk trio Grandmas House is a playful ode to the joys and frustrations of queer love. We can’t wait to see the band live at The Windmill in Brixton on 3rd November. (Kate Crudgington)

M(h)aol – ‘Gender Studies’
A rumbling cacophony of post-punk noise designed to dismantle the misconception that gender is binary, the latest single from Irish feminist post-punk band M(h)aol is a brief but powerful statement on the empowering feelings that come with challenging gender norms. It’s the title track from their debut EP, which is set for release via TULLE on 29th October (digitally) and 15th January (physically). (KC)

Visibly Choked – ‘Mother Tongue’
When I read that Canadian punks Visibly Choked describe themselves as “A hardcore Kate Bush” or “five people having a panic attack,” I knew I’d found a new favourite band. This track ‘Mother Tongue’ is taken from their debut self-titled EP, which is set for release via Mothland on November 5th. (KC)

th’sheridans – ‘I Don’t Wanna Be Dismembered’
Following a decade on the scene, indie pop duo th’sheridans have recently released an epic, career-spanning compilation, Pieces Of General, combining both old favourites and some newer treats. Taken from the album, ‘I Don’t Wanna Be Dismembered’ showcases the band’s knack for creating sparkling calls to arms – poignant creations, unsubtle in conveying their anti-fascist, anti-racist and anti-sexist values, whilst oozing a quirky, colourful spirit. Read more about the duo in our recent interview. Pieces Of General is out now via Reckless Yes. (ML)

ĠENN – ‘Catalyst’
Taken from their recent EP Liminal, ĠENN’s latest single ‘Catalyst’ offers a perfect slice of high-energy post-punk. Having been long term faves here at GIHE, wowing us with their explosive live show at our gig nights more than once, ĠENN’s latest offering delivers a rousing sonic rush with a fizzing energy. An empowering rallying cry to fight against those seeking to oppress your true spirit. (ML)

Mumble Tide – ‘On My Deathbed There’s A Full Page (You Don’t Get To Read It)’
The context of this shiny new track by Bristol-based duo Mumble Tide is an introverts DREAM. “This song is about reflecting on years of unrequited love, about the light that can shine out of a void,” explains vocalist Gina. “It’s about how chasing something that isn’t real requires creativity and resilience, but also ignorance.” Mumble Tide will be releasing a mini-album titled Everything Ugly via Nothing Fancy on 3rd December. (KC)

Francis of Delirium – ‘Come Out and Play’
Inspired by coulrophobia (the fear of clowns), I love this shadowy, atmospheric single from Luxembourg-based, Canadian born artist Jana Bahrich aka Francis of Delirium. The single is accompanied by an amazing monochrome animated video that Bahrich created herself, which you can watch here. (KC)

Softcult – ‘House Of Mirrors’
I am such a sucker for Softcult’s melancholy, grunge-tinged sounds and this latest single is no exception. “We wrote ‘House Of Mirrors’ about wanting to make the people in our lives proud, but feeling as though we’ve failed them by not living up to our potential,” explain sisters Phoenix and Mercedes Arn Horn. You can watch the accompanying video here. (KC)

Cherym – ‘We’re Just Friends’
Ahead of the release of their upcoming new EP Hey Tori, Derry trio Cherym recently shared vibrant single ‘We’re Just Friends’. A heartfelt reflection on life and love, particularly from the perspective of non-heteronormative couples, it oozes a swirling energy and all the honey-sweet punk-pop vibes you could ever desire. Hey Tori is out 1st October via Alcopop! Records and I cannot wait to be launched back into the world of gigs seeing them live at Paper Dress Vintage, next Wednesday 6th October! (ML)

Sleigh Bells – ‘True Seekers’
I just can’t get enough of the immense new album from long term favourites Sleigh Bells. Taken from Texis, ‘True Seekers’ may be a step away from the usual explosive, exuberant sounds Sleigh Bells are known for, but loses none of the duo’s searing power and emotion-filled anthemic splendour. I was lucky enough to have a chat with Alexis Krauss from Sleigh Bells a few weeks ago. We talked about the new album, the formation of Sleigh Bells and her involvement with Young Women Who Crush – an amazing sounding organisation that she co-founded for young women and gender expansive youth, inspiring them to discover the outdoors and develop their leadership skills. Have a read here. (ML)

Lunar Vacation – ‘Gears’
The latest single from Atlanta based band Lunar Vacation, ‘Gears’ oozes a dreamy, shimmering allure as it reflects on the deterioration of a relationship. Against the backdrop of a scuzzy, whirring musicality, Grace Repasky’s honey-sweet crystalline vocals float seamlessly with an ethereal splendour. A heartfelt slice of irresistibly effervescent indie-pop. (ML)

SPIDER – ‘I’m Fine, I’m Good, I’m Perfect!’
A brooding, dark-pop tune that reflects on the grey area between feeling emotionally overwhelmed and totally apathetic, I love this tune from London-based, Irish born musician & producer SPIDER. ‘I’m Fine, I’m Good, I’m Perfect!’ playfully embraces and dismisses life’s darker moments with its catchy chorus and smooth vocals. (KC)

Maria Uzor – ‘Donuts’
Having been massive fans of Norwich duo Sink Ya Teeth for a number of years now, we’re super excited to hear that vocalist and songwriter Maria Uzor has now released her debut solo EP, Innocence and Worldliness. To celebrate the EP’s release, Maria shared a brand new video for ‘Donuts‘. Propelled by a swirling, glitchy energy and whirring, otherworldly allure, it’s a wonderfully immersive sonic fusion. A perfectly blissful cacophony that will take you on a rainbow-tinted trip into space. So, grab some pastries, sit back, and immerse yourself in the trippy, colourful haze of ‘Donuts’ now. And watch the euphoric video here. (ML)

Elsa Hewitt – ‘Inhaler’
Taken from her album LUPA which she self-released on her own imprint ERH earlier this year, I’ve enjoyed delving into the soundscapes of Elsa Hewitt and letting her music envelop me. She’s going to be playing the Pickle Factory on 1st October and I cannot encourage you enough to go check her out, when she played for us at Notting Hill Arts Club it was mesmerising. (Tash Walker)

Julia-Sophie – ‘And You Know It’
A total fave of mine, Julia-Sophie has nearly finished her third EP which is set to be released very soon. Plus, she’s going to be playing The Windmill in Brixton on the 5th October and I for one cannot wait to see her live for the first time. A date for all your diaries. Hope to see you there. (TW)

Liyv – ‘Let Me Know’
Occasionally the world sends you a signal that you should listen to a song, and I had that with this one. Not only did it pop up on my Spotify, but Liyv the artist who created it popped into my inbox too. Based in Portland Oregon, this is their new single which is just beautiful. Taken from the upcoming album Matriach, this single is a message to their younger self, which builds and builds with the intense emotion Liyv is unpacking throughout the song. (TW)

Dear Laika – ‘Black Moon, Lilith’
I’m loving this creation from 23-year-old UK-based musician Isabelle “Izzy” Thorn, aka Dear Laika. They’re set to release their new album Pluperfect Mind on 29th October via Memorials of Distinction (UK) & NNA Tapes (ROW) and I can’t wait to hear the record in full. (KC)

Okay Kaya – ‘If I Can Help Somebody’
Coming in at only 1.44, this is the latest release by a total love of mine, Okay Kaya, the last person I saw before lockdown at SET in Dalston. ‘If I can Help Somebody’ is the lead single from her forthcoming mixtape, The Incompatible Okay Kaya, set for release on 22nd October via Jagjaguwar. This cover strips back the song we normally hear performed with a gospel choir and if you listen really closely, you can almost here the emotion about to break in her voice. What a voice, what gentleness. (TW)

Hand Habits – ‘No Difference’
Hand Habits is the moniker of Los Angeles-based non binary musician Meg Duffy, and I just love the shimmering emotion and lilting energy of that track; they just seem to have a special knack for creating beautifully heartfelt indie-pop. A perfectly soothing treat for the ears. ‘No Difference’ is taken from Hand Habits’ upcoming new album Fun House, which is set for release on 22nd October via Saddle Creek Records. (ML)

Girlhood – ‘4AM’
We have so much love for London duo Girlhood here at GIHE! ‘4AM’ is full of more of Tessa’s distinctive, beautiful vocals, poignant lyrics and Christian’s smooth instrumentation. Check out their debut album here. (KC)

Lilith Ai – ‘Bare Radical’
I had such a lovely chat with songwriter Lilith Ai ahead of her performance at Loud Women Festival a few weeks ago (read the full thing here.) This track ‘Bare Radical’ is taken from her Hercury Prize winning album Folk You Hard, which you can listen to here. (KC)

Toni Sancho – ‘Survive!’ 
Raised in North Greenwich with strong family ties to Trinidad, ‘Survive!’ is songwriter & musician Toni Sancho’s debut single. It’s a raw, charming offering that, as Toni explains, “is about recognising when a situation isn’t good for you and having the wisdom to walk away.” (KC)

Bestfriend – ‘Hannah In The City’
DIY duo Stacy Kim and Kaelen Geoffrey aka Bestfriend with their latest confessional slice of ‘bedroom electro pop’, ‘Hannah In The City’. Despite being written by them both via email, you’d never guess the physical distance between them; their emotional connection and harmonious vocals shine perfectly through in this sparkling soundscape. Bestfriend’s upcoming EP Places I’ve Lived, is set for release on 1st October. (ML)

Foxgluvv – ‘Fever Dream’
Taken from her new EP Deep Dive, ‘Fever Dream’ is a lush slice of electro-pop that showcases Foxgluvv’s dreamy vocals perfectly. Created alongside her producer Scott Colcombe, we’re all big fans of Foxgluvv’s hungover-pop sounds here at GIHE. (KC)

LISTEN: GIHE on Soho Radio with Maria Uzor 22.09.21

Tash, Mari & Kate were back on Soho Radio‘s airwaves playing a few golden oldies – including an iconic 90s banger from Sweet Female Attitude – and loads of new music tunes from some of their favourite women, non-binary and LGBTQ+ artists.

Mutant electro artist Maria Uzor also joined them to talk about her latest EP, Innocence and Worldliness, vegan donuts and the importance of taking your time to process and create your own art.

Listen back below:

Tracklist
The Sugarcubes – Hit
Elsa Hewitt – Inhaler
Julia-Sophie – And You Know It
Evil House Party – Keep Going On
Bestfriend – Hannah In The City
Halsey – i am not a woman, i’m a god
Tei Shi – Basically (acoustic)
of all living things – If I Go
Barrie – Dig
Okay Kaya – If I Can Help Somebody
Aisha Badru – The Way Back Home
Self Esteem – How Can I Help You
LIINES – Keep On Going
Krakow Loves Adana – Follow The Voice
Maria Uzor – Now Is The Core
**Interview with Maria Uzor**
Kilamanzego – Black Weirdo
Lilith Ai – Bare Radical
Liyv – Let Me Know
Pretty Happy – Sea Sea Sea
Fraulein – Belly
Sleigh Bells – Justine Go Genesis
Grandmas House – Girl
Planningtorock – Girl You’ve Got My Heart
Hand Habits – No Difference
Sweet Female Attitude – Flowers

Introducing Interview: Alice Hubble

Set to release her new album Hexentanzplatz this Friday, innovative London based artist Alice Hubble has previously captivated us with poignant singles such as ‘Power Play‘ and ‘My Dear Friend‘. With her distinctive euphoric, synth-driven energy and glitchy ‘80s-inspired musicality, we’re already huge fans of the soaring, ethereal soundscapes she creates.

Ahead of the release on Friday, we caught up with Alice to find out more about the album, what inspires her and her thoughts on the treatment of women and non-binary people in music at the moment… Have a read!

Hi Alice, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hello! Thank you, it’s great to be here! I’m Alice Hubble, an electronic pop musician, based in London, originally from Leeds. I make music with my collection of vintage synthesisers, which combines pastoral instrumentals and budget pop in equal measure. My first LP came out in 2019 and the second is coming out this month via Happy Robots.

What initially inspired you to start creating music?
It’s hard to think what initially inspired me to create music cause it feels like it’s always been there. I was one of those music nerd kids, always singing and playing in music groups. In my 20s and a lot of my 30s I was in various bands, albeit to very limited successes. In mid 2018 I decided to focus on my own solo musical creation and Alice Hubble as we know it was born. I’m very inspired by creating ‘otherly’ worlds in music, recreating my imagined worlds sonically. As a person, I’m always pushing to contradict expectations and I attempt to do this in my music. Writing lyrics can be a form of therapy for me to unpack my lived experiences, but I also write about things that matter to me – particularly a highly inclusive form of feminism.

You’re about to release your new album Hexentanzplatz at the end of this week – are you able to tell us a bit about this? Are there any particular themes running throughout the album? 
The album was recorded in October 2020, with half of the songs written during the lockdown in 2020. Though I chose to stay away from writing about the lockdown, I feel the unease and anxieties of the time are very present in the music. The album is called Hexentanzplatz, named after the German mountain. The mountain is steeped in magic and legend and is famous for its Walpurligsnacht celebrations. The name translates literally to mean Witches’ Dance Floor, which really is too perfect. Recurring themes on the LP are illusion, feminism and protest. Illusion creeps into my songs a lot, whether it’s a projected myth of an unbeknown subject of my affections, the illusions we create on social media or your re-imagination of a place in your head. I’ve always been fascinated about how a real place or moment can exist so differently in two people’s minds. 

And how have you found recording and promoting an album during these strange times? 
It’s definitely been strange, I’ve been lucky that the pandemic gave me more space to focus on my music – I was on furlough with my day job, so I had time to spend writing and recording at home. I got to travel to Germany and visit the Harz mountains and learn about Hexentanzplatz and then to Ramsgate in October to record the LP. I also got to play a gig in May just after things started to lift which was really great. I spent 2019 being so busy that I was burnt out, so spending a lot of 2020 focusing on my mental health and having a quiet time was really good for me. It also gave me the chance to record a collaborative EP with Bradford based musician Andy Abbott (under the name ADRA Hubble) and do things I thought I’d never have the confidence to do like host a Facebook chat show and start my radio show. It was disappointing to have things cancelled, but it wasn’t something I dwelled on too much, there were bigger tragedies of the pandemic. I very much see myself as one of the fortunate ones over the last year and feel grateful for what I achieved in this time.

We love your shimmering, euphoric electro soundscapes, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
Thank you! Oh my, it’s hard to narrow down. The bands that have always been with me are the classic synth pop bands – Kraftwerk, OMD, New Order. The Beach Boys have also been such an influence to me. For Alice Hubble, sonically I’ve been inspired by Sally Oldfield, School of Seven Bells, Goldfrapp, Book of Love, Susan Sundfor, to name a few.

We have been particular fans of your recent single ‘Power Play’ – described as the closest thing you’ve written to a protest song, it’s inspired by the #MeToo movement. Are you able to tell us a bit more about this? And, in relation to this, how do you feel the music industry is for women/non-binary people at the moment – do you feel that things have improved over the last few years
Thank you! It means a lot to have people respond to the song. ‘Power Play’ is a track that was, on the whole, written in lockdown 1. I feel like a lot of anger and frustration that came out of that time was channeled into the track. At the time I’d looked at Twitter and seen that one of the musicians whose hideous behaviour had been a focus in the #metoo movement was back Tweeting and interacting with fans as normal. And it got me thinking “have things really changed? Do people move on to different things once the moment has passed?” It all started with the menacing synths and, as the track was so angry sonically, I wanted the lyrics to be a call to arms of some sorts. The mass hex of Brock Turner as an act of resistance and resilience (to quote the song) always really intrigued me as a form of activism and I read a lot around this to inform the lyrics. With the subject matter being so triggering, it was a song that needed careful consideration to get just right. It’s definitely getting better for women/non-binary people in the industry but there is still a long way to go. There is better representation generally – I just came back from Green Man where there were so many amazing women/non- binary performers at the festival. There’s also a greater understanding of mental health awareness, and discussions taking place about what behaviours in the industry are not helpful for women/non-binary people. The male ego power-trip that was accepted as the norm for years is now being recognised for what it is, and there are people in the industry trying to make changes. My brother is trans, so naturally trans rights is an issue close to my heart. I have noticed there is more awareness in the general public of trans and non-binary people compared to twenty years ago, which is great. But I feel there is still a long way to go, and a lot of educating still to do, particularly with how polarised society is. I find all the ‘anti-woke’ and TERF rhetoric very disturbing, particularly in the way that they present themselves as reasonable people (when they clearly aren’t!).

How have you been connecting with your audience and other musicians during the pandemic?
I played a few online shows including a Zoom show, the shows went ok but I’m not sure I’d rush to do them again as it’s so hard to connect with an audience that way. I’m also not sure how long people’s attention span is for a Zoom gig these days. It’s great to use digital to connect with audiences in different ways than the typical live performance. I really enjoyed doing the Hubble’s House Party chat show, partly as it felt like such an achievement and we had a great crowd watching. I also did an Instagram DJ set for Divine Schism which was great.

And has there been anything/anyone specific that has been inspiring you, or helping to motivate you, throughout these strange times? 
Hexentanzplatz and music making in general helped give me a purpose during this time. I think 2020 would have been a lot harder for me if I hadn’t had a creative project to throw myself into. I also consumed a lot of TV and books. My partner and I have done a lot of travelling through culture to take us outside of our reality. We got really into watching travel shows like Race Across the World. I also went on a bit of a deep-dive reading about the ’60s hippy trail trekkers after watching The Serpent, and found Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld a bit silly but a welcome break from real life politics.

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any other upcoming artists or bands that you’d recommend we check out?
Sister Wives from Sheffield are awesome!

Finally, in addition to the release of your album, what does the rest of 2021 have in store for you?
Alongside the album there’s a fantastic video which will be out soon, created by illustrator Katherina Rival. I’m going on a mini tour in October which, fingers crossed, will happen as expected. It would be great to see you there!

Massive thanks to Alice for answering our questions!

Hexentanzplatz, the upcoming new album from Alice Hubble, is set for release this Friday 10th September via Happy Robots. Catch Alice on her UK tour:

7th October – Folklore, London
8th October – The Cold Store, Nottingham
15th October – Wharf Chambers, Leeds
23rd October – West Hill Hall, Brighton (supporting Laetitia Sadier)
31st October – The Moon, Cardiff

Photo Credit: Tom Hilverkus