Track Of The Day: For Esmé – ‘For Others’

Dazzling synths and strong feminist beliefs combine on ‘For Others’, the latest single from Toronto-based For Esmé. The track negotiates the struggle between the “impossible things” women must contemplate whilst struggling to balance a career, a family, a romantic life and an honest expression of self-identity.

The project is fronted by multi-talented artist Martha Meredith and the new single is taken from For Esmé’s upcoming LP, Righteous Woman, set to be released on 25th May this year. The album was co-created with collaborator Dave Thiel and producer James Bunton (Donovan Woods, Too Attached) and mastered by Mandy Parnell (Bjork, Aphex Twin, Dirty Projectors).

Described as “a confrontation with self and the systems that shape us,” Righteous Woman was influenced by Meredith’s ongoing work with Toronto Women in Music, a network of female identifying musicians working to support one another and claim space in a male-dominated industry. With such vital foresight and passion, we’re sure For Esmé’s music is going to inspire other women to create their own sounds and opinions in music and beyond.

Watch the video for ‘For Others’ below and follow For Esmé on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LIVE: Fever Ray – The Troxy, London 20.03.18

There are plenty of reasons to admire Fever Ray (aka Karin Dreijer) after her sold out show at London’s Troxy last night, but not all of them are based around her electrifying music.

In Fever Ray’s space, she takes care to make sure no-one is an outsider: everyone is welcome in her warped and wonderful world.

Before the gig, signs around the venue explicitly stated she wanted fans not to use their phones to document the evening and immerse themselves in her performance. The same signs requested that women come to the front and taller people stand back if obscuring a shorter person’s view. Outside of the toilets, another sign indicated that for the duration of the night, toilet facilities were trans-friendly spaces and trans fans were free to use the bathroom they felt aligned with their gender identity.

Emerging from the lights in her trademark “I heart Swedish girls” t-shirt and bare scalp, she plunged in to ‘An Itch’ as her crystal clear vocals swept across her excited crowd. From start to finish, the sound was flawless: each lyric, synth sequence, and drum beat distinct and easily discernible from the next. She delivered only a simple “Hello” or “Thank You” between songs – scarcely interrupting the torrent of sound.

She tore through ‘A Part Of Us’ and ‘When I Grow Up’, before performing ‘Mustn’t Hurry’ and ‘This Country’ with full fervor. The politically charged lyrics on the latter: “Free abortions and clean water / destroy nuclear / destroy boring” were echoed back by the crowd, and erotically charged line “this country makes it hard to fuck” was passionately reciprocated too.

Plunge‘s lead single ‘Wanna Sip’ sounded every inch as intense live, followed by ‘I’m Not Done’, the superb ‘Red Trails’ and the ominous ‘Concrete Walls’. The luscious “To The Moon & Back” came next, with it’s upbeat electronics buoyant lyrics, bleeding into the infectious ‘IDK About You’. The eerie ‘Keep The Streets Empty For Me’ was a fitting penultimate track and prepared fans for a powerful encore of ‘If I Had A Heart’ and ‘Mamma’s Hand’.

Fever Ray’s fierce, focused, full-on performance at the Troxy proved she’s an inimitable talent with a vision, generosity and energy unlike any other. Simply put: if you weren’t there, you missed out.

Support came from the the fluorescent and fabulous Bunny.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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This Is Get In Her Ears

As it’s our first week live as a blog, we wanted to give you an introduction as to what we’re all about and each of our three main reasons for starting Get In Her Ears…

Kate Crudgington – Features Editor

The huge volume of new music I’ve discovered since joining the GIHE team in 2015 has been overwhelming. Most importantly though, I’ve met Mari & Tash and both of them have been a constant source of support, information, and laughter.

Get In Her Ears is about much more than music. We’re about championing the voices of the voiceless, being allies to minority groups and using our words and our ears to engage with and listen to the struggles of girls and women from all walks of life. Here are three reasons why we do what we do:

Frustration:

Trying not to get frustrated at the lack of female headliners at festivals, the continuous sexual assault of girls at gigs and the legal and social struggles they face when trying to report these assaults is borderline impossible. Don’t let that frustration turn to fear. Harness it, and use it as the catalyst for change – whether that’s in your own circles, or further afield.

Feminism:

“Don’t agonise, organise.” – Florynce Kennedy

As someone who is prone to feeling overwhelmed when patriarchal shit hits the feminist fan, this is a quote I’m learning to live by. Identifying as a feminist and having emotional responses to the crushing pressure of patriarchal society are not bad, or mutually exclusive things – but letting negative emotions silence you, or dictate your next movements are. When you’re agonising, re-read the words of your favourite feminists and remember that you can organise yourself and others in to action.

For the Grrrls:

GIHE is for the girls and women who mimic the hairstyles, clothes, make-up and attitudes of their favourite front-women, because it gives them courage and a sense of belonging. Get In Her Ears is for everyone, but when I’m writing, I’m thinking of those Grrrls.

Tash Walker – Digital Editor

I’m often asked where we got the name Get In Her Ears from, the answer is simple: Get In Her Ears is a show hosted by women with a strong female focus throughout, be that the music we play or the topics we discuss. In a world where the default pronoun in law is masculine, we felt this was our subtle nod to the feminine.

Together with the ever inspiring Mari and Kate, Get In Her Ears has grown and grown, and to now be in a position to start our own website is amazing.

Equality:

There is no denying the gender imbalance still present across so many industries and elements of life, not to mention the ever pressing issue of sexual assault and the dehumanisation of women in the music industry.  And it doesn’t stop there, equality in general is a significant issue, but one which I feel more and more people are engaging in.

Music:

Music has always been such a strong driving force behind change – take the underground feminist Riot Grrrl movement which started in the ’90s as an example. It had a huge impact on the music scene and it’s amazing to see all the groups popping up now in the music industry focused on putting women first. There’s a real GRL PWR revolution!  Here at Get In Her Ears we want to celebrate the positive progression that we have all made but ensure we are focusing on and challenging what still needs to  change.

Awareness:

We’re here to celebrate diversity.  We’re here to raise awareness of gender issues.  We’re here to support and promote equality in music.  We’re here to empower each other.  As individuals we are loud but together we are louder so in the words of X-Ray Spex – “some people think little girls should be seen and not heard.  But I think ‘Oh bondage, up yours!’”

Mari Lane – Managing Editor 

Some of my favourite bands are cis white men in rock and have provided plenty of special memories. I’ve cried from joy the thirteen times I’ve seen Foo Fighters live, danced into the early hours to Arctic Monkeys on many a night out, and spent my childhood singing along to the Stones and The Beatles. But there’s so much more to music than just those guys, and – with the industry’s ongoing ingrained sexism and underrepresentation of women/non-binary artists – I didn’t feel the world needed another blog dedicated to promoting these kinds of bands. So, following over two years of the Get In Her Ears radio show on Hoxton Radio, and nearly a year of running gigs at The Finsbury, we wanted to start this site to continue our promotion of new music from all genders and genres, with a focus on supporting women in the industry.

Inspiration:

Kathleen Hanna is my biggest hero. Riot Grrrl pioneer and founder of Bikini Kill, Le Tigre and The Julie Ruin, she never fails to inspire and motivate. And, as someone else living with a chronic illness, she has got me through many a tough time; her music, wisdom and determination being a constant source of strength.

Take Miss Eaves, for example, with her championing of body positivity and sexual expression, or ‘Feminist Punk Witches’ Dream Nails with their Riot Grrrl ethos and empowering anthems; just a few of the women in the arts who have been inspiring me of late.

I’ve recently had my breath taken away by the poignant social commentary and stirring emotion of Kate Tempest live, danced the night away in pure joy to JD Samson’s DJ set, and continue to learn from the immense spellbinding beauty of Julie Hawk’s voice and her prominence in Ireland’s Repeal The 8th movement.

I could be here forever listing the women who inspire me… So, it made sense to start a blog to write about them all on a daily basis!

U.N.I.T.Y:

In the words of Queen Latifah…

Getting to know Tash and Kate, and enjoying all our ventures together over the last few years, has made me feel more a part of something than ever before. Feeling a unity with two such wonderful, and like-minded humans, has been a constant source of comfort and motivation. And, along with the support, love and artistic skill of my partner in everything and own Riot Boi, Paul, it’s all been a pretty exciting journey. So, onwards with this new chapter we’re all starting together!

MUSIC. MUSIC. MUSIC.

How would we survive without music? Coming across new and exciting bands and artists is our favourite thing to do here at Get In Her Ears. Our main aim is to promote as much amazing music as possible; spread the word about the new, and occasionally reminisce about the influence of the old.

 

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