NEW TRACK: Problem Patterns – ‘Who Do We Not Save?’

The first piece of new music since their visceral 2022 anthem ‘Y.A.W‘ (Yes All Women), Belfast-based DIY punks Problem Patterns have shared their latest single ‘Who Do We Not Save?’. Released via Alcopop! Records who the band have recently signed to, the track takes aim at the incompetent Tory government and their continued attempts to privatise the NHS, and it’s bursting with the group’s trademark empathy, rage and wit.

Giving their listeners a space to release their pent up frustrations, fears and disappointments is a core value of Problem Patterns’ music, and with ‘Who Do We Not Save?’ the band have provided another cathartic aural antidote that offsets the anxiety of the uncertain times we’re currently living through. “You and I are collateral damage” vocalist Alanah Smith states in the chant-worthy chorus, over Bethany Crooks’ commanding beats, the rumbling basslines of Ciara King and the corrosive riffs of guitarist Beverley Boal, who also sings dual vocals on the track.

“Our healthcare system has been falling apart for years due to cuts, and the pandemic only sped up the process,” the band comment about the context of their new single. “We constantly see campaigns telling people to ask for help, especially in regards to mental health, but the reality is that the services we need are under too much pressure. The line ‘We’re one or two paychecks away’ refers to the fact that many of us will be in a lot of trouble if privatisation becomes reality here. The title itself is lifted verbatim from Dominic Cumming’s photo of the white board used to plan the UK government’s early response to COVID. We thought it would be fitting to use it for the single’s cover art, too.”

‘Who Do We Not Save?’ is also accompanied by a video, directed by Smith and shot on location at the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast. “I wanted the video to capture the chaotic energy of the song,” comments Smith. “I pictured the storyline as soon as we’d finished the song. In the first half, you have stressed out healthcare workers trying to save a life without the tools to be able to do so. Meanwhile, there’s a shady business deal to sell off what little is left of public healthcare, big menacing grins and all. I wanted to approach this with a bit of comedy, because if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.”

“I made the medical supplies and instruments (except the toy drums) with things like cardboard and yarn, as I wanted everything to look extremely cheap and ultimately useless. The death scene in the ambulance was inspired by the film ‘Dave Made A Maze’, where they used things like confetti and glitter in place of standard fake blood.”

Recently name-checked as Riot Grrrl legend Kathleen Hanna’s new favourite group (and as GIHE favourites since the release of their 2020 single ‘Big Shouty‘), we can’t wait for Problem Patterns to release their highly anticipated debut album on Alcopop! Records later this year.

Watch the video for ‘Who Do We Not Save?’ below.

Follow Problem Patterns on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Problem Patterns UK Live Dates 2023
15.03.23 – The Black Box, Belfast (Pink Pound)
17.03.23 – The Garage, London (w/ Fight Like Apes)
07.04.23 – Oh Yeah Music Centre, Belfast (Friday Fest w/ Axis Of, Mob Wife)
30.04.23 – Bollox, Manchester (Sound Of The Other City Festival)
15.07.23 – Ost Hafen, Berlin (My People Fest w/ FAIM, Dying For It)
22.07.23 – EBGBs, Liverpool (Crapfest w/ Crapsons, Piss Kitti)
19.08.23 – Glasgow (Core Festival)

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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VIDEO PREMIERE: Problem Patterns – ‘Y.A.W’

**Content Warning: mention of misogyny & violence towards women**

A powerful, necessary anthem for women and girls who have spoken out against violent misogyny only to be told they’re “just a bitch who can’t take a joke,” Belfast punks Problem Patterns have shared a video for their poignant new single ‘Y.A.W’, which we’re premiering exclusively on Get In Her Ears.

Recorded at Start Together Studios with the support of the ‘Scratch’ development programme at the Oh Yeah Music Centre, the track is a visceral rumination on the universal rage and despair that permeates our consciousness in the wake of public violence towards women, in particular, the misogynist killings of Sarah Everard and Aisling Murphy.

Their first official single since their 2020 release ‘Big Shouty‘, Problem Patterns’ ‘Y.A.W’ seethes with a righteous fury, underscored by Ciara’s King’s buzzing basslines, Beverley Boal’s striking guitar riffs, Bethany Crooks’ thudding beats and Alanah Smith’s crystalline vocals. An acronym for ‘Yes All Women’ – antagonising the social media excuse ‘Not All Men’ – on ‘Y.A.W’ Alanah steps forward on vocal duties, demanding “Who do we call for help / When the help seems like a threat to me?” as her bandmates unleash a cathartic cacophony of relentless, rage-fulled sound around her.

“We’re trying to help people get through certain situations, or speak to situations that people are having at this moment. It’s hard to hold things back,” guitarist Beverley explains about the purpose of Problem Patterns’ music and the context of ‘Y.A.W’. This desire to antagonise, expose and shift the narratives around women’s safety is something the band have believed in from day one, and something which their collective hero, Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna, encouraged them to keep shouting about. “She’s been part of relighting the fire,” continues Ciara, “and the trust and confidence we have in ourselves as a band.”

Officially released tomorrow (16th March), 100% of the profits from the Bandcamp sales of ‘Y.A.W’ will be split between Cara-Friend and Women’s Aid Northern Ireland. The track is accompanied by a striking performance video, shot and directed by Brendan Seamus with art direction from Billy Woods. It captures the raw, frenzied energy of a Problem Patterns’ gig, something GIHE followers will relate to after their debut London performance with GIHE at The Shacklewell Arms back in December 2021.

Together, Problem Patterns use their collective talents to create riotous feminist punk anthems that provide comfort and catharsis in equal measure, with this latest single being a powerhouse example of both. Watch the video for ‘Y.A.W’ below.

Follow Problem Patterns on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Problem Patterns Upcoming Tour Dates 2022
06.04.2022 – Bob Vylan & Problem Patterns Tour (Cork, Cyprus Avenue)
07.04.2022 – Bob Vylan & Problem Patterns Tour (Galway, The Loft)
08.04.2022 – Bob Vylan & Problem Patterns Tour (Belfast, Deer’s Head)
09.04.2022 – Bob Vylan & Problem Patterns Tour (Limerick, Kasbah)
10.04.2022 – Bob Vylan & Problem Patterns Tour (Dublin, The Grand Social)
12.06.2022 – Supporting Bikini Kill (O2 Academy, Glasgow)

Photo Credit: Carrie Davenport

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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PLAYLIST: May 2021

The GIHE team have unearthed some more new music gems for you to listen to on our May Playlist! There’s an eclectic mix of indie tunes, dark-pop gems, electronic bangers and gritty guitar tracks. 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.

Solidarity Not Silence – ‘This Is Sisterhood’
With members of The Tuts, Petrol Girls, Personal Best and Colour Me Wednesday collaborating, as well as a snippet of the legendary Kathleen Hanna speaking about the cause, ‘This Is Sisterhood’ sees members of the DIY feminist music community come together to raise funds for the legal costs of a group of women who are fighting a defamation claim made against them. A truly impassioned and empowering creation, ‘This Is Sisterhood’ is a totally necessary call to arms; a plea to unite in solidarity against the patriarchal norms seeking to hold us down. Find out more about the cause and how to donate here.
(Mari Lane)

LOUD WOMEN – ‘Reclaim These Streets’
LOUD WOMEN’s ‘Reclaim These Streets’ is an uncompromising feminist anthem that centers women’s experiences of harassment and fears for their safety in public spheres. The idea for the collaborative charity single was sparked by the conversations around the deaths of Blessing Olusegun and Sarah Everard, which prompted LOUD WOMEN’s founder Cassie Fox to invite a collective of female and non-binary musicians to rage alongside her on this vital musical statement. The track features over 60 female voices from the independent & alternative UK music scenes and all proceeds from the track will be donated to UK charity Women’s Aid.
(Kate Crudgington)

Deep Tan – ‘Hollow Scene’
Following their uplifting last single ‘camelot’, Hackney-based trio deep tan have now shared another stirring taste of what’s to come from their upcoming debut EP. Propelled by glitchy beats and twinkling hooks, ‘hollow scene’ captivates the ears with the vocals’ compelling seductive allure. (ML)

Krush Puppies – ‘Slay The Dragon’
Establishing themselves on the London scene for a few years now, Krush Puppies’ latest offering comes in the form of the medieval-inspired ‘Slay The Dragon’. A poignant reflection about “transcending the monsters we’ve all had to endure”, the track builds with a gritty, swirling energy and a raw, haunting majesty reminiscent of fellow London post-punkers Goat Girl. (ML)

CIRCE – ‘Going Down’
I’ve been obsessed with London-based, dark-pop sensation Circe since the release of her debut EP, She’s Made Of Saints, last year. This new offering is all about celebrating female sexuality and embracing the head-rush that comes with a new romantic infatuation. (KC)

Girl Ray – ‘Give Me Your Love’
The new single from total faves Girl Ray, ‘Give Me Your Love’ is filled with funk-fuelled beats and swirling synths, alongside the distinctive soothing allure of Poppy’s vocals. Produced and mixed by Joe Goddard and Al Doyle from Hot Chip, the track offers a more electro-driven sound than previous releases, whilst maintaining the band’s knack for creating lilting sonic delights, fizzing with plenty of vibrant, uplifting vibes and even some twinkling steel pans. Watch the new video for ‘Give Me Your Love’ here. (ML)

Ladyhawke – ‘Mixed Emotions’
This fab new single is taken from Ladyhawke’s upcoming album Time Flies, which is set for release on 8th October. It’s a buoyant exploration of the turbulent feelings you can experience with one person, sometimes over the course of a single day. (KC)

Mumble Tide – ‘Sucker’
Formed of Gina Leonard and Ryan Rogers, Bristol-based Mumble Tide originally met through a Gumtree ad and everything they create is entirely self-produced, including their own videos and artwork, proving that all you need is good company and a comfortable atmosphere to make meaningful art. (KC)

Talking Violet – ‘Superego’
The latest single from Ontario band Talking Violet, ‘Superego’ captivates the ears with its shimmering, shoegaze-inspired allure. Tackling unhealthy friendships, it flows with a brooding splendour as reverb-strewn riffs sizzle alongside dreamy harmonies, building to a perfectly scuzzy, angst-driven climax. (ML)

CIEL – ‘Never Alone’
I love this new offering from Brighton dream-pop trio CIEL. Front-woman Michelle Hindriks penned the song about her own feelings of anxiety and isolation, which will strike a chord with many of us in this post-lockdown world. (KC)

MAITA – ‘Dumb’ (Nirvana Cover)
One of my favourite Nirvana songs covered by Oregan based MAITA, fronted by Maria-Maita Keppeler. This is the second cover track the band have shared as part of iconic Riot Grrrl label Kill Rock Stars 30th anniversary celebrations. Maria said she wanted to cover ‘Dumb’ because she feels like Nirvana gave her “permission for unadulterated release” back in their heyday, and that’s what she wants listeners to embrace now. (KC)

PinkFiz – ‘Pleaser’
18 year old, Cambridgeshire artist PinkFiz penned ‘Pleaser’ after feeling the unwanted pressure of trying to satisfy someone else at the expense of her own self-esteem. This track is taken from her recent EP The World Of PinkFiz, which explores her experiences as a young, bisexual woman. (KC)

Fräulein – ‘Pretty People’
Having been winning us over since we first became pretty obsessed with last year’s single ‘Drag Behind’, South London based duo, Joni Samuels and Karsten van der Tol – aka Fräulein – have now shared their first single on Practise music, ‘Pretty People’. Reflecting on the shallow world of fashion, the track builds with a captivating dark energy and visceral, grunge-infused splendour. I cannot recommend these two strongly enough; I really think they have something wonderfully nostalgic, yet ultimately unique to offer. (ML)

Alice Hubble – ‘Power Play’
Described as “the closest thing (she’s) written to a protest song”, ‘Power Play’ is London artist Alice Hubble’s response to the #MeToo movement. Flowing with a euphoric, synth-driven energy and glitchy ‘80s-inspired musicality, it flows with Hubble’s majestic soaring vocals as the lyrics offer a poignant reflection on the disparities of sexism and gender-based violence. (ML)

SPELLLING – ‘Boys At School’
Taken from her upcoming album The Turning Wheel, set for release on 25th June via Sacred Bones, SPELLLING’s latest single sees her step back into her younger teenage self and explore feelings of angst, desire and disillusionment. I can’t wait to hear the album in full. (KC)

Janette King ft. DijahSB – ‘Cool Me Down’
The latest single from Canadian artist Janette King, ‘Cool Me Down’ flows with a funk-fuelled groove as rapper DijahSB’s gritty spoken-word lyricism complements King’s luscious, soulful vocals perfectly. What We Lost, the debut album from Janette King, is set for release 25th June via Hot Tramp Records. (ML)

Alex Loveless – ‘Idk U’
I’m a big fan of everything London-based artist Alex Loveless releases and this new super chill single is no exception. (KC)

Deap Vally ft. Jennie Vee – ‘I Like Crime’
Two names that need no introduction and a track that speaks for itself! I can’t wait to hear Deap Vally’s upcoming EP American Cockroach when it’s released on 18th June. (KC)

Tokky Horror – ‘Eden On Acid’
This banger is lifted from Liverpool-London trio Tokky Horror’s debut EP, I Found The Answers And Now I Want More, released via Alcopop! Records. It’s a wild blend of drum & bass beats, dance music rhythms and punk-infused energy and their whole EP gatecrashes multiple musical genres with pure anarchic flair. (KC)

Cherym – ‘Listening To My Head’
The new single from Derry trio Cherym, ‘Listening To My Head’ is inspired by the Netflix series Dirty John. A jangling slice of punk-pop, it’s propelled by driving beats and an uplifting, empowering energy, as swirling hooks accompany luscious angst-driven honey-sweet vocals. Oozing a wonderfully fuzzy sense of nostalgia as the tongue-in-cheek wit of the lyrical storytelling and a colourful charismatic musicality flows, ‘Listening To My Head’ is guaranteed to put a smile on your face, a clench in your fist and a spring in your step in the face of cheating men everywhere. (ML)

Fightmilk – ‘Hey Annabelle’
The latest single from faves Fightmilk, ‘Hey Annabelle’ is a perfectly scuzzy ode to an ex, oozing jangling melodies and the band’s trademark anthemic power-pop energy. Of the track the band explain: “Putting the ‘angry’ in ‘Shangri-La’s’, this is arguably our pettiest song. ‘Hey Annabelle!’ is about that very specific thing you do when you’ve split up with someone and part of moving on entails just very casually asking mutuals what they’re up to and, more importantly, whether they’re also miserable.” Contender, the new album from Fightmilk, is out now via Reckless Yes. (ML)

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Track Of The Day: Solidarity Not Silence – ‘This Is Sisterhood’

“Using my platform for the greater good. I stand in solidarity, this is sisterhood.“

This poignant refrain sums up all that the powerful new release from Solidarity Not Silence stands for. With members of The Tuts, Petrol Girls, Personal Best and Colour Me Wednesday collaborating, as well as a snippet of the legendary Kathleen Hanna speaking about the cause, ‘This Is Sisterhood’ sees members of the DIY feminist music community come together to raise funds for the legal costs of a group of women who are fighting a defamation claim made against them.

The Solidarity Not Silence movement was started to raise money for the legal cost for this group of women, after each of them spoke up about their accuser’s alleged abuse. A number of his former partners, as well as feminist musicians who spoke out in support, including Nadia Javed of The Tuts and Ren Aldridge of Petrol Girls, are facing a libel claim. Their case is immensely relevant in the aftermath of #MeToo and could affect legal precedent on how similar cases are treated by the law. 

And ‘This Is Sisterhood’ marks the perfect way to bring the case to people’s attention; as Nadia Javed explains: “… we’re musicians not lawyers. We can’t fight this case without the help of our lawyers, but what we can do, is use our skills and resources as musicians to tell our story, and build the momentum that we need to expand our fundraising campaign and keep covering our legal costs.”

A truly impassioned and empowering creation, ‘This Is Sisterhood’ is a totally necessary call to arms; a plea to unite in solidarity against the patriarchal norms seeking to hold us down. Starting with the glistening, honey-sweet vocals of Javed telling the story of Solidarity Not Silence, it builds with swirling riffs (courtesy of Katie from Personal Best) and a stirring energy to a rousing anthem.

As the poignant, spoken word from Ren (Petrol Girls) states some of the disturbing facts surrounding gender-based violence against the heartrending backdrop of a sweeping chorus of harmonic voices (all powerful voices from across the DIY punk community), we’re left to reflect on the track’s resonant sentiment – “When will the reputation of men stop being valued over our safety?”.

Propelled by an immense, stirring splendour, ‘This Is Sisterhood’ sends shivers down the spine with its emotion-filled sweeping power and urgent sentiment. An utterly necessary, and deeply cathartic, listen; a beautifully compelling way to bring attention to such a pressing issue, showcasing the true power of women and non-binary people coming together to unite and fight back against the powers that seek to control us.

Watch the emotive new video, created by Martyna Wisniewska and featuring footage of the community recording the track, for ‘This Is Sisterhood’ here:

Engineered by Simon Small and produced by Patrick James Pearson, ‘This Is Sisterhood’ is out now via Alcopop! Records.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Martyna Wisniewska

More information about Solidarity Not Silence and the defamation case:
The group of women has been fighting this case for over four years, and is desperately trying to fundraise enough money to maintain their legal representation. Since launching their crowdfunder – and again since identities were made public – they have received an extraordinary amount of support. It seems that their case resonates with many people who have had similar experiences of being silenced by someone with more power, fame or financial backing. 
However, they have now reached a crucial point in the case, where costs are escalating rapidly. Therefore, in an attempt to reach out beyond their usual networks they wrote and recorded this powerful single, which tells the compelling story of their legal battle, in 2019 and are now releasing it into the world. Their strategy in releasing the track is twofold: firstly they hope to raise money directly through digital downloads and merch sales, but ultimately the goal is to tell their story and get as much attention, and therefore donations, to their crowdfunder as possible. 

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