WATCH: New Pagans – ‘Yellow Room’

Following on from the release of their single ‘Yellow Room‘ in August, Belfast’s New Pagans have shared a captivating set of visuals to accompany their racing, urgent track. Directed by bassist Claire Miskimmin, the video reflects the often overwhelming feelings of darkness that women face in patriarchal society.

Inspired by the semi-autobiographical short-story The Yellow Wallpaper, which was written by American feminist author Charlotte Perkins Gilman, New Pagans originally penned the track to highlight the need for a specialised parent-and-baby mental health unit in Northern Ireland. “’Yellow Room’ is the fourth instalment in a series of self-made folk horror themed short films produced to accompany our music,” explains vocalist Lyndsey McDougall. “Set in the stunning local surroundings of Northern Ireland, we tried to evoke a sense of dread and isolation in the expanse of nature. In stifling a woman’s mind we take away her liberty, as in the novel the song is based on. It’s about the facade and the masks we wear, but break the surface and we find our protagonist’s strength. She cuts herself free and is set adrift.”

Watch the video for ‘Yellow Room’ below and follow New Pagans on bandcamp, Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

VIDEO PREMIERE: Magick Mountain – ‘Infinity X2’

A colourful, trippy set of visuals that compliment the cacophony of sounds they accompany, Leeds-based trio Magick Mountain have shared a video for their latest single ‘Infinity X2’. Lifted from their debut album Weird Feelings, which is set for release on 23rd October, the track is “a psychedelic punk love song” filled with fuzzed up riffs and frenzied percussion.

Formed of Lins Wilson (Grammatics & Mother Vulpine), Tom Hudson (Pulled Apart By Horses) and Nestor Matthews (Sky Larkin, Menace Beach), Magick Mountain craft energetic, psych-infused, frantic guitar tunes that explore everything from fantastical worlds to ancient mythology and mystical metaphors. On ‘Infinity X2′ the band hurtle into the idea of two lovers’ worlds colliding and merging into one.

The accompanying video is a collaboration between the band and analogue “VFX wizard” Josh Brownrigg. Of the footage, Wilson explains: “It was self-filmed in our practise space, which involved metres of gaffa-hung green fabric, make-shift tripods, a last minute lighting ‘rig’ and a state of the art spinning cam courtesy of a 1980s record player and phone holder. After Magick Mountain bassist/artman Tom Hudson edited the footage, we handed over the reins to Josh to work his glitchy visual sorcery, using analogue video synthesisers to experiment with tripped-out trails and create the mega fuzzed-up aesthetic. With its blues, deep purples, corals and pinks complimenting Tom’s cover artwork for the single, the video becomes part of the overall visual and sonic onslaught brought to you by Magick Mountain.”

Check out the video for ‘Infinity X2’ below and follow Magick Mountain on bandcamp, Facebook and Spotify for more updates.

Photo Credit: Magick Mountain

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

WATCH: Jessica Winter – ‘Sad Music’

Born from the desire to create an unusual video with hardly any budget, Jessica Winter has shared an edgy set of visuals for her single ‘Sad Music’. Lifted from her debut EP of the same name which she released via Roya earlier this year, the track is an electro-pop gem inspired by the need to relieve heartbreak through the medium of music.

Winter produces her music from her bedroom studio in Brixton, effortlessly blending various elements of electronica, pop, R&B and industrial music to create her intensely dance-able sounds. ‘Sad Music’ is a perfect example of this, and the accompanying video directed by Nan Moore catches both the light and the dark explored in her music.

Speaking about the new visuals, Winter explains: “Nan and I started it with zero budget, so we sweet talked our way into Specsavers and took a National Express down to Portsmouth beach to film the initial scenes. A year went past and we hustled, we toured together and eventually convinced someone to give us the cash to finish it off. The only reason we got into Spescavers was because I was there so often with a health condition called blepharitis, you treat it by using artificial tears. I think that reflects how as an artist, a woman putting out pop music, you always feel like there’s an element of being performative. ‘Sad Music’ is performative, it’s getting through heartbreak with a song and a dance.”

As well as her Sad Music EP, Winters has released the Chambermix edition, with stripped back versions of each song that focus on her vocals and piano. With a talent for both taking it down and cranking it up a notch, Winter has earned her Queen of sad bangers crown. Watch the video for ‘Sad Music’ below and follow Jessica Winter on bandcamp and Spotify for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: REWS – ‘Today We’re Warriors’

A defiant guitar tune designed to empower and motivate listeners into action, REWS have shared their latest single ‘Today We’re Warriors’. Lifted from the band’s upcoming second album Warriors, which is set for release on 7th August via Marshall Records, the track mixes heavy riffs and catchy melodies to help spark the fires of personal revolution.

REWS front-woman and founder Shauna Tohill has been busy during the covid-19 lockdown period performing online gigs, and promoting her “Femme Focus” Sunday sessions where she speaks to other female musicians about their work (watch ep. 3 with Jen from False Advertising here). Now, she’s gearing up for the release of her second album, and ‘Today We’re Warriors’ is another shining example of her tenacity and passion as a songwriter.

Speaking about the track, she explains: “The song exclaims exactly what the name suggests! Every morning we wake up, we have a choice in what kind of journey we will lead. There are dark days where our path is unclear and blocked (some more than others) and that’s when I want to encourage everyone to keep fighting forward, to gather together in the spirit of music with those who are good in your life, to support and respect each other! Today, we got this, we will get through this and we will keep moving forward to see a better, positive, thriving and equal future for all women, men, children from all races and backgrounds. Today, we’re warriors!”

The track is accompanied by two music videos, an official video that shows Shauna running through the wilderness, and a fan video directed by GIHE photographer Jon Mo. The fan video also features one of the GIHE grrrls (spoiler: it’s Kate).

Watch both videos below and follow REWS on Facebook and Spotify for more updates.

You can pre-order REWS’ new album Warriors here.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate Crudgington1 Comment