LISTEN: Sheherazaad – ‘Dhund Lo Mujhe’

Having fallen completely in love with American composer and vocalist Sheharazaad last year, with her spellbinding debut single ‘Mashoor‘ being one of my tracks of 2023, I’m so glad to hear that she’ll be releasing her full album, Qasr, next month. Having grown in up in San Francisco in a second generation immigrant household, the Brooklyn based artist focuses on themes of displacement and diaspora throughout the album, whilst fusing together influences from both Western classical music and her own South Asian sonic lineage through her exquisite interwoven soundscapes.

Our second taste of the album comes in the form of colourful new single ‘Dhund Lo Mujhe‘. Propelled by uptempo danceable melodies and sweeping strings, as Sheherazaad’s rich vocals soar throughout, it ripples with a glistening splendour. As stirring waves of sound intertwine with a somewhat buoyant energy, the track’s celebratory tone is at once juxtaposed with a disconcerting undercurrent. A swirling rich cacophony twinkling with a captivating allure, exuding a stark reminder to embrace our own unique joy in the face of damaging stereotypes. Of the track, Sheherazaad explains:

“For me, it brings up this circus of the insane, carnival of the unhappy… It suggests a very specific insanity, that of the immigrant experience. There is implied bloodshed, glamour, hallucination, and schizophrenia... This <song> is about delighting in our wickedness, especially as gender expansive people, where we’ve previously had little control over our sonic narrative in Hindi and Urdu music.”

Produced by Arooj Aftab, and featuring an array of talented international musicians such as Basma Edrees (Egypt), Gilbert Mansour (Lebanon) and Firas Zreik (Palestine), Qasr is set for release on 1st March via Erased Tapes. Pre-order here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Zayira Ray

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NEW TRACK: Vanessa Bedoret – ‘1/2’

An idiosyncratic soundscape that dismantles the binary opposites of selfishness and selflessness, London-based French experimental violinist and performer Vanessa Bedoret has shared her latest single ‘1/2’. Lifted from her upcoming debut album, Eyes, which is set for release on 8th March via Scenic Route, the track is a beguiling blend of shape-shifting string work, eclectic field recordings, echoing beats and soft vocals.

Inspired by the duality of those who are selfless and those who are self-centered, Vanessa seeks to find harmony between these two states on ‘1/2’. Her instinctive ear for emotive instrumentation is something that suffuses her upcoming debut full length record, Eyes. Using her distinctive strings as a foundation, she urges listeners to reflect on their own emotions and experiences throughout the record, with her considered sounds facilitating this process.

Vanessa’s journey with music started in her early years. Her classical music training began at age 6, but by the time she was in her late teens, she was playing guitar in punk bands. From black metal to opera, and eurodance to IDM, Vanessa is inspired by a myriad of genres, all of which have elevated her understanding and intensified her experimentation with music as a solo artist.

Having recently played at Cafe Oto in East London supporting Mark William Lewis, Vanessa is now preparing to play as part of a string trio supporting ML Buch and Astrid Sonne on the 27th and 28th February (tickets here). She will also be playing a solo set at Loki in Brixton supporting Voice Actor on 7th March (tickets here)

Listen to ‘1/2’ below.

 

Pre-order Vanessa Bedoret’s debut album, Eyes, here

Follow Vanessa Bedoret on bandcamp, Spotify, Soundcloud & Instagram

Photo Credit: Buster Grey

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Loose Articles – ‘I’d Rather Have A Beer’

Following acclaim from the likes of Craig Charles on BBC 6Music and John Kennedy at Radio X for last year’s EP Chaos, and set to share the stage with Foo Fighters this summer, Manchester band Loose Articles have now announced the release of their debut album later this year.

Our first taste of the album, ‘I’d Rather Have A Beer‘, roars into existence with fuzzy guitar riffs and a bouncy, upbeat rhythm that is instantly catchy. 

The lyrics, delivered in an amazingly dry Mancunian accent, begin reflectively. The opening lines reminisce about the diets and parties of youth, narrowing in on the way teenage girls shape their lives and themselves with the primary aim of impressing boys who wouldn’t make the same effort back. The high energy beat and sense of humour in the vocals give a clear impression that these memories are invoked with some fondness, but nonetheless that they are best left in the past.

The music drops away for the chorus to really drive home the key message of the track: “Now that my thoughts are clear / Instead of you / I’d rather have a beer”. It directly addresses every unsatisfying hook-up from their past and makes it clear that whatever influence they used to have is long gone. Their opinion doesn’t matter, they’re not getting what they want, they are being left behind with the other regrets.

The song as a whole is a warning – about relationships that aren’t going anywhere and people who won’t make the same effort for you that they expect from you. It’s about investing your time and energy into something that has no chance of ever paying off. A reminder to stick with the people who love you and have your back, and to cast aside the time-wasters in favour of a nice drink. It recognises the lingering impact of early connections with the line “high school foolishness affects you when you’re older”, but reminds you that you’re not alone.

There is a real feeling of solidarity about the song. You can feel a bond forming with the band over the shared experience of frustration and the hard lessons you learned from the naive decisions you made in your youth. The joy of the racing musicality invites you to laugh about those embarrassing moments from before you knew better, knowing that you make better choices now.

A perfect, post-punk ode to prioritising your own self worth, having fun with with your pals (over a nice pint) and moving on with your life. Watch the wonderfully chaotic new video here:

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

Photo Credit: Sinead Ferguson

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NEW TRACK: Lilith Ai ft. Kimya Dawson – ‘Fawn’

A raw, poetic reflection on the complex emotions that come with painful realisations, London-based indie-rock artist Lilith Ai has shared her latest single, ‘Fawn’. Taken from her upcoming album, Serial Killers Prefer Blondes, which is set for release on 13th September via Cruisin Records, the track is an affecting blend of confessional lyrics, atmospheric guitars and rousing beats.

From it’s melancholic opening lyric “I don’t trust anyone / not even myself” through to its cathartic motif of “we’re gonna be alright”, with the aid of fellow musician Kimya Dawson, Lilith bravely dismantles her thoughts on what it means to be crushed by the actions of others. “This track is about realising I may be too damaged to date because everyone I like is toxic,” she comments, but despite this painful context, ‘Fawn’ is a touching and cathartic anthem that bravely highlights that “pain is a consequence of hope”, even when it feels like the opposite.

The last time Get In Her Ears caught up with Lilith Ai, it was from her recording shed back in 2021. She had recently released her excellently titled album, Folk You Hard, and was preparing to play the fifth edition of Loud Women Festival (read the full interview here). Since then, she’s been busy working on new music, with her upcoming full length record, Serial Killers Prefer Blondes, being the byproduct of lots of introspection, reflection and ultimately, trying to move on from painful memories of the past.

Listen to ‘Fawn’ below.

Pre-order Lilith Ai’s new album, Serial Killers Prefer Blondes, here

Follow Lilith Ai on bandcamp, Spotify, X, Facebook & Instagram

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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