Track Of The Day: Hadda Be – ‘Another Life’

This was the song I needed to hear on a rainy January afternoon in lockdown. As it blasts through my speakers, Hadda Be‘s ‘Another Life’ has a riotous, live energy that takes me back to sweaty basement bars and the buzz of watching a great band play with the people I love. It’s exciting and it’s hopeful.

The song’s melancholic lyrics (“it covers me in worry, now that’s all I ever know”) are buoyed by jangly guitars, frenetic drums and a joyful, shout-a-long chorus. Marrying indie power-pop with a real post punk sensibility, ‘Another Life’ reminds me both of the Primitives, and that I need to go and have a dance as soon as humanly possible.

Formally known as Foundlings, this (rather-appropriately named) single marks a fresh start for Hadda Be, who return with a refreshed line-up, as well as a new name. With their debut album due in spring, it feels like they’re a band at the height of their powers – and I can’t wait to hear more.

 

Hadda Be’s debut album will be available on three flavours of vinyl, CD and download via Last Night From Glasgow on 30th April. 

Vic Conway 

Photo Credit: Luthiem Escalona

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

Five Favourites: Nervous Twitch

Having previously wowed us with their uptempo colourful energy live at The Finsbury, and following the joyous, uplifting punk-pop of last year’s ‘Tongue Tied’, Leeds trio Nervous Twitch have just released their eponymous fourth album, out now via Reckless Yes.

We think one of the best ways to get to know a band is by asking what music inspires them or influences their writing. So, we caught up with Erin from Nervous Twitch to discuss the five songs that have made the biggest mark on her. Check out her choices below, and watch the video for latest single ‘Alright Lads’ at the end of this article.

The Vaselines – ‘Monsterpussy’
The Vaselines do the finest scuzzy pop songs. I had ‘The Way of the Vaselines’ on repeat for a large proportion of the writing for our latest album, so I think that it’s woven into the sound of the album.

Josie Cotton – ‘He Could Be the One’
I feel like I was really late to discover Josie Cotton, considering how much of an obsessive I’ve become, but hey, it’s always good discovering a new to you band with a full back catalogue of hits! She’s got bags of style, the best kind of high-end pop voice (I really wish I had!), and writes some fantastic hits. The stabbing electronic organ intro to this song is great and it has an ace running bass line (I really should learn that!). I love power-pop, and how it lies somewhere in-between bubble-gum pop, rock and roll, punk and new wave; all the best genres in one!

Helen Love – ‘2000MPHGIRL’
I think in this day and age it’s really difficult to be completely original, but that’s something Helen Love surpasses. Her songs do have a sound that echoes the time of their release, but they always sound fresh every time I give them a spin. On paper the mix of styles sound like they shouldn’t go well together, but every track has a great balance of uniqueness whilst remaining a completely excellent pop song. I really could have picked any Helen Love song – they’re all so infectious!

Supercharger – ‘It’s Alright’
1990s garage punk is one of my favourite genres of music. Energetic raw and ready sound with a good dose of rock and roll. Karen’s primitive drumming style with the in-the-red guitars gives Supercharger a great sound. The perfect antidote to the autotuned world we live in today.

Southern Culture on the Skids – ‘Just How Lonely’
This is such a beautiful song. I learnt it over the summer, mainly because the guitar chords were easy to play (ha ha!), but it’s got so much heart and Mary really has a great voice for it. Musically, I think I’m more influenced by how they (Southern Culture on the Skids) craft their songs over the style of music they make, but I always admire how well they manage to present an overflowing mixed bag of influences from punk to bluegrass, and everything is done with such style, ease, and finesse. I was lucky enough to catch them live in Spain a few years back and they were hands down one of the best bands I’ve ever seen.

Thanks so much to Erin from Nervous Twitch for sharing her Five Favourites with us! Watch the new video for latest single ‘Alright Lads’ here:

Nervous Twitch, the new album, is out now on Reckless Yes. Order on vinyl, CD or digital via bandcamp now.

Photo Credit: Roz Doherty

mariangelicalane1 Comment

#ThrowbackThursday: GIHE first radio show! (04/02/15)

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown in the UK, we’re unable to make it into the Hoxton Radio studio to broadcast our weekly live new music show from 7-9pm. Instead, we’re sharing previous GIHE radio show recordings as #ThrowbackThursday sessions, so you can still enjoy two hours of new music tunes & chats with some of our favourite artists each week.

As we’re celebrating our sixth anniversary of being on air this week, we’ve chosen to share our first ever radio show! Originally broadcast on the 4th February 2015, this show marked the first time Mari & Tash were live in the studio together (Kate would join them a year later). Originally branded as The Gigslutz Girls as Mari was their New Music Editor at the time, the pair were joined by Caitlin aka “the face of Gigslutz TV” for a Valentine’s special. They picked some of their top love songs and some not-so-loving songs alongside tracks from their favourite artists.

Thanks to everyone who’s supported the Get In Her Ears team since 2015. We’ve grown from a monthly radio show into a multi-platform organisation dedicated to sharing and celebrating the music of women, LGBTQ+ and non-binary artists. Here’s to another six years of that!

Listen back here:

Tracklist
Queen Of Japan – I Was Made For Lovin’ You
X-Ray Spex – Oh Bondage, Up Yours!
Blondie – One Way Or Another
Alvvays – Marry Me
Letters To Cleo – I Want You To Want Me
FKA Twigs – Two Weeks
The Distillers – The City Of Angels
Grace Jones – Pull Up To The Bumper
Lizzo ft. Sophia Eris – Batches & Cookies
Brandy – I Wanna Be Down
Bikini Kill – Rebel Girl
Carole King – (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
PINS – Waiting For The End
Tweet ft. Missy Elliott – Oops (Oh My)
Kate Bush – Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye cover)
Kill J – You Have Another Love
Imogen Heap – Hide And Seek
Sleater-Kinney – Buy Her Candy
Prince – Forever In My Life
Patti Smith – Because The Night
Beyoncé – All The Single Ladies (remix)
Salt ‘N’ Pepa – Whatta a Man
Jocelyn Brown – Somebody Else’s Guy
The Selecter – Missing Words
The Slits – Typical Girls

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Madame So – ‘Real Friends’

An off-kilter reflection on how friendships change and develop over the course of time, Madame So has shared her latest single ‘Real Friends’. Following on from previous releases ‘Generation Y’, ‘You Say’ and ‘Who Are We To Judge?’ this new offering sees the Paris-born, London-based songwriter tackle the ever-evolving ways we prioritise and reassess our existing relationships.

“This song is about how some friendships can be very superficial, and how some people can be very fickle in their interactions with others and use them to pass-time and/or as playground companions,” Madame So explains. Full of her distinctive vocals, energetic rhythms and eccentric riffs, Madame So reaches the mature realisation that there’s “no U-turn on good memories” once a friendship has reached its expiry date, and that it’s better to move on alone than to drag it out any longer.

Whilst the song deals with a weighty subject, Madame So approaches it with her trademark fun and fierce style, moving past her troubles in a defiant and articulate manner. ‘Real Friends’ comes at a time when we’re all reconsidering the most important parts of our friendships, and it’s a slick observation on how we progress past the obstacles that affect them.

The single is accompanied by a colourful lyric video created by Tomas Santos that you can watch below.

Follow Madame So on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment