Get In Her Ears w/ Lucy O’Brien 05.11.20

Kate and Tash were back in the Hoxton Radio studio this week with a playlist full of tunes from women & non-binary artists. Tash caught up with author of She Bop Lucy O’Brien to talk about the 25th anniversary reissue of her book (which includes a mention of GIHE!) and her amazing experiences as a music journalist. You can order a copy of Lucy’s new book here.

Listen back:

Tracklist
Mazzy Star – Fade Into You
Scrounge – Etch
Technoir – II Male
Girlhood – It Might Take A Woman
Blonde Maze – Not All Flowers Bloom
CATBEAR – Girl Crush
Julia-Sophie – Breathe
Lido Pimienta – Eso Que Tu Haces
Seraphina Simone – O.M.D.
Amparo feat. AgesWild – Coral Eyes
Jessica Winter – Sad Music
Bitch Falcon – How Did I Know
Sister Ghost – Season Of The Witch
Cyndi Lauper – She Bop
**Interview with Lucy O’Brien**
Two Tribes – Cruel Sensuality
GRAMN. – Minimum
Tokky Horror – Sleeper
Screaming Toenail – Get Cute
Lizzy Laurance – Famous
Wallice – Punching Bag
Noga Erez – NO News On TV
Nina Simone – Ain’t Got No, I Got Life

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Track Of The Day: LIINES – ‘Sorry’

Having received acclaim from the likes of Sleaford Mods, John Kennedy and BBC 6Music’s Steve Lamacq, as well as blowing us away headlining for us at The Finsbury, Manchester trio LIINES consistently impress with their distinctive, raw post-punk. And latest single ‘Sorry’ is no exception.

Oozing the band’s trademark dark, brooding power, ‘Sorry’ builds with deep, intense bass lines, the gritty, commanding growl of vocalist Zoe McVeigh and Leila O’Sullivan’s consistent pummelling beats. Propelled by a thrashing sense of urgency, an eerie swirling majesty encompasses the listener, captivating the ears with its punk-fuelled bewitching allure.

Of the track McVeigh explains:

“… it’s about whether somebody is present or absent, you’re trying to make someone feel sorry for you, but as the song speeds up it becomes a bit more of a manic notion and sort of bordering on obsessive. LIINES songs are more of a mental state than a specific event – they are an emotion, a feeling.”

 

Produced by Paul Tipler (Elastica, Placebo), ‘Sorry’ is out now (with B side ‘On and On’), with a limited number of black 7” vinyl editions available for direct mail order and through independent record shops, via Reckless Yes. Order via LIINES’ Bandcamp now. 

 

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Premiere: Jelena Ćirić – ‘Lines’

Set to release her debut EP later this month, Reykjavík based singer songwriter Jelena Ćirić has now shared the first single from the collection.

Reflecting on our preoccupation with finding the meaning of life, ‘Lines’ offers a captivating ethereal soundscape. With shades of the other-worldly allure of Regina Spektor, it flows with twinkling keys and the impassioned majestic splendour of Ćirić’s vocals, creating a musically rich, lyrically poignant slice of spellbinding alt-pop.

Listen to ‘Lines’, for the first time, here. And read a little interview with Jelena all about the track and her upcoming EP below!

 

Hi Jelena, can you tell us about your new single ‘Lines’?
‘Lines’ is a song about the fetish we humans have for answers to life’s big questions. Whether we admit it or not, we love the idea that a conversation with a fortune tell could reveal the purpose of our life or that we’ll meet a new lover and suddenly everything will fall into place. I don’t think that happens to most of us. Changing ourselves is gradual and hard and not very romantic.

And can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind the the song?
The song is set in Toronto, where I grew up. Like all cities it’s got many layers, and stepping into one of its neighbourhoods can feel like stepping into an alternate reality. It’s been a few years since I’ve lived there but it’s where I grew up and grappled with the sorts of questions that the song’s protagonist wonders about: who am I, what should I do with my life, who should I love?

You’re Serbian born, grown up in Canada, but have lived in Iceland for several years, how has living there influenced your songwriting?
The Icelandic music scene has been incredibly supportive and encouraging to be a part of. I studied classical singing – although it was a good foundation in many ways, it also instilled a scathing self-criticism in me that I had to unlearn. What I love about Icelandic artists is that when they have an idea, they just go for it. I’ve been learning to just act on ideas rather than criticize them to death before I begin.

And what can we expect from your upcoming debut EP?
I named the EP Shelter One because for me each of the songs is a little temporary haven that I built to process something I was going through. That’s what songwriting has always been for me – a way to explore questions I had about myself or the world or give myself a sort of solace that I couldn’t find elsewhere. Personally, I’m drawn to music that isn’t overly produced, and I’m really proud of the team behind this EP for bringing out the best in me without ironing out the authenticity of the songs. From Pétur Þór Benediktsson who recorded the vocals so beautifully and Snorri Hallgrímsson who recorded piano, to Margrét Arnardóttir (accordion) and Karl James Pestka (viola and violin) whose playing brings depth to the songs, Albert Finnbogason who produced it with such care and respect, and then Sarah Register’s mastering that polished it like a gem. It’s really important to me to acknowledge the people whose names you may not see when you check out a song on a streaming platform. This EP was a team effort and it was truly crafted with care at every step.

Huge thanks to Jelena for answering our questions!

‘Lines’ is out now, taken from Jelena Ćirić’s upcoming debut EP Shelter One, set for release 27th November via Icelandic label Paradís Sessions.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: CATBEAR – ‘Who Are You?’

A heady, retro-pop tune about the breath-taking nature of new found lust, London-based duo CATBEAR have shared their latest single ‘Who Are You?’. Full of lush synth sounds and snappy yet danceable beats, the track is an aural flirtation designed to provide a moment of joy during uncertain times.

“This was so much fun to write,” explains band member Zoe Konez. “I came up with the first half of the song on a train during my commute on one of the last days before [the first] lockdown and we developed it during those first few long weeks of quarantine where making music kept us going.” Along with bandmate Sarah Smith, Konez wrote, recorded and produced CATBEAR’s new music fromhome over the summer, an achievement that’s made even more impressive by the fact that Smith worked on the frontline in A&E for the NHS throughout the pandemic, and that Konez runs a music programme in a mental health hospital.

‘Who Are You?’ is a wonderfully upbeat escape from the pressures of the duo’s daily routine, brimming with that infectious and overwhelming feeling of attraction when you find your thoughts spiralling over a new crush. Listen to the new single below and follow CATBEAR on bandcamp, Facebook and Spotify for more updates.

 

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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