VIDEO PREMIERE: Dear Pariah – ‘Not Ready’

Tinged with melancholy, but ultimately a hopeful tune about emerging from the shadow of a truly testing time, Dear Pariah has shared a beautiful animation to accompany her single ‘Not Ready’. Created by her good friends Ksenia & Alex at WMAF Productions, the visuals personify the mental health struggles Dear Pariah (aka Charlie Hinchcliff) faced during the unsettling days before she was diagnosed with a long term health condition called Sarcoidosis.

“I found myself writing ‘Not Ready’ when I was waiting to find out whether I had Lymphoma or a rare disease called Sarcoidosis,” Hinchcliff explains. “After the biopsy, I had this eerie space of 2 weeks waiting for the results that would change my life, either way. I was filled with fear of what could be whilst also reflecting on the past few years wondering how I’d ended up here. I was only 27, how was this possible?”

She embraced these fearful moments and wrote some of her most honest lyrics to date on her recent EP, Live at Thais. ‘Not Ready’ is a journey through her changing emotional state, gently acknowledging the guilt, regrets and intense distress that comes with facing death at such a young age. This fear is symbolised by the blue bear in the track’s accompanying video.

“When Ksenia came to me with the bear storyline, I knew she got it,” Hinchcliff continues. “It was an amazing moment of feeling seen and understood deeply. Seeing her and Alex turn my most vulnerable song into something so beautiful has been incredibly moving and healing for me. There’s a whole lot of life out there and I’m so grateful to be around to finally enjoy it.”

Watch the video for ‘Not Ready’ below and follow Dear Pariah on bandcamp, Spotify & Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Middle Kids – ‘R U 4 ME?’

Like a wash of fulfillment that brushes your cheeks as you run through a field of wildflowers, Middle Kids’ ‘R U 4 Me?’ is an instant holiday. With a nostalgic groove that breathes with a contemporary sigh, Middle Kids have chiseled out a mastery of a sound for themselves that covers so much ground.

Vocalist Hannah Joy enthrals swirling emotions with her warm melodies and pondering lyrics that discuss the ways in which we talk to one another. Tone is everything, and ‘R U 4 Me?’ embodies the ease that we should grant each other through the comfort of their harmonious mix.

Perky acoustic guitar and samples of candid laughter sprinkle the indie-pop anthem with personal moments and shed a light on the chemistry between the band members. It is evident that this trio know how to play off of each other in the best way, without even thinking about it for a moment. Earnestness is the backbone of Middle Kids’ character and it shows. ‘R U 4 Me?’ is a communal experience and something that should be held so close at this time. Middle Kids are undeniably the escape the world deserves right now.

‘R U 4 Me?’ is out now via Lucky Number Records. Listen on Spotify.

Jillian Goyeau
@jillybxxn

Photo Credit: Daphne Nguyen

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LISTEN: Sydney Sprague – ‘i refuse to die’

A stirring piece of guitar-pop that encourages listeners to try their best against the odds, songwriter Sydney Sprague has shared her latest single ‘i refuse to die’. Released via Rude Records who Sprague has recently signed to, the track is a fiery ode to persevering with what you love, even when the world is getting you down.

“This song is a desperate wish for good luck,” explains Sprague. “Looking around at the world [today] it feels like it didn’t work.” Despite the unfortunate timing of the release, ‘i refuse to die’ is still a catchy track that urges listeners to resist the forces of negativity. Brimming with the 90s guitar pop vibes that Sprague loves, her blend of modest yet confidence-boosting lyrics – “I can do that thing I said I’d never / I think it’s time to try” – gracefully compliment her melodies.

“I’m so grateful that I get to continue to do what I love thanks to Rude Records,” comments Sprague about her recent signing. “To have the support of this team, especially during this odd time, is a literal dream come true. I can’t wait to show you what we’ve got planned.” Listen to ‘i refuse to die’ below and follow Sydney Sprague on Spotify, Instagram & Twitter for more updates.

Photo Credit: Natasha Wilson

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Serena Isioma – ‘King’

An intoxicating blend of smooth vocals and jangly guitars, Chicago-based musician Serena Isioma has shared their latest single ‘King’. Full of seductive beats and brooding bass lines, the track is a shimmering reflection on the problematic friendships 20-year old Isioma has found themselves in.

“’King’ is about remembering your worth,” the songwriter explains. “I used to have a lot of rich friends. I would do anything to please them so they would let me live their lifestyles. After cutting those friends off then going through a period of isolation, I saw history repeating itself when I got in a new entanglement.” Isioma unravels these ties through catchy melodies and empowering lyrics.

‘King’ is accompanied by a beautiful set of visuals, directed by Michael Del Rosario. “I’m sick of seeing white cisgender people dominate the alternative world simply because there is nothing alternative about that,” Isioma explains. “I’m so happy that I was able to showcase black femmes as the stars of the ‘King’ music video. Black femmes deserve the world.”

Watch the video for ‘King’ below and keep your eyes peeled for Isioma’s new EP The Leo Sun Sets, set for release later this year.

Follow Serena Isioma on Spotify & Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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