Track Of The Day: Boarder – ‘Strangers’

A riotous garage-rock tune inspired by the characters frontwoman Lucie Blair encountered while working behind a busy city-centre bar, Boarder have shared their latest single ‘Strangers’. Released via Amateur Pop Incorporated, the track probes at the way strangers often use bar staff as unofficial therapists after they’ve had a few too many, and how female staff are more prone to taking on this emotional labour.

“‘Strangers’ feels almost symbolic of the times we’re living in” explains Blair, even though the track was penned before the current covid-19 pandemic. “It’s a song I wrote while working in a bar on minimum wage & contemplating what it really means to be alive.” The Leicester-based band explore these contemplations via distorted riffs and crashing percussion, with Blair venting her frustrations through her sardonic vocals.

‘Strangers’ is the first track Boarder have produced by themselves, with the swaggering guitars and pounding drums reflecting the shifting moods of the drunken characters the song is based on. As Blair notes, it’s hard to feel “alive” or even nostalgic for this old way of life in 2020, when leaving the house “could mean the difference between life and death.” Let’s hope when things are genuinely safe again, bar staff won’t have to keep mopping up after customers who continuously spill their thoughts.

Listen to ‘Strangers’ below and follow Boarder on bandcamp, Spotify & Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Shyla Rose

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Omni Sound Project to host online conference Signal Gain

The Omni Sound Project exists to help marginalized genders in the music industry learn the skills they need to create, record, and produce music and sound. On Saturday, November 7th, they will be hosting an educational conference called Signal Gain, a full day event which will be held online. The teachers and presenters are all female-identifying and gender non-conforming individuals who share Omni’s mission to encourage inclusion of marginalized genders in the music and audio industries.

The event will be sponsored by Mix with the Masters, Goodhertz and PreSonus. You can register for Signal Gain here.

Below are a few distinctions & more info about Signal Gain.

  • The sessions are educational classes with a structured curriculum. Many online conferences feature interviews or demos by sponsors, but Omni’s conference emphasizes a focus on planned educational content.
  • All genders are invited. Omni believe that male-identifying allies benefit from being in educational spaces where they may be in the minority, and that their presence raises their awareness of their role in making all spaces more inclusive.
  • Omni’s presenters are chosen for their teaching experience, not necessarily because of name recognition. Many online conference feature panelists without prior teaching experience. Omni believe that a presenters’ ability to convey information effectively results in a valuable online conference.

Visit the Omni Sound Project website for more information.

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Video Premiere: Chloe Castro – ‘Used To Be’

Having spent her childhood years between Brazil, France and Wales, now County Durham based artist Chloe Castro has captured her journey so far within her latest single ‘Used To Be’.

In her brand new video, Chloe Castro gives a nostalgic nod to more carefree days, as we are invited to reflect on who she ‘Used To Be’ through the lens of a VHS recording. Castro’s determined vocals blend with the warm, cosy tones of the home recording as we are shown what it takes to be raw, honest and tender. A fiery blend of pop and trap, Chloe Castro demonstrates, over atmospheric beats, that strength can be found in vulnerability. ‘Used To Be’ keeps us in a state of excited anticipation for Castro’s debut EP Amid, due for release later this month.

Watch the brand new video for ‘Used To Be’ now, and read our interview with Chloe below:

Hi Chloe, welcome to Get in Her Ears! Can You tell us a bit about yourself?
Hey, thanks so much for having me! My name is Chloe Castro, I’m an R&B/Soul artist living up in the North East of England. I spent the first half of my life moving around a fair bit before ending up in a small town in County Durham where me and my co-writer and producer (who’s actually from London) make all of the music in his bedroom studio. 

When did you initially decide to start creating music?
I learned from quite a young age that I wanted to sing and make music my life. I didn’t know anything about what making music actually entailed, but I knew it was what I wanted to do ever since I can remember. It wasn’t until I was about sixteen or seventeen that I picked up a guitar and actually started writing songs. I’ve been writing lyrics and melodies since I was about twelve, but never knew what to do with them! 

Your new single ‘Used To Be’ is out now – can you tell us what it’s all about?
‘Used To Be’ is one of my faves from my upcoming EP. It’s a little bop I wrote a while back inspired by that point after a break-up where you kind of get your act together and realise your worth. 

You’ve previously mentioned that Amy Winehouse inspires your sound, who else would you say are your main musical influences?
Amy is certainly a huge influence of mine, I think more in terms of my vocal sound than my music as a whole though. Another major influence has got to be Frank Ocean, his music is just a whole other level – it takes you on a proper journey and always seems to have the right amount of everything. I’m also super inspired by what Jessie Reyez and Col3trane have been doing, they’re my two favourite artists right now.

How is your local music scene (in ‘normal’ times!)? Do you go to see lots of live music?
It’s really sad, the music scene is Durham has been destroyed in the last decade but there is a vibrant scene in Newcastle. That’s where I came across Kay Greyson, she’s really good. I just don’t get up there as much as I’d like to.

And what can fans expect from your (now online!) live shows?
I’ll let you know when I have some! 

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any new/upcoming bands or artists that you recommend that we check out?
My local fave is Kay Greyson, so I’ve got to rep her again! Otherwise, if you still haven’t heard of him yet, Col3trane is THE ONE. 

Massive thanks to Chloe for answering our questions! 

‘Used To Be’ is out now, ahead of Amid – the upcoming debut EP from Chloe Castro – set for release on 23rd October.

 

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Get In Her Ears w/ ZAND 15.10.20

Tash & Kate were back in the Hoxton Radio studio this week with loads of new tunes from some of their favourite female, non-binary and LGBTQ+ artists. Highlights included tracks from Circe, Babeheaven, Celaviedmai, ARXX, Serena Isioma, Sans Soucis and Witch Prophet.

They also caught up with “ugly pop” artist ZAND to talk about how they’ve been coping with the on-going Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns. They’ve been busy working on their new music, which includes their latest single ‘Slut Money’ and their upcoming EP UGLY POP. ZAND also spoke about how they first got into making music and being featured in British Vogue’s ‘I Feel Pride’ campaign back in 2019.

Listen back:

Tracklist
The Selecter – On My Radio
Isabelle Brown – In Your Head
Laura Fell – Cold
CIRCE – Ruined Your Sons
Babeheaven – Craziest Things
Nuala Honan – Day To Day
Rosie Shaw – Temporary Love
Opal Onyx – Lover’s Toil
Pao Pestana – Quiero Verte
Morgan – Alien
Celaviedmai – Reckless
Tamar Aphek – Show Me Your Pretty Side
Serena Isioma – King
Witch Prophet – TESFAY
ZAND – Slut Money
**ZAND Interview**
Rachael Lavelle – Perpetual Party
Sans Soucis – Air
Seagoth – Dreamworld
ARXX – Call Me Crazy
Moglii ft. LissA – Skoda
JEEN – Idols
Swallow Cave – Cold Moon
Tolu Makay – Don’t Let Go
Bugeye – When The Lights Go Out
Winifred Atweel – The Black and White Rag

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