Track Of The Day: HANYA – ‘Texas’

Having charmed us on more than one occasion playing for us live, and with acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music’s Steve LaMacq and The Quietus, Brighton band HANYA return with a beautiful new single.

Propelled by a dreamy haze, ‘Texas’ flows with twinkling hooks and the soaring, effervescent vocals of front person Heather Sheret. With shades of the lush surf-pop of Real Estate or Best Coast, it’s a shimmering slice of exquisite indie-pop oozing a blissful tranquility and spellbinding ethereal splendour. The perfect soundtrack to soothe these post-summer blues. Of the track, the band explain:

“‘Texas’ was entirely written and recorded during lockdown, experimenting with working remotely as a group. The track explores the startings of a relationship – the head-over-heels uncertainty, the self-doubt and the desire to know each other entirely.”

 

‘Texas’ is out now. Listen here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Jessie Morgan

LISTEN: Susanna – ‘The Dancing Snake’

In a stunning and sorrowfully emotional unfolding it seems unjust to describe ‘The Dancing Snake’ the latest offering from Norwegian artist Susanna, as anything but a treasure.

Inspirited by the ghost of the late poet Charles Baudelaire (1821-67), Susanna brings the cynical gaze of a wandering civilian reflecting upon the universe around him to her majestic songwriting. With a captivating performance of dark, velvet-like piano, ‘The Dancing Snake’ and its shivering essence seems to rotate through the soreness of Baudelaire’s historic perspective.

Floating above the instrumental, Susanna’s voice emerges ‘The Dancing Snake’ to move in modern times with a fluttering vocal dreamscape that is anchored to the earth by its ringing chords and escapist lyrical content. Images from “I breathe the tang of the ocean / in the deeps of your hair”, to “my dreaming soul casts off and sets its course for distant skies”, take Susanna’s listeners on this strange fantastical journey where they are whisked away to hear the harmonious marriage between immaculate musicianship and storytelling.

‘The Dancing Snake’ is a skeletal arrangement of a tune that needs no more than itself. With early influences, from the earnest Bob Dylan to the more contemporary Mothers, Susanna has thrown her work into a blender – derived only from the best of folk, classical and art – and created an exquisite soundscape. ‘The Dancing Snake’ is an exhibition in itself, of impressionism and the pondering experience of being alive.

Baudelaire & Piano, the upcoming album from Susanna, is set for release 11th September via SusannaSonata.

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

Photo Credit: Martin Rustad Johansen

 

LISTEN: Æ MAK feat. Seba Safe – ‘i dance in the kitchen’

Joyfully schooling listeners in how to make uplifting kitsch-pop tunes under the strangest of circumstances, Æ MAK has shared her latest single ‘i dance in the kitchen’. Featuring the vocals of fellow Irish artist Seba Safe, the track is lifted from Æ MAK’s upcoming EP how to: make a kitsch pop song to show the world, which is set for release on 18th September.

Embracing production duties for the first time on her new release, Æ MAK – aka Aoife McCann – wrote and recorded her new EP during the Covid-19 lockdown period, and ‘i dance in the kitchen’ is the first taste of her delightfully upbeat new sound. Made with “100% childsplay and solo belly laughs”, the track and accompanying video showcase McCann’s carefree and vibrant attitude to letting go of any performance qualms and focusing on making music that makes you feel good.

Based around the idea of being apart from your lover during lockdown, ‘i dance in the kitchen’ will resonate with those who want to transform their uncertainty into an energetic moment of bright and cathartic clarity. Watch the video for the track below and follow Æ MAK on Facebook and Spotify for more updates.

Photo: Tim Shearwood

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Get In Her Ears w/ Jessica Winter 27.08.20

Tash & Kate were back in the Hoxton Radio studio this week with plenty of new music tunes to fill your ears. They caught up with South London based songwriter (and queen of sad bangers) Jessica Winter to talk about her recent EP Sad Music, and what life in lockdown was like for her.

Listen back:

Tracklist
Balraj Singh Samrai, Pandit G Gavsborg, Farah Amad Khan, Shanique Marie, Tunde Adekoya, Vikaash – I Should Have Hugged You Tighter When We Last Met (Oh What a Joy)
Fran Minney – Sirens
Seraphina Simone – Hollywood $$$
Noga Erez – You So Done
Asche-Rose – Daisy
Emma Kupa – ‘Nawlins’
P-rallel x Greentea Peng – Soulboy
Arlo Parks – Hurt
CHINWE – Intoxicated
Lemon Drink – Manic
Couch Prints – Tell U
Masma Dream World – Theta
SpaceAcre – Way Over
Death Valley Girls – Hold My Hand
Living Body – I Do
Jessica Winter – Sad Music
**Jessica Winter Interview**
Dream Nails – This Is The Summer
Komang – DEWI
MOURN – This Feeling Is Disgusting
LibraLibra – Listerine
Mango – Mistakes
Portishead – Glory Box (Live)
Garbage – Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go)
Shania Twain – Man I Feel Like A Woman