Track Of The Day: Madame So – ‘You Say’

Madame So provides a cathartic dose of resilience and optimism on her latest single ‘You Say’. The Paris-born, London-based songwriter’s vocals flow over fuzzy guitar riffs as she dismantles feelings of negativity and despondency in her lyrics.

Following on from her previous release ‘Generation Y’, Madame So has teamed up with Brazilian illustrator Tomás Santos on ‘You Say’ to create an animated lyric video for the track. She recalls her first interactions with the artist: “In January 2019, I got a notification on Instagram that I had been tagged by a certain Tomás. I clicked on the post only to gasp at the beautiful illustration of a shot of me by photographer Crawford Blair. Tomas’s work is one of a kind, as confirmed by my friend Julian Molinero of the band Medusa who when he saw it wowed, I quote, ‘that’s the sort of thing ya pay absolutely loads for!’ Well, I was blessed with Tomas’s gift to me, and here we are now in full-blown collaboration.”

“‘You Say’ is a song about stonewalling negativity and seeing the bright side of things in life”, she continues. “It is aimed at all the killjoys, naysayers, narcissists as well as all the ambitious, optimists and resilient.” Watch the video for the track below and follow Madame So on Facebook & bandcamp for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

ALBUM: Dizzy – ‘The Sun and Her Scorch’

Canadian quartet Dizzy bring candid tales of lost love, introspection and acceptance on their sophomore album, The Sun and Her Scorch. The four-piece – consisting of vocalist Katie Munshaw and instrumentalists Alex, Mackenzie and Charlie – showcase an impressive sonic duality on their latest record as they move away from raw chaos and frustrated buzz of their debut album Baby Teeth, in to the mellow simplicity and resigned reality checks that come with growing up.

Opening with the haunting, hazy soundscape of ‘Worms’, Dizzy immediately draw you in with unassuming intrigue, as Munshaw’s dreamy vocal delivery blends with smooth guitar-led instrumentals. The track paints a vivid picture of the band’s childhood in Oshawa, Ontario, before following track ‘Sunflower’ ejects the album out of the nostalgic setting with its deceptively vibrant sonics. Where ‘Sunflower’ echoes the central theme of youthful uncertainty, indie anthem ‘The Magician’ charms with its effortlessly upbeat candescence.

The stand-out offering is the lyrically nuanced and delicately melodic ‘Good and Right’, which establishes the songwriting and storytelling prowess of Dizzy. It’s a skill they employ in other tracks, including the expansive yet immersive ‘Roman Candles’ and the light, cosy setup of Daylight Savings Time’.

Whimsical and experimental, the album offsets chirpy vocals of tracks like ‘Good and Right’ with straight-edged break-up tune ‘Lefty’, and atmospheric, pop-tinged ballad ‘Primrose Hill’ to an impressive effect that speaks of the fickle nature of 20-something dreamers. Perfectly book-ending the nostalgia of the opener, with final track ‘Worms II’ the band inject a last bit of colour and vibrancy with its changed lyricism, but leaves the soundscape unscathed as the tight grasp of times past remain.

Overall, The Sun and Her Scorch is a collection of anxious musings, candid observations and heartfelt contemplations, sprinkled occasionally with much-needed mirth and good vibes. This is an alt-pop production with lots of substance and little bit of simplicity, and with their second record Dizzy have proved that the impact of their first was no fluke.

Order your copy of Dizzy’s new album here.
Follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Pooneh Ghana

Malvika Padin
@malvika_padin26

LISTEN: Deaf Surf – ‘Strangers’

“Loneliness is a feeling / not a state of mind” Deaf Surf‘s vocalist Manon frantically repeats on the band’s latest single ‘Strangers’, echoing what many of us are experiencing in a post-lockdown world. Filled with frenzied riffs and crashing percussion, the Brighton-based band tackle feelings of isolation and alienation on their new track.

Recorded & produced by Boe Weaver at Studio Humbug on the Isle of Wight, Deaf Surf have shared their second single to remind listeners that even in a world of Zoom gigs and Instagram Lives, we don’t have to be ‘Strangers’ while the music industry is suffering under the restrictions imposed by the covid-19 pandemic.

The single also touches on Brexit (remember that?) and the desperation that comes with not feeling like you belong anywhere. “It’s all in my head” sings Manon, tapping in to feelings of pure confusion in the face of unexpected adversity.

Listen to ‘Strangers’ below and follow Deaf Surf on Facebook & Bandcamp for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Get In Her Ears Returns 30.07.20

Tash & Kate were back in the studio together for the first time since the covid-19 lockdown began! They played loads of new tunes from wxmen in music and had a chat about how the pandemic has affected the live music industry to date.

Listen back here:

Tracklist
Primal Scream – Movin’ On Up (in memory of Denise Johnson)
Nadine Shah – Kitchen Sink
Seraphina Simone – Cherry
Aislinn Logan – What Everybody’s After
fears – _two (Kobina Remix)
PELA – South Of
Brown Belt – Lamplight
Beabadoobee – Care
Nijuu – Blue
Jealous Of The Birds – Young Neanderthal
REWS – Today We’re Warriors
Suzie Stapleton – The Plague
Lorana – Countless First Times
Grizzly Coast – Lonely Planet
Tina Boonstra – Out Of My Depth
GIRLHOOD – The Love I Need
Tokky Horror – Girlracer
Nova Twins – Vortex
Chinwe – Sin
Otta – Just like the rain
Aphty Khéa – Pengvibe
The C33s – Harpurhey Hostility
Hawxx – Dogma
LibraLibra – Loverboy
Mieko Shimizu – Lazy Light
Sunday Driver – Time Machine
Notelle – Bugs
Amy Winehouse – Tears Dry On Their Own