WATCH: Bas Jan – ‘No More Swamp’

Following last year’s innovative Baby You Know, London collective – and personal favourites – Bas Jan have now announced a new album that’s set for release in November. Founded by Serafina Steer and featuring members of Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business and Jarv Is, the band have previously received acclaim from the likes of Marc Riley at BBC 6Music and Mojo Magazine, and will be playing a special live session for Riley and Coe tomorrow 20th September, ahead of their upcoming tour, which includes a few dates with Half Japanese.

Ahead of the album’s release, Bas Jan have shared an uplifting new single – title track ‘No More Swamp’. Reflecting on how the band’s lives have changed over the years, with shifting priorities and responsibilities, the track offers a jangly uplifting soundscape, showcasing the band’s trademark quirky energy and perceptive songwriting ability. Taking influence from the likes of Pet Shop Boys and Kate Bush, it ripples with a fizzing musicality, interweaving shimmering instrumentation to create a wonderfully danceable cacophony; a gently relatable and subtly empowering ode to getting older, oozing an immersive glistening allure.

‘No More Swamp’ is accompanied by a new fun-filled, B-movie-inspired, video, featuring costumes designed by Nat Sharp (aka Lone Taxidermist). Watch it here:

No More Swamp, the upcoming new album from Bas Jan, is set for release on 10th November.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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LISTEN: GIHE on Soho Radio with Mykki Blanco (18.09.23)

Tash and Kate were back on Soho Radio’s airwaves playing loads of new music from some of their favourite female, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ artists! Mari offered some of her “musical musings” too. Artists featured on the eclectic playlist included Tirzah, Coolgirl, Maria Uzor, O Hell, CLT DRP, Divorce, English Teacher, Brenda and Touch Excellent.

Tash also caught up with queer pioneer and innovative artist Mykki Blanco to talk about their upcoming EP, Postcards From Italia, which is set for release via Transgressive Records on 22nd September. Fresh from celebrating Copenhagen Pride, Mykki spoke to Tash about the context of their new record, how the music industry has changed over the last decade, their queer inspirations and more.

Listen back to the show below:

 

We’ll be back on Soho Radio this Thursday 21st September, LIVE in the studio covering the Morning Glory show from 9am-12pm. Make sure you tune in via www.sohoradiolondon.com

Tracklist
Sinead O’Connor – Mandinka
Tirzah – F22
Maria Uzor – Sometimes They Look At You
O Hell – hard times
Coolgirl – High Altar
CLT DRP – I See My Body Through You
Say She She – Astral Plane
Brenda – Microscopic Babe
shaene – june
Whitelands – The Prophet and I
English Teacher – The World’s Biggest Paving Slab
Separatr – Deadstock
Divorce – Scratch Your Metal
Maria BC – Amber
Ideal Host – The Resolution
NESS NÖST – MAID 4 U
Gabriella Cohen – Clever Cheese
Mykki Blanco – Holidays in the Sun
**Interview with Mykki Blanco**
ZHU, Devault – Take My Soul
Touch Excellent – Couch Song
Becca Mancari – Over and Over
Louisa Rowley – Love Me For All of My Flaws
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps

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WATCH: Maria Uzor – ‘Sometimes They Look At You’

Following recent spellbinding singles such as ‘Ventolin’ and ‘Over This‘, Norwich artist Maria Uzor has now announced the release of her upcoming debut solo album, Soft Cuts, due out next month. Having wowed us with the sparkling energy of her live show numerous times, and with acclaim from radio pioneers such as Amy Lame on BBC 6Music and John Kennedy on Radio X, as well as collaborations with the likes of Rozi Plain, Chk Chk Chk and Acid Klaus, we could not be more excited about this… !

A taste of what’s to come, latest single ‘Sometimes They Look At You‘ reflects on crossed wires and clashing perspectives with a sizzling driving energy. Propelled by glitchy hooks and a swirling funk-fuelled groove, it builds with searing electronic beats as Uzor’s fierce majestic allure soars throughout. Interspersing somewhat eerie sounding samples with twinkling interludes, it showcases this innovative artist’s ability to create truly unique soundscapes; ‘Sometimes They Look At You’ offers a fusion of vast layers of sound to create an immersive, invigorating cacophony.

Of the track, Uzor explains:

“I came away from a conversation with someone and wondered why we always seemed to have crossed wires. It was like nothing each of us said ever landed with the other… I realised it was because I was talking from a place of possibilities and they were talking from a place of absolutes. Two very different languages…’Sometimes They Look At You’ is about that… about recognising that language and communication is so much more than the words that come out of your mouth.”

‘Sometimes They Look At You’ is accompanied by a captivating new video, filmed by Andi Sapey and edited by Uzor herself. Watch here:

Soft Cuts, the upcoming debut album from Maria Uzor, is set for release on 13th October via Castles In Space. And catch Maria live at a number of live dates to accompany the release, including The Windmill in Brixton on 18th October – see you there!

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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NEW TRACK: NewDad – ‘Angel’

A magnetic, heady guitar tune exploring noxious behaviours in romantic relationships, Galway alt-rock four piece NewDad have shared their latest single ‘Angel’. Taken from their upcoming debut album, Madra, which is set for release on 26th January 2024 via Fair Youth/Atlantic Records, the track is inspired by the destructive relationship between characters Rue and Jules in hit TV show Euphoria.

Initially guided by the sounds of Pixies, The Cure and Slowdive, NewDad blend cinematic influences with personal epiphanies to create their bittersweet shoegaze sounds. Their debut full length record Madra – which means “dog” in Irish – is a culmination of these inspirations, centered around reflections on self-sabotage, self-medication and depression, whilst finding catharsis in being openly vulnerable about these issues.

Written in their home city of Galway, before the band relocated to London this year, Madra was produced by NewDad’s long-time collaborator Chris W Ryan (Just Mustard) and mixed by Alan Moulder (The Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Wet Leg). Vocalist and guitarist Julie explains more about the themes behind the band’s upcoming record: “Madra explores various difficult parts of the human condition and the idea of the title is that these feelings that come up are sometimes ones you can’t escape – feelings that follow you around like a dog. We had an amazing team around us who helped bring these songs to life and we’re so excited for this album to be out in the world. We hope that people connect with the songs and that Madra can be a comfort to everyone who listens.”

Opening single ‘Angel’ is a culmination of these elements. Fuelled by hypnotic riffs, brooding bass lines and Julie’s distinctive, lullaby-like vocals, it’s a melodic musing on the spiralling nature of toxic romance. Listen to ‘Angel’ below.

NewDad UK & Ireland Tour Dates 2023 & 2024
1 Dec 2023 – Galway, Roisin Dubh
24 Feb 2024 – Leeds, Belgrave Music Hall
25 Feb 2024 – Manchester, Band On The Wall
26 Feb 2024 – Glasgow, St Luke’s
28 Feb 2024 – Dublin, Button Factory
2 March 2024 – Birmingham, O2 Institute
3 March 2024 – Bristol, Trinity
5 March 2024 – London, Koko

Follow NewDad on bandcamp, Spotify, TikTok, Twitter (X), Facebook & Instagram

Photo Credit: Zyanya-Lorenzo

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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