Track Of The Day: Arlo Parks – ‘Second Guessing’

Confessional, gentle, and refreshingly honest: Arlo Parks‘ latest single ‘Second Guessing’ will strike a chord with anxious hearts who are overwhelmed with the fear that they might not be good enough.

The 19 year old London poet, singer and producer is not one to shy away from the difficulties of life, and on ‘Second Guessing’ she combines her beautiful vocals with lo-fi beats to get her important message across. The track is taken from her second EP, details of which will be released later in the year.

Speaking about the track, Arlo Parks explains: “‘Second Guessing’ is an exploration of the existential misery that comes from a desire to be successful in a way that pleases everyone. However, it’s also a song about strength and the possibility of self fulfillment”.

We’re happy to let Arlo Parks’ smooth voice build us up again. Listen to ‘Second Guessing’ below and follow her on Facebook for more updates.

Arlo Parks Live Dates 2019
Oct 08 – Academy, Dublin, IE *
Oct 10 – The Mill, Birmingham, UK *
Oct 11 – Academy 2, Manchester, UK *
Oct 12 – Uni Stylus, Leeds, UK *
Oct 15 – Trinity, Bristol, UK *
Oct 16 – Concorde, Brighton, UK *
Oct 18 – Roundhouse, London, UK *
Oct 25 – Guardian Live presents: Arlo Parks
*Supporting Jordan Rakei

Photo Credit: Charlie Cummings

Kate Crudgington
@kcbobcut

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Track Of The Day: HAVVK – ’52’

Having completely mesmerised us on many occasions with their immersive live shows, and captivated our ears with a number of incredible, politically driven offerings, total faves HAVVK are back with a brand new single.

Oozing a stark, stirring emotion, ’52’ is about the extreme political dynamics in the run up to the Brexit vote in 2017. With the soaring, celestial splendour and gritty raw emotion of front woman Julie’s vocals, it’s filled with a glistening musicality juxtaposed with a frenzied, angst-driven climax alongside its all-too-relevant subject matter. Showcasing why we need voices like theirs now more than ever, with their unique euphonic activism and the deeply affecting plea “we’ve got to get over it…”, HAVVK offer a poignant soundscape with necessary meaning.

Of the track, Julie explains:

“… we lived in London at the time of the vote and I don’t think any of us will forget the day the result came out. It felt like the campaign was designed to leverage a divide between people. At times, it felt like every spokesperson for or against Brexit was willing to put a short-term win ahead of opening a genuine conversation about people’s safety and futures. It drove a chasm between people which only seems to getting wider, with a rise in racism and hate-crime, and the constant out-pour of hateful language in online media.”

A montage of footage showing Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and protests erupting in violence, watch the affecting new video for ’52’ now:

’52’ is out now via Veta Records, followed by HAVVK’s debut album, Cause & Effect, due for release on 22nd November.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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LIVE: Dream Nails – Old Blue Last, London 07.10.19

“You are not your job! Work is not your life!” belts lead vocalist Janey from feminist punk band Dream Nails – a validating statement that has their sold out crowd at Old Blue Last shouting back in agreement. Celebrating the release of their new single ‘Corporate Realness’ (from which the lyrics are taken); Janey, guitarist Anya, drummer Lucy, and bassist Mimi lit up the stage with their defiant anthems.

Get In Her Ears have been to many a Dream Nails gig, and we keep returning to see them for the same reasons: empowerment, solidarity, and comfort. Their songs about avoiding creepy grief thieves (‘Tourist’) and getting ghosted (‘Chirpse Degree Burns’) use humour to deflect from the stresses of navigating everyday life, but their ability to switch between the silly and the serious is what makes their live performances so vital.

Delivering their familiar and necessary chant of “women and non-binary people to the front, men to the back” three songs in, the band present an unshakable confidence as they blitz through their 40 minute set. Janey’s voice soars over the perfectly curated noise that Anya, Lucy & Mimi create, and is equally as commanding when she speaks about worthy causes and shameful statistics between songs.

Championing the cause of Solidarity Not Silence, Janey shouts out to the first support act of the night, Nadia Javed of The Tuts. She encourages the crowd to believe and support women who speak out against their abusers, and to follow the campaign that Nadia and other female musicians are a part of.

The band’s collective rage boils over during ‘Joke Choke’, a song that takes down people who think rape jokes are funny in a country where two women a week are killed by a current or former partner. It’s two minutes of frenzied guitar and crashing percussion, and a cathartic burst of righteous energy.

Much like second support act The Baby Seals – whose frontwoman Kerry described her sweat level as “bio-hazard” – Dream Nails know how to get their crowd working out. During their song ‘Jillian’, which is dedicated to cult fitness coach Jillian Michaels, the band ask everyone to squat down for a few moments, before leaping back up to join them in their poppy ode to the health guru.

It wouldn’t be a proper Dream Nails gig without renditions of iconic singles ‘DIY’ and ‘Deep Heat’. The first arrives mid-way through the set, with the crowd screaming back “Do It Yourself!” at all the right intervals. The latter closes the band’s set in furious style, proving that the band’s hex on Donald Trump and his British counterpart Boris Johnson is still as potent as ever.

With their militant mindset and knockout delivery, Dream Nails set at Old Blue Last was a reminder to all to keep fighting in the face of adversity, and to have a fucking good laugh whilst you’re doing it.

Follow Dream Nails on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Chloe Hashemi & Emily Barker

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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PREMIERE: Saachi Sen – ‘Dark’

Having been a resident artist at Camden’s Roundhouse, and performed at this year’s London Pride event in front of 10,000 people, Mumbai-born, London-grown artist Saachi Sen has now shared her poignant new single.

A song about accepting and celebrating your identity, ‘Dark’ flows with Sen’s beautiful fluid vocals alongside a delicate, twinkling musicality and heartfelt emotion. Building with an impassioned energy, ‘Dark’ showcases this artist’s ability to create stirring alt-pop anthems. Of the track, Sen explains:

“From a personal and literal perspective, it’s about my brown skin – but playing it live at events like Pride reminds me that it’s for everyone, whose traits like their race, gender, or sexuality are looked down upon by so many in our society. The song says that though people may treat you differently than others, stereotype you… it’s imperative to remember that who you are is who you are, and you should never apologise for it.”

Listen to ‘Dark’, for the first time, below:

 

‘Dark’ is out tomorrow, 11th October. You can also watch a special live performance of the track here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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