NEW TRACK: CLT DRP – ‘I See My Body Through You’

Following on from their incendiary anthems ‘New Boy‘ and ‘Nothing Clever, Just Feelings‘, Brighton feminist electro-punks CLT DRP have shared their powerful new single ‘I See My Body Through You’. Taken from their upcoming second album, Nothing Clever, Just Feelings, which is set for release on 8th September via Venn Records, the track is a dynamic, corrosive rumination on objectification and how it can affect our own identity and self worth.

Annie Dorrett’s distinctive, self-possessed vocals lead the charge alongside drummer Daphne’s considered percussion and guitarist Scott’s blend of melodic and visceral riffs. By combining quieter verses with a blistering chorus, CLT DRP reflect the tumultuous emotions and lack of control that can come from feeling exposed and viewed through a skewed and restricting lens. “They just say grin and bear it” Annie muses, before listeners are pummelled by a wall of cathartic, abrasive sound.

The single is accompanied by an intriguing set of visuals, directed by Alice Strutt. Annie explains the thought process behind the video: “‘I See My Body Through You’ is probably one of the tracks we’re looking forward to putting out the most. The content of the song set against the visuals all came out perfectly.”

“There’s a lot behind this song,” she continues, “different ways to interpret it, but the unsettling feeling and tension in the orchestration and in the video match up to the emotions that created this song in the first place—the emotions of being constantly on show, being objectified, and your own confidence being warped because of other people’s gaze. I think Alice heard the song and understood those feelings immediately, as most women do, and came up with some striking and strange concepts for the video.”

Director Alice Strutt comments further: “Inspired by the song’s content, the video embraces the use of ambiguous imagery, employing fractured reflections and obscured veils to symbolise the interplay between how we imagine others perceive us and its effect on our self-perception. The aim was to create impactful and disjointed visuals that invite contemplation of the blurred lines between reality and interpretation.”

Fresh from performing in their hometown at The Great Escape Festival earlier this year and a recent support slot with electronic music pioneer Gary Numan in Antwerp, CLT DRP are set to headline one of the stages at ArcTanGent Festival this weekend (18th August). The band have also announced a string of winter UK headline tour dates, including a show at The Lexington in London on 29th November. Full listings are below and tickets are on sale here.

Watch the video for ‘I See My Body Through You’ below.

CLT DRP UK Live Dates 2023
11.08.23 – Winchester, UK – Boomtown
18.08.23 – Somerset, UK – ArcTanGent
08.09.23 – Brighton, Green Door Store
15.09.23 – Sofia, BG – Wrong Fest
12.10.23 – Manchester, Beyond The Music
02.11.23 – Leeds, Oporto
03.11.23 – Glasgow, Hug & Pint
23.11.23 – Southampton, Joiners
24.11.23 – Bristol, Rough Trade
29.11.23 – London, Lexington

Pre-order CLT DRP’s new album Nothing Clever, Just Feelings here

Follow CLT DRP on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Facebook & Instagram

Photo Credit: Libby Malandrone

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Hinako Omori – ‘cyanotype memories’

A mood-lifting soundscape that offers listeners a moment of respite in an uncertain world, London-based artist and composer Hinako Omori has shared her latest single ‘cyanotype memories’. Taken from her upcoming album, stillness, softness…, which is set for release via Houndstooth on 27th October, the track is an ode to surrendering yourself to the unknown and finding peace within that process.

Following on from her recent single ‘foundation’, on ‘cyanotype memories’ Omori continues to trust her instincts and channel them into a more contemporary, song-based structure. Whilst her new efforts retain the wonderful soothing and enigmatic qualities of the tracks that formed her debut album, …a journey (which featured on Get In Her Ears’ Albums Of 2022 list) they expand and showcase her songwriting talents further. Guided by her wonderfully clear, gentle vocals, on ‘cyanotype memories’ Omori is “a careful observer among the chaos”, exploring the altering states of emotion and the often turbulent pace of life through her hypnotic synths and evocative beats.

“Synths really do respond to how you’re feeling,” Omori offers. “There have been times where I’ve felt stressed and my synth would go out of tune. I took it to a repair place once, thinking that something was wrong with it, but it was fine; I think it was to do with my energy levels. So when I sit down and write something, whatever comes out is relevant to how I feel in that moment because the synthesiser is responding to it. The music really becomes a map of my emotions.” Commenting on ‘cyanotype memories’, she explains: “[it’s] about reconnecting and returning to our inner stillness, and surrendering to the unknown. We ultimately don’t have control over how anything external might pan out, but when we trust our inner compass things seem to be revealed to us in the most beautiful and unexpected way.”

Paying attention to the physiological effects of music is something that’s deeply important to Omori. She blends her wonderfully heightened awareness of this alongside beautiful aesthetics, with cyanotope printing being a strong inspiration for this track and the accompanying photography and artwork for her new album. “I was fascinated by the idea of cyanotype printing,” she continues, “the act of placing an object on paper, and exposing it to UV light – the longer the object is focused under the light, a stronger or more detailed image can form on the paper. I thought there was a similarity in focusing and redirecting our thoughts to create new neural pathways in our brains, with the repetition of these thoughts creating stronger paths.”

This idea is explored further in the beautifully shot accompanying video for the track. Directed by Thomas Harrington Rawle & Cathal Mckeon and featuring contemporary dancer Chihiro Kawasaki, the monochrome visuals are a stunning blend of shadows and silhouettes, with Kawasaki improvising her movements in the lights which were programmed live by Richard Brade.

Watch the video for ‘cyanotype memories’ below.

Hinako Omori will be playing a headline show at London’s ICA on December 2nd
Tickets are available here

Follow Hinako Omori on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

Photo credit: Luca Bailey

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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TRACK PREMIERE: Ich Bin Finn – ‘Summer Girlfriend’

A sultry, grunge-infused ode to the rush of feelings that come with a new found seasonal crush, London-based rockers Ich bin Finn have shared their latest single ‘Summer Girlfriend’. Taken from their upcoming album, Breakfast Pizza, which is set for release via Roadkill Records on 11th August, the track is a sweet celebration of the transient nature of summer infatuation.

Formed of Finn D’Albert (guitar, vocals), Kim Watson (bass, backing vocals) and Mike Brown (drums, recorder, backing vocals), Ich bin Finn are a proud, vehemently DIY band. The trio enjoy working together and alongside their friends to create their playful, garage rock sounds, and their latest single ‘Summer Girlfriend’ is no different. The track’s artwork features Mike’s son, Wilfred, and the album which it’s lifted from was mixed and mastered by close friend of the band Tom le Beau Morley.

As the title suggests, ‘Summer Girlfriend’ is all about the precious new days of dating someone when the summertime finally kicks in. With their snaking riffs and relatable lyrics, Ich Bin Finn explore the sweet behaviours we indulge in, from eating ice cream together, to showing affection by softly applying sun cream to each others skin. This tender, sentimental mood underscores many of the tracks on the band’s upcoming album, Breakfast Pizza.

“These songs have an optimism and poetic vulnerability about them,” bassist Kim explains. “From lonely post break-up reflections, to a sense of new found freedom to venture out, dive in and explore new romantic possibilities.” Kim and her wife Angie created the artwork for the album together too, further emphasising the love and passion that has gone into the band’s new project.

“It’s all about treading that tightrope between freedom and loneliness,” guitarist and vocalist Finn adds. “Pizza for breakfast? Freedom. Pizza for every meal? Loneliness.” However you view these things, we’re sure that Ich Bin Finn will have a song on Breakfast Pizza that will resonate with you.

Listen to ‘Summer Girlfriend’ below.

 

Follow Ich Bin Finn on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter (X), Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: ALT BLK ERA – ‘Misfits: SOLAR’

Combining jagged electronics and racing beats with their raging lyrics to create another alternative statement of self autonomy, genre-defying sister duo ALT BLK ERA have shared their latest single ‘Misfits: SOLAR’. Taken from their upcoming EP, Freak Show, which is set for release on 1st September, the track is a frenzied anthem fuelled by the band’s antagonistic, youthful spirit.

Formed of sisters Nyrobi and Chaya, ALT BLK ERA create tenacious alternative tunes designed to showcase their vivid personalities. Inspired by the likes of Ho99o9, Nova Twins, Hacktivist, The Prodigy and Billie Eilish, they blur the boundaries of pop punk, nu-metal, rap and electronic music to form their riotous sounds.

Refusing to be pigeonholed, the pair explore and vent their frustrations about life through their music, with latest single ‘Misfits: SOLAR’ flowing in this vein. Unapologetic until the last breath, the track is a vehement warning to those who stand in ALT BLK ERA’s way: “If you treat us wrong / we won’t hold our tongues”. With their raucous dual vocals, the duo continue to reinforce their narrative of independence and celebrate their alternative outlook, pushing back against the haters and the gatekeepers.

ALT BLK ERA have a busy summer of live performances ahead of them. Fresh from playing Glastonbury Festival and supporting STRAIGHT GIRL for our GIHE July gig at The Shacklewell Arms (check out some amazing photos from the night here) they’ll be playing Reading & Leeds festivals at the end of August, as well as two headline shows in London and Nottingham in September. Full dates and details below.

Listen to ‘Misfits: SOLAR’ here:

ALT BLK ERA UK Tour Dates 2023
Aug 25th – Reading Festival
Aug 26th – Leeds Festival
Sep 13th – The Grace, London (Headline Show)
Sep 16th – Beta, Nottingham (Headline Show)

Follow ALT BLK ERA on bandcamp, Spotify, Tik Tok, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Fabrice Gagos

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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