Video Premiere: Piney Gir – ‘Puppy Love’

Having shared a stage with the likes of Gaz Coombes and Noel Gallagher, Kansas-born London-based artist Piney Gir has been charming our ears for some time. Now, following last year’s dreamily eclectic album You Are Here, Piney has shared an effervescent new video for album track ‘Puppy Love’.

Oozing a honey-sweet romanticism, ‘Puppy Love’ glistens with twinkling hooks and sweeping harmonies as an endearing, scuzzy energy flows throughout. On the one hand, nostalgically harking back to the simpler times of crushes and the pain of first (‘Puppy’) love, the track also reflects on the common metaphor for depression – the ‘Black Dog’ – its all-consuming nature, and the struggles of mental health. A poignant and infectious offering, it could just be the perfect, bitter-sweet, accompaniment to the mixed feelings that go hand in hand with the love-filled celebrations of the upcoming month.

Of the track, Piney explains:

“Everyone feels the darkness sometimes, so I’m singing about it… It’s a thin line between Puppy Love and The Black Dog; both can be all consuming and agonising and at times euphoric, manic even.”

Watch the colourful, uplifting new video for ‘Puppy Love’ now:

‘Puppy Love’ is out on 14th February and will be available as a special Valentine download from Bandcamp. You can catch Piney Gir live, headlining for us on that night at The Finsbury, where you’ll also be able to get your hands on a special download code.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

 

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Get In Her Ears w/ Piney Gir 21.11.19

Kate was back in the studio this week with guest co-host Beth White. They played a plethora of new music; featuring highlights from ARXX, Bitch Falcon, PONY, Polly Money, The Menstrual Cramps, The Baby Seals, Nomke & Fightmilk.

Piney Gir joined them in the studio to perform acoustic versions of her tracks ‘Dream Catcher’ & ‘Great Pretend’ and for a chat about her recent album, You Are Here. We can’t wait to have her headline our FREE GIHE gig at The Finsbury Pub on Fri 14th Feb 2020 (event details here).

Listen back:

Tracklist
TLC – No Scrubs
Grimes – So Heavy I Fell Through The Earth
Bitch Falcon – Damp Breath
ARXX – You Got What You Want
REWS – Birdsong
Jemma Freeman – Hard Times
PONY – Limerence
Honeymoan – Still Here
Fightmilk – Four Star Hotel
Glacier Veins – Not Gonna Stay
Eilis Frawley – Illusions
Phlake – Baby Steps
Dutch Mustard – Get What You Want
Scrounge – Purpose
Pongo – Quem manda No Mic
Ren Harvieu – Teenage Mascara
Polly Money – Twntys
The Menstrual Cramps – Idols
Deux Furieuses – Let Them Burn
Nomke – Ended (by the morning)
Claire Foxx & The Antisocial Justice Warriors – Problem Child
Breakup Haircut – I Don’t Wanna Do Things
The Baby Seals – My Labia’s Lop-sided But I Don’t Mind
Berries – Written In Paint
Nao – In The Morning
Amy Fitz Doyley – Ears
Avril Lavigne – I’m With You

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ALBUM: Piney Gir – ‘You Are Here’

Charged by a ’60s reminiscent dreamscape energy grounded in the roots of art rock’s demeanour, Piney Gir demands your undivided attention. Known for her eclectic style ranging from alt-folk to retro pop, she takes us to a new exploratory world in her new album You Are Here.

Opening the record with striking spikes contrasted by distances, ‘Admiral Fleets’ serves as the ideal intro track, feeding us whispers of sounds that are to come as the record continues. The pounding drums and intriguing vocal melodies are immediate hooks that keep listeners pulled along for the album’s duration. With moments of pure boldness and others of soft vulnerability, what stays constant is the resilient rhythmic drive of these songs. Even in the quietest moments of You Are Here, a dynamic bass line, groovy keys and retro-sounding guitar tones carry its stories to a dance floor for your feet. 

In songs like ‘Little Cop’ and ‘Peanut Butter Malt Shop Heartthrob’, both lyrically and instrumentally, the wit of the arrangements is floating in the sky where “…sherbet umbrellas will sing for us.” It’s almost impossible to visualize this record without images of candy skies and a breeze of a sunny day. Even ‘Variety Show’, a song asking for someone’s belief in love, has an optimistic feeling reminiscent of the folky tones of Angus & Julia Stone. Regardless of subject matter, You Are Here continues to lift. 

Psychedelic guitar riffs as in the outro of ‘We’ll Always Have Paris’ grounds the emotional experience of the record and ties it to the human infatuation with nostalgia. With both memories of pure bliss and others of bittersweetness, Piney Gir serves a wide palette of reflection and celebration. Brass and string arrangements coupled with vocal duets, provide the sense of a collective experience to the stories told, and make for a brilliantly paced record that is sure to captivate. You Are Here keeps your head in the clouds.

You Are Here is out 1st November via STRS Records. And we can’t wait for Piney Gir to headline for us at The Finsbury in the new year, on 14th February 2020!

Jillian Goyeau

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Premiere: Piney Gir – ‘Dreamcatcher’

Currently working on album number seven, Kansas-born London-based artist Piney Gir has now shared a wonderfully uplifting new offering.

Inspired by taking risks and living life on the edge, ‘Dreamcatcher’ is propelled by swirling, uptempo melodies interwoven with funk-fuelled beats, creating a truly glorious slice of psychedelic art-pop. Filled with Piney Gir’s rich, luscious vocals alongside layers of shimmering orchestration – including groovy blasts of saxophone (courtesy of Sweet Baboo) – it combines sunny, nostalgic surf-rock vibes with its own fresh energy, oozing an effervescent glow that’ll make you want to get up and follow your dreams immediately. A perfect motivational anthem.

Of the track, Piney Gir explains:

“I wrote Dreamcatcher when I was in a dark place, it seemed like absolutely everything had gone wrong… Outwardly I was projecting the usual cheery Piney because that’s what everyone expects from me, but I was the lowest of the low; the lowest I’ve ever been, pretending to be happy was making that isolation even worse.  The only way I know how to cope with that emotion is to channel it into something creative and my default setting is hopeful, I am always looking for the silver lining no mater how dark the clouds are…Music is my mental health stabiliser, I feel very lucky to have it as an outlet.”

Featuring members of Gaz Coombes’ band, as well as Tom Greenhalf (Man Without Country) and Sweet Baboo, ‘Dreamcatcher’ is out 12th October.

 

As well as having music as an outlet, it seems Piney Gir is a woman of many talents, being set to release her own punk zine recipe book this month. A solution to late night trips to the chippy after gigging, rehearsing, or general music-related activities, ‘Drunk Cookery’ is the perfect companion for any of us indie rock chicks who also want to eat well!

 Catch Piney Gir live (singing or cooking) at the following dates:

4th October – Truck Records instore, Oxford
10th October – Drunk Cookery demonstration – We Built This City shop, London
15th October – Sebright Arms, London (headline show)
20th October – Ritual Union Festival, O2 Academy, Oxford

 

Mari Lane
@marimindles

 

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