LISTEN: GIHE on Soho Radio with The Baby Seals (01.04.24)

Tash and Kate were back on Soho Radio 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 ARXX, CLT DRP, Circe, Tiiva, Pink Milk, Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra, pink suits, ALYSS, Julia Holter and more.

Kate also spoke to vocalist and guitarist Kerry Devine from The Baby Seals about the band’s upcoming debut album, Chaos, what it’s like to get ‘ID’d at Aldi‘, and how they translated their riotous live sound into their new record. Catch The Baby Seals live at Cro Cro Land on Saturday 13th April and find out about their other upcoming tour dates here.

Listen back to the show below:

 

We’ll be back on Soho Radio on Monday 29th April from 12-2pm
 Make sure you tune in via www.sohoradiolondon.com

Tracklist
St. Vincent – Broken Man
Tiiva – Tornados
Circe – Blue Love
Pink Milk – You Will Follow Me to Hell
Chartreuse – Whipper (Jaws Of Love. Remix)
Julia Holter – Something in the Room She Moves
LUCI – Thunder Calling
NikNak – You Were Supposed To Be Good
Tei Shi – No Falta
Smerz – Shining Star
Personnel – Even Now
Noé Solange – Rise
Hinako Omori – cyanotype memories (Joe Goddard Remix)
CLT DRP – Until You Showed Me
Fraulein – Feels Like Flying (Day)
The Baby Seals – ID’d at Aldi
**Interview with The Baby Seals**
Make Out Palace – New Addiction
ALYSS – TSIER
Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra – Problem Child
pink suits – Are You Gay Yet?
Mammoth Penguins – Everything That I Write
ARXX – Crying In The Carwash
Nuha Ruby Ra – Fetish 2 Forget
Astrud Gilberto – Fly Me To The Moon

WATCH: BCOS RSNS – ‘(First On At The) Buffalo Bar’

A catchy and absorbing debut single, ‘(First On At The) Buffalo Bar‘ by BCOS RSNS is a deceptively upbeat love letter to a precarious live music scene. A bouncy rhythm blending with cheery keys and fuzzy guitar riffs captures the liveliness and excitement of being at the kind of gig that makes it worth paying London prices for a pint.

The verses recount fond memories of the kind of weird and wonderful acts that find the space to perform in small venues willing to take a punt on something different, and anyone who knows and loves a local venue with a cramped stage and an eclectic-bordering-on-chaotic rotation of performers will recognise at least some of the images conjured in this track. The bright chorus repeats “I wanna be first on at the Buffalo Bar” with an infectious enthusiasm that makes you want to take your weird idea and go play there too. The riff beneath is an absolute earworm that will have you humming that chorus for a long time.

Regretful repeated lines come in towards the end that give the song an all too familiar sense of heartbreak; the simple change to the lyrics, with almost no shift in the music subverts the happy experiences into just memories. The sense of nostalgia is nice, but the loss of such a gem to the live music scene is tragic, and that feeling evokes the loss of many, many incredible community spaces lost to the ravages of late stage capitalism. It tinges those stories with sadness that even the most busy, vibrant cities can’t keep their best small venues afloat.

‘(First On At The) Buffalo Bar’ expertly captures the existential anxiety of seeing a scene you love to be a part of crumble away before your eyes, as a brutal economy and an increasing disregard for the arts rip holes in the fabric of the DIY community.

BCOS RSNS have chosen their debut perfectly. Given the presence the band have in the DIY scene in London, as familiar faces at all the best gigs both on stage and supporting from the crowd, this track really represents their authentic personality as well as introducing their sound to people further afield hearing them for the first time.

BCOS RSNS, the eponymous debut album from the band, is out on 22nd May, and you can celebrate the release with them live at The Cavendish Arms on 25th May.

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

PLAYLIST: February 2024

The Get In Her Ears team have put together another eclectic mix of alternative anthems, grunge & shoegaze tunes, electronic sounds and indie & folk musings for your listening pleasure. Take some time to scroll through our track choices below, and make sure you press play on the playlist at the end of this post.

Follow GIHE on Spotify to hear all of our previous playlists too.

Whitelands – ‘Cheer’
GIHE fave London shoegazers Whitelands came into the Soho Radio studio earlier this month to chat to us about their debut album, Night-bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day, and I have been listening to the record on a loop since its release. I saw them live supporting Slowdive at Hammersmith Apollo, and it was wonderful to hear their magnetic sounds ring out around the walls of such a prestigious venue. The GIHE team are so excited to see them again at their London album launch gig at Rough Trade on 5th March.
(Features Editor -Kate Crudgington)

Hypsoline – ‘Disposable Girl’
Firm favourites who we’ve been lucky enough to have play for us a couple of times now, Brighton’s Hypsoline have now shared new single ‘Disposable Girl’. Written from the viewpoint of a heartbroken teenage girl, the track oozes the band’s scuzzy power and versatility of front person Trilby’s rich vocals. Building with a hazy allure, it showcases the band’s ability to create instantly catchy rock anthems, and I can’t wait to hear more from them this year. (Managing Editor – Mari Lane)

HAVVK – ‘Take It From Me’
We’re extremely excited to have Irish trio HAVVK return to play live for us at our next gig on 28th March at Shacklewell Arms. Having headlined the first ever gig we hosted back in 2016, it feels pretty special to be hosting them again, and – with support from lovely bands like Athabaska and Rats-Tails – it promises to be a dreamy night! This latest single showcases all the gritty, grunge-fuelled energy and celestial splendour we’ve come to know and love from the band. To Fall Asleep, the new album from HAVVK, is set for release on 15th March. Come and celebrate its release with us at The Shacklewell Arms! Tickets here. (ML)

Projector – ‘Don’t Give Anything Up For Love’
Congratulations to Brighton trio Projector on the release of their debut album, Now When We Talk It’s Violence. Unsurprisingly, it’s a superb record that showcases the band’s evolution in sound, full of grinding riffs, intense vocals and propulsive beats. This is my favourite track from the record. (KC)

Wisp – ‘Once Then We’ll Be Free’
19 year-old San Francisco-based musician Wisp has been on my radar for a while now. I’ve been soaking up her lush shoegaze sounds, and this single ‘Once Then We’ll Be Free’ is another potent blend of her hushed vocals, swirling riffs and driving beats. (KC)

Nightbus – ‘Average Boy’
Released via So Young Records, ‘Average Boy’ is the dreamy new release from Northern trio Nightbus. Speaking about the track, the band explain: “‘Average Boy’ is a narrative I’m sure many of us can relate to. The feeling of inadequacy, dysphoria, a longing for something that might never materialise. Those small moments that feel like destiny are reduced to bittersweet memories. We all search for something, we get caught in cycles, we lose our way, half the time we don’t even know what we’re looking for. Gender, perspective, culture, we are all in some way the average boy.” (KC)

Brimheim – ‘Normies’
I’m a big fan of Danish-Faroese artist Brimheim, and this single has been swirling around my head all month. Taken from her upcoming second album, RATKING, which is set for release on 22nd March, her new record explores shame, self-deception and tragic love. I adored her debut album, can’t hate myself into a different shape, and think her new offering will be equally as excellent. She’ll be playing The Lexington on Weds 22nd May. (KC)

Baby In Vain – ‘Afterlife’
This is the title track from Danish trio and longtime GIHE favourites Baby In Vain’s latest album. The record showcases a softer, more shoegazey approach to the band’s songwriting, compared to earlier heavier releases, but it still retains the slow-burning tenderness that makes all of their music so compelling. (KC)

total tommy – ‘microdose’
This is the debut single from Australian songwriter total tommy, who has recently singed to [PIAS] Recordings. A lovely hit of lo-fi indie-grunge, ‘microdose’ was written in total tommy’s bedroom studio in Sydney on a stormy night, and reflects on an addictive, all-consuming crush. (KC)

Tusks – ‘Strangers’
Another affecting, evocative offering from London-based electronic artist Tusks here. ‘Strangers’ is lifted from her upcoming album, Gold, which is set for release on 12th April via One Little Independent Records. She will be playing at Rough Trade East on 13th April to celebrate the release of the album. (KC)

Tolü Makay – ‘Mind & Body’
Nigerian-Irish artist Tolü Makay has returned with this wonderful new single about the importance of being present in the moment, with her emotive voice guiding listeners through this process. Speaking about the track, Tolü explains: “’Mind & Body’ explores the anxiety we feel when our body is numb to the moment while our mind is drowning in senses, screaming for us to be present in the here and now. It’s about allowing ourselves to breathe, about taking care of our bodies, about being present even when everything is moving so rapidly. In this cultural moment we are so concerned and cornered by our thoughts, our appearance, our voices and narratives that we tell ourselves. It is so hard to simply just be. ‘Mind & Body’ is a reminder to be present. To come together. Not just with yourself, but with each other. In Mind and Body.” (KC)

Elsa Hewitt – ‘Citrinitas’
I saw Elsa Hewitt play live again recently at Loki in Brixton, and I was hypnotised by her lo-fi, but very intricate synth loops and vocal improvisations. This wonderful soundscape ‘Citrinitas’, is taken from her upcoming eighth album, Chaos Emeralds, which is set for release on 12th April. Chaos Emeralds is the result of an intense few years of personal change and growth for the artist, full of field recordings and poetry extracts, all underscored by her trademark magnetic electronica. (KC)

Sheherazaad – ‘Dhund Lo Mujhe’
Following last year’s completely spellbinding debut single, ‘Mashoor’, Brooklyn-based composer and vocalist Sheherazaad has now shared the second taste of her upcoming album. As stirring waves of sound intertwine with a somewhat buoyant energy, ‘Dhund Lo Mujhe’s celebratory tone is at once juxtaposed with a disconcerting undercurrent. Building to a swirling rich cacophony, it offers a stark reminder to embrace our own unique joy in the face of damaging stereotypes. Qasr, the upcoming debut album from Sheherazaad, is set for release on 1st March via Erased Tapes. (ML)

M(h)aol – ‘Pursuit’
Irish post punks M(h)aol have returned as a four piece with this cutting new single ‘Pursuit’. Drummer and vocalist Constance Keane explains more about the pent up frustration and fear that underscored the track’s conception: “’Pursuit’ is about the experience of being followed home. Sadly, I think it’s something most women have experienced, and something that makes you change your behaviour on a very practical level. It first happened to me when I was 12, and it stayed with me for a long time. The experience of choosing your outfit based on how quickly it could help you get out of a dangerous situation is something I don’t even notice I’m doing sometimes, and that in itself scares me. What am I doing choosing shoes I know I can run fast in, rather than the ones that would go better with my outfit? As a whole, the song is built out of frustration that has accumulated over the past 30 years of being a woman in public.” (KC)

Lambrini Girls – ‘God’s Country’
Currently taking the world by storm, Lambrini Girls are not afraid to call out the government and those complicit in the deterioration of society. Offering a brutal condemnation of ‘Great’ Britain, latest single ‘God’s Country’ seethes with an immense energy and angst-driven power, emanating a raging sense of urgency throughout, cementing Lambrini Girls once again as a truly formidable force that we need now more than ever. Of the track, the band clarify: ““God’s Country is our long, overdue call-out of the government and rise of the far right… Great Britain. Think colonial, shit-hole, chunk of land. Thriving off unhinged nationalism, fed to us by the right red hand of unelected prime ministers… We could deep dive into inspirations and influences- but the song’s about politics, not us. We hope the song speaks for itself. Rishi, Cameron, Cummings, Starmer – you’re all on our shit list.” (ML)

CLT DRP – ‘Until You Showed Me’
Described as a “gender-fluid love sing”, this is the first new material from Brighton-based art punks CLT DRP since they released their second album, Nothing Clever, Just Feelings, via Venn records last year. Speaking about the track, powerhouse vocalist Annie Dorrett explains: “Femininity is a word that has haunted me my whole life, whereas Masculinity is something that I’ve longed for. ‘Until You Showed Me’ is a love song to my current partner for making my gender fluidity something that they nourish and make room for rather than dismiss or ignore. It’s no secret that a lot of people feel the need to lean into a gender role in order to gain respect or normalcy and if they mess with anything outside the binary it can seem threatening. Funnily enough I’ve found myself playing with my femininity a lot more now that I’ve found comfort in my skin again. This song is a little ode to the queers and anyone who strays from the binary in any way small or large. Break the wall from either side, that’s how we get ‘em to listen.” (KC)

Loose Articles – ‘I’d Rather Have A Beer’
Having recently announced the release of their debut album later this year, Manchester’s Loose Articles bring all the racing, roaring energy in latest single ‘I’d Rather Have A Beer’. Offering a warning about those toxic people who won’t make the same effort for you that they expect from you, it’s a perfect, post-punk ode to prioritising your own self worth, having fun with with your pals (over a nice pint) and moving on with your life. (ML)

Bridget. – ‘Take Me Down’
Taken from her debut EP, Damage Reversal, ‘Take Me Down’ is an anthemic offering from Essex-based grunge punk artist Bridget. She will be playing a gig at Luna in Leytonstone on 16th March as part of her EP tour, so if you like what you hear, make sure you grab a ticket to go and see her. (KC)

SPIDER – ‘an object of desire’
‘object of desire’ is the title track from Irish-born, London-based alt-pop artist SPIDER’s brand new EP. The record is a gritty, candid offering, exploring “the unholy trinity of young adulthood” and the web of sex, objectification and self-worth. We interviewed SPIDER on our Soho Radio show for our Great Escape Festival special last year, and she was a breath of fresh air. We’re so excited to see her getting the attention she deserves. SPIDER will play her first ever London headline show at London’s Camden Assembly on March 20th. (KC)

Gouge Away – ‘Dallas’
I was hooked on ‘Stuck In A Dream’, the powerhouse previous single from Florida-based alternative five piece Gouge Away. ‘Dallas’ marks a gear change in sound for the band, but it’s still a heady, corrosive sonic dive into what it feels like to hit rock bottom. It’s taken from Gouge Away’s upcoming third album, Deep Sage, which is set for release on 15th March via Deathwish Inc. (KC)

Heave Blood & Die – ‘Men Like You’
I love this intense offering from Norwegian post-punk collective Heave Blood & Die. It’s lifted from their fourth album, Burnout Codes, which they released back in January. Dedicated to bassist Eivind Imingen, who decided to end his life just following the recordings of the album, Burnout Codes shows the Norwegian collective offering their most textured and innovative album to date, acting as a tender tribute to the talent of their bandmate. (KC)

Dissolved Girl – ‘Silt’
This London-based four piece are named after one of my favourite Massive Attack songs. Dissolved Girl have been meticulously crafting their debut album over the past four years, and this track ‘Silt’ is the second hint at what’s to come. Brooding riffs, trip-hop style beats and a potent vocal all blend together to create a captivating, grunge-infused soundscape. (KC)

CHERYM – ‘Alpha Beta Sigma’
Having just released their debut album, Take It Or Leave It, this month via Alcopop! Records, Northern Irish trio Cherym have been big faves of ours since I first fell in love with them playing Paper Dress Vintage back in 2021. And I was lucky enough to re-live this experience last Saturday as they returned to the venue, delivering an even more wonderful set to an even bigger and adoring crowd. Fizzing with all the colourful punk-pop energy we’ve come to know and love, ‘Alpha Beta Stigma’ offers a fierce reflection on the immense gender inequality and violence against women that still permeates Irish society. One of the most exciting bands around at the moment, I fully expect to be seeing and hearing lots more of Cherym throughout 2024. (ML)

Laura Jane Grace – ‘Birds Talk Too’
Having just released their new album, Hole In My Head, earlier this month, legendary Against Me! Front-person, author and transgender activist Laura Jane Grace offers an uptempo ode to the city of Amsterdam in latest single ‘Birds Talk Too’. I love how its fuzzy punk energy propels the distinctive resonant power of Laura’s vocals, creating a fiercely fun-filled anthem. (ML)

The Empty Page – ‘Cock Of The Fifth Year’
The new single from Manchester’s The Empty Page, ‘Cock Of The Fifth Year’ offers a raging reflection on those ‘jock-type’ guys who often use their size and gender as a means of intimidating others. Of the track, front person Kel explains: “Unfortunately, there are still a lot of blokes like that I encounter when walking around my home city of Manchester. Swaggering, mouthy bellends who can be pretty intimidating when you’re a woman just trying to get from a to b.” I love its gritty energy and the raw power of Kel’s vocals, and can’t wait for the release of The Empty Page’s new album, Imploding, on 24th May. (ML)

Bleach Brain – ‘Crack’
Bleach Brain are a Liverpool-based punk/grunge trio who create anthems filled with heavy riffs and distorted vocals. This track ‘Crack’ is lifted from their excellently named EP, EAT SHIT, which they released at the beginning of the month. The band describe their new record as “a rebellious, angry, energetic EP with songs about violence, abuse, and capitalism.” (KC)

Charley Stone – ‘A Scream’
If you live in London and go to gigs, you probably already know Charley Stone. With a musical CV too long to list, and currently a gigging guitarist in bands such as Sleeper and Desperate Journalist, she has now announced the release of her debut solo album. The first song that Stone ever wrote on electric guitar (back in the last century!), it offers an insight into her creative process and artistic license. With scuzzy hooks that ripple alongside distinctive vocals oozing luscious delayed tones, it builds with a whirring energy to a colourful cacophony. Here Comes The Actual Band, the debut album from Charley Stone, is set for release on 29th May. (ML)

NEXT TO NADA – ‘Whine, Lips’
This track is lifted from London-based noise makers NEXT TO NADA’s upcoming EP, WHINE // MOTHS, which they will be self-releasing on the 15th March. It’s a grinding, punk-infused reflection on pent up frustrations, which vocalist, guitarist and lyricist Georgie explains further: “‘Whine, Lips’ is a self-lament/piss-take that I wrote whilst in a particularly lengthy period of self-destructive behaviour. Dissociation, jealousy, unease, apprehension and defeatism were all running amok in the closed quarters of a brain – leading to (what feels like) a tiresome, vicious circle of poor coping mechanisms and pessimism.” NEXT TO NADA will be playing live at the Dublin Castle on 30th May. (KC)

Um Jennifer? – ‘Glamour Girl’
Having first fallen in love with New York trans duo Um Jennifer last year when I couldn’t get enough of their single ‘Girl Class’, I’m now equally obsessed with latest offering ‘Glamour Girl’. With its playful energy and catchy hooks, it reflects on the pros and cons of recurring patterns in relationships. It’s a fuzzy lo-fi slice of punk-pop perfection that leaves me excited to hear the entirety of Um Jennifer’s new EP, The Girl Class EP, which will be out on my birthday (5th April, for those who don’t know). (ML)

Parsnip – ‘The Light’
A new discovery for me, Melbourne band Parsnip have just announced details of their upcoming album, Behold, which will be released on 26th April via Upset The Rhythm. New single ‘The Light’ fizzes with jangly hooks and an uptempo Raincoats-esque energy; the perfect uplifting antidote to our dreary British weather. (ML)

Lilith Ai ft. Kimya Dawson – ‘Fawn’
Taken from her upcoming album, Serial Killers Prefer Blondes, which is set for release on 13th September via Cruisin Records, this track from London-based indie-rock artist Lilith Ai is an affecting blend of confessional lyrics, atmospheric guitars and rousing beats. (KC)

Emily Magpie – ‘Sunflowers’
Long time favourite, Bristol’s Emily Magpie, has announced that her new album, There Are Other Forms Of Strength, will be released on 19th April. Our first taster of the album comes in the form of glistening new single, ‘Sunflowers’. Flowing with a shimmering energy as Emily’s soulful vocals ripple alongside an uptempo funk-fused allure. (ML)

KIN – ‘Party Anthem’
The new single from London’s KIN, ‘Party Anthem’ offers a poignant reflection on women’s safety. Written back in 2020, inspired by the Reclaim The Streets movement, it oozes a captivating dark allure. Flowing with Grace Strickland De Souza’s crystalline vocals and a swirling instrumentation, a stirring melancholic soundscape is created. (ML)

WATCH: Loose Articles – ‘I’d Rather Have A Beer’

Following acclaim from the likes of Craig Charles on BBC 6Music and John Kennedy at Radio X for last year’s EP Chaos, and set to share the stage with Foo Fighters this summer, Manchester band Loose Articles have now announced the release of their debut album later this year.

Our first taste of the album, ‘I’d Rather Have A Beer‘, roars into existence with fuzzy guitar riffs and a bouncy, upbeat rhythm that is instantly catchy. 

The lyrics, delivered in an amazingly dry Mancunian accent, begin reflectively. The opening lines reminisce about the diets and parties of youth, narrowing in on the way teenage girls shape their lives and themselves with the primary aim of impressing boys who wouldn’t make the same effort back. The high energy beat and sense of humour in the vocals give a clear impression that these memories are invoked with some fondness, but nonetheless that they are best left in the past.

The music drops away for the chorus to really drive home the key message of the track: “Now that my thoughts are clear / Instead of you / I’d rather have a beer”. It directly addresses every unsatisfying hook-up from their past and makes it clear that whatever influence they used to have is long gone. Their opinion doesn’t matter, they’re not getting what they want, they are being left behind with the other regrets.

The song as a whole is a warning – about relationships that aren’t going anywhere and people who won’t make the same effort for you that they expect from you. It’s about investing your time and energy into something that has no chance of ever paying off. A reminder to stick with the people who love you and have your back, and to cast aside the time-wasters in favour of a nice drink. It recognises the lingering impact of early connections with the line “high school foolishness affects you when you’re older”, but reminds you that you’re not alone.

There is a real feeling of solidarity about the song. You can feel a bond forming with the band over the shared experience of frustration and the hard lessons you learned from the naive decisions you made in your youth. The joy of the racing musicality invites you to laugh about those embarrassing moments from before you knew better, knowing that you make better choices now.

A perfect, post-punk ode to prioritising your own self worth, having fun with with your pals (over a nice pint) and moving on with your life. Watch the wonderfully chaotic new video here:

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

Photo Credit: Sinead Ferguson