LISTEN: GIHE on Soho Radio with Whitelands (05.02.24)

The full Get In Her Ears team were back on Soho Radio’s airwaves this month, playing loads of new music from some of their favourite female, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ artists. Tash, Mari and Kate enthused about the eclectic tracks on the playlist, which included Seraphina Simone, pink suits, Tusks, Fraulein, Ski Lift, Worse Off, pecq, NYX Drone Choir, The Baby Seals, Fears, Grace Petrie, Moor Mother, Alvidrez, otta, SlowdiveDermabrasion and more.

London-based shoegaze band Whitelands also joined them in the studio to talk about their upcoming debut album, Night-bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day, which is set for release on 23rd February via Sonic Cathedral. Etienne, Jagun, Michael and Vanessa chatted about their beginnings as a band at First Timers Fest and Decolonise Fest, the inspirations behind their latest single ‘Tell Me About It’, and their anticipations for their upcoming sold out tour supporting shoegaze icons Slowdive.

Whitelands will also be playing a series of headline in-store shows at Rough Trade, including London’s Rough Trade East on 5th March to celebrate their album release. We’ve all got tickets, so we’ll see you there!

Listen back to the show below:

 

We’ll be back on Soho Radio on Monday 4th March from 12-2pm!
 Make sure you tune in via www.sohoradiolondon.com

Tracklist
Dolly Parton – Dumb Blonde
Amy Gadiaga – Paloma Negra
Seraphina Simone – Better Days
Tusks – Adore
Fraulein – Wait and See
Ski Lift – Double Yellow
pink suits – C.O.F.F.E.E.
The Baby Seals – Mild Misogynist
pecq – closer
Maud – Wherever I Go
Worse Off – Memorialise My Horribleness
The Menstrual Cramps – Abortion
otta – overflow
Birthday Problem ft. Ailbhe Reddy – E.L.E
Alvidrez – Hymn For The Corner
Moor Mother – Guilty
Whitelands ft. Dottie – Tell Me About It
Slowdive – Kisses
**Interview with Whitelands**
Dermabrasion – Halbadier
Bonnie Banane – Franchement
Fears – 4th of the 1st
Schande – Relevant Campaigns
Grace Petrie – Start Again
Waxahatchee – Right Back To It
Smerz, Allina – My Producer
NYX – Void
Destiny’s Child – Girl

PLAYLIST: January 2024

The Get In Her Ears team have put together another eclectic mix of post punk anthems, grunge & shoegaze musings, indie & alternative tunes and electronic sounds 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.

HAVVK – ‘You Say You Won’t’
Ahead of the release of their upcoming new album in March, GIHE faves HAVVK have shared another spellbinding taste of what’s to come. As front person Julie’s celestial vocals emanate throughout, ‘You Say You Won’t’ showcases the Dublin trio’s ability to create a shimmering immersive grace whilst touching on poignant subject matter. I really can’t wait for them to come and headline for us at The Shacklewell Arms on 28th March, especially as they headlined the first ever gig we hosted back in 2016 – it’s going to be a pretty special evening, with support from Athabaska and Rats-Tails. Grab a ticket here! To Fall Asleep, the upcoming album from HAVVK, is out on 15th March via VETA Records.
(Mari Lane – Managing Editor)

Fraulein – ‘Wait and See’
Unsurprisingly, the GIHE team all love this latest single from Northern Irish/Dutch duo Fräulein. ‘Wait and See’ focuses on the contradictory nature of anxiety, and how we clench our teeth through it, rather than treating the issue underneath it. It’s another seamless blend of the band’s trademark gritty-yet-melodic riffs and considered, hard-hitting beats. I can’t wait to see Fräulein play live at Scala supporting art punks JOHN on 29th Feb.
(Kate Crudgington – Features Editor)

SPRINTS – ‘Heavy’
We’re big fans of SPRINTS here at GIHE, so watching their stellar debut album, Letter To Self, receive so much love and acclaim when it was released at the beginning of this month was a real joy. The Dublin-based band are a formidable force on the stage, and this track in particular showcases their intense, dynamic songwriting talents. (KC)

Gouge Away – ‘Stuck In A Dream’
This angst-ridden anthem from Florida-based five piece Gouge Away has been stuck in my head for an entire month. Visceral vocals, heavy riffs and relentless beats – I’m obsessed. ‘Stuck In A Dream’ is taken from Gouge Away’s upcoming third album, Deep Sage, which is set for release on 15th March via Deathwish. (KC)

The Baby Seals – ‘Mild Misogynist’
Cambridgeshire punk trio The Baby Seals are back, and I could not be happier about it. Following a little hiatus for life stuff, they have now announced the release of their debut full length album and shared a typically catchy, witty and gently raging tune that’ll lodge itself firmly in your ears on first listen. Reflecting on those men we all (sadly) come across on a daily basis who claim to be feminists because they happen to have a wife/daughter/mother, but are actually a huge part of the problem with their damaging micro-aggressions and embedded sexist views, with its gritty energy and danceable hooks, ‘Mild Misogynist’ is the perfect re-introduction to The Baby Seals’ ability to deliver their all-too-necessary message with a fizzing sense of fun. (ML)

Self Torque – ‘No Rest’
I’m so impressed that Brighton-based Self-Torque has managed to transform feelings of desperation and inadequacy into a frenzied, vibrant anthem on ‘No Rest’. Taken from their recent EP, No Rest For The Depressed, it’s a potent reminder that there are always better days on the horizon, and that you are more capable than you think you are. (KC)

Ski Lift – ‘Double Yellow’
Following last year’s catchy ‘Living The Dream’, London trio Ski Lift are back with a stirring new single. With bassist Lizzie Walsh taking the lead on vocals, ‘Double Yellow’ flows with a whirring splendour as lush harmonies intertwine with a sparkling energy. Inviting us all to take a step back and absorb the often overlooked beauty of our surroundings with a lilting warmth, it showcases songwriter Benji Tranter’s ability to turn even the most everyday of situations into genuinely heartfelt, and instantly catchy, indie-pop anthems. (ML)

The Menstrual Cramps – ‘Abortion’
“I’ve had an abortion, no I’ve had two / If you don’t like it, then fuck you!” Straight to the point, as always, Bristol faves The Menstrual Cramps have now shared this raging, honest and utterly necessary pro-choice anthem at a time when we need it more than ever. Written in response to archaic laws being imposed against women who seek abortions, both in the US and here in the UK, the track seethes with a fierce angst, whilst showcasing front person Emilia’s trademark stark wit and ferocious energy. With their return, The Menstrual Cramps continue to create a perfect balance of unifying joy and rage that has never felt more urgent. I can’t wait to hear more of their cathartic, empowering anthems over the next few months. Find out more here. (Also, some welcome slightly positive news regarding abortion in the UK here.) (ML)

pink suits – ‘C.O.F.F.E.E.’
Following last year’s riotous single ‘Refuse The Rules’, total faves pink suits have now shared another taster of their upcoming second album in the form of a new tongue-twisting punk anthem. Although seemingly less politically charged than some of the Margate duo’s previous offerings, ‘C.O.F.F.E.E.’ touches on themes of addiction and exhaustion but with a racing, fun-fuelled energy, oozing the band’s playful charisma. Whilst essentially Lennie and Ray’s soundcheck song, it showcases all there is to love about the immense formidable force that is pink suits. Watch the caffeinated new video for ‘C.O.F.F.E.E.’ here. Dystopian Hellscape, the upcoming second album from pink suits, is set for release on 1st April. (ML)

Dermabrasion – ‘Magic Missile’
Another brooding, ominous cacophony from Toronto-based duo Dermabrasion. The band have just shared their superb debut album, Pain Behaviour, via Hand Drawn Dracula and it is well worth your attention. Industrial-tinged post punk noise: 100% a bit of me. (KC)

GHLOW – ‘Big City’
Stockholm alternative duo GHLOW are back with a brand new album, Levitate, which is set for release on 8th March via PNK SLM. This track, ‘Big City’ is the first exciting, intense glimpse of what listeners can expect from the new record. (KC)

The Fauns – ‘Shake Your Hair’
Following a decade-long hiatus, Bristol based shoegaze ensemble The Fauns have now returned to charm our ears, releasing their new album this month. Showcasing the sweeping ethereal soundscapes that we’ve come to know and love from the band, whilst dipping into newer, electro-driven sounds, the album as a whole oozes a mystical allure as glistening instrumentals provide a backdrop for Alison Garner’s exquisite emotion-rich vocals. I’ve had it on repeat since first hearing it, immersed in its captivating blissful haze. Read about the five songs that have inspired Garner’s vocal style the most here. How Lost, the new album from The Fauns, is out now via Invada. (ML)

Heart Rot – ‘Anchors To Elsa’
Inspired by the quiet-loud dynamics of the ‘90s grunge scene, New York band Heart Rot deliver their ethereal yet gritty creations with a fierce allure. A completely DIY project, the band draw influence from their experience as girls and connection to the natural world in their songwriting, and pride themselves as artists honing their craft; not just in creating their music, but in their merch too, hand-making it all from second-hand clothes. With just two songs out so far, they’re a new favourite for sure; I can’t wait to hear more of their raw, bewitching soundscapes. (ML)

Tusks – ‘Adore’
I love this evocative single from London-based electronic artist Tusks. It’s lifted from her her upcoming album, Gold, which is set for release on 12th April via One Little Independent Records. Inspired by a variety of contrasting experiences and emotions, the album is a dynamic, intricate musing on the shifting nature of love, time and change. I look forward to hearing it in full. (KC)

Fears – ‘4th of the 1st’
I’m so glad that Dublin-born, London-based interdisciplinary artist Constance Keane aka Fears is back! Taken from her upcoming second album, affinity, which is set for release on 22nd March via TULLE, this single ‘4th of the 1st’ delicately dismantles the duplicitous and intrusive thoughts that follow in the aftermath of a complicated breakup. It’s a poignant reflection on emotional resilience and self-soothing. Watch the accompanying video for it here. (KC)

Birthday Problem ft. Ailbhe Reddy – ‘E.L.E’
‘E.L.E’ is the atmospheric debut release from Birthday Problem, a collaborative electronica project between Irish musicians and producers Matt Harris (HAVVK) and Rocky O’Reilly. Released via VETA Records, ‘E.L.E’ – which stands for ‘Extinction Level Event’ – follows the narrative of a fictional character who is in an underground post-apocalyptic world. The track also features vocals from GIHE fave Ailbhe Reddy. (KC)

KÁRYYN – ‘Anthem For Those Who Know’
Marking her first new music release in four years, ‘Anthem For Those Who Know’ is a defiant return to form for Armenian-American songwriter, composer & producer KÁRYYN. It’s a poignant statement about self autonomy and the significance of advocating for yourself and others in the face of adversity. Co-produced with Hudson Mohawke and released via Mute, ‘Anthem For Those Who Know’ is a rumination on the importance of protest in all its forms. (KC)

Schande – ‘Relevant Campaigns’
I can’t seem to stop listening to this song and crying. A thing of pure beauty. Its twinkling grace. The whirring to-ing and fro-ing, like the constant rippling of the tide that keeps going even when everything else seems like it’s stopped. The shimmering hooks that rise and fall. Jen’s whispering vocals fading in and out with an understated melancholy. Written while her mother was terminally ill, it’s an exquisite rumination on the fragility of life and the strength of love. Watch the beautiful accompanying video here, and keep you eyes peeled for Schande’s upcoming new album, Once Around, set for release this year via Thurston Moore’s The Daydream Library Series. (ML)

Moor Mother – ‘Guilty’
Following critical acclaim for her 2021 album Black Encyclopedia Of The Air, innovative artist Camae Ayewa – aka Moor Mother – has now announced the release of her 9th studio album. Our first taste of the album comes in the form of ‘Guilty‘, a collaboration with Lonnie Holley, Mary Lattimore and Raia Was. Oozing a mystical energy, it encapsulates the sentiment of the album – a poignant and necessary message, bringing to our attention crimes committed by our ‘fair isle’. As the glistening musicality provides a backdrop to lists of ‘great’ Britain’s injustices against humanity and the harsh realities of colonialism, the juxtaposition of the horror of ‘Guilty’s message with the beauty of its musicality is stark. A hauntingly beautiful offering; an urgent message encased in an evocative sonic grace. The Great Bailout, the ninth album from Moor Mother, is set for release on 8th March via ANTI-. (ML)

Allison Lorenzen – ‘Words’ (Low Cover)
Taken from the upcoming album, Your Voice Is Not Enough – a tribute to the band Low – Allison Lorenzen’s cover of ‘Words’ made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I first listened to it. The album was born from a conversation between Planning For Burial’s Thom Wasluck and record label The Flenser, who were inspired by the “nuanced beauty” of Low’s discography. Whether you’re a fan of Low or not, Allison’s cover and the renditions on the record are well worth your attention. The album features contributions from Midwife, Amulets, Planning for Burial and more. (KC)

Katy Kirby – ‘Hand To Hand’
Flowing with lilting melodies and rich, sumptuous vocals, Brooklyn artist Katy Kirby’s new single reflects on what she calls ‘heteropessimism’ and the gory collapse of several relationships, with a twinkling, yet gritty, allure. The single comes ahead of the release of Kirby’s second album, Blue Raspberry, later this month, which sees her delving into her sexuality and the ways we present ourselves during the quest for love. The album’s out on 26th January via ANTI, and I can’t wait to hear more of Kirby’s beautifully honest creations. (ML)

bedbug – ‘halo on the interstate’
Originally a solo project from non-binary artist Dylan Gamez Citron, LA-based bedbug has now expanded its lineup to include Owen Harrelson, Minerva Rodriguez, Meilyn Huq and Drew Cunningham. Together, the band are preparing to release their fourth album, pack your bags, the sun is growing, on 15th March via Boston’s Disposable America label. This single ‘halo on the interstate’ showcases their fully fleshed out new sound perfectly. (KC)

Grace Petrie – ‘Start Again’
Having been a big fan of Grace Petrie for a number of years now, and being lucky enough to interview her back in 2021, I’m super excited to hear that she’ll be releasing her third album in March. With its chiming piano alongside Petrie’s heartfelt vocals, new single ‘Start Again’ offers a stirring first taste of the album; a rousing ode to the power of solidarity. Building with a gentle emotive spirit, it showcases her ability to create beautifully catchy folk-strewn anthems that ripple with an undercurrent of politically-charged urgency. Build Something Better, the upcoming album from Grace Petrie, is out on 8th March on The Robot Needs Home Collective. (ML)

Waxahatchee ft. MJ Lenderman – ‘Right Back To It’
Kansas based artist Katie Crutchfield aka Waxahatchee’s been one of my most played artists of the last few years – her heartfelt Americana-tinged ballads just get me every time. And latest single ‘Right Back To It’, is no different. Featuring MJ Lenderman on backing vocals, their voices intertwine to create blissful heartfelt harmonies alongside lilting banjo melodies; my favourite combination of sounds. It’s just exquisite and I can’t wait to hear more on the upcoming new album, Tiger’s Blood, set for release on 22nd March via ANTI-. (ML)

LISTEN: GIHE on Soho Radio with Scrounge (08.01.24)

New Year, New Music! Tash and Kate were back on Soho Radio’s airwaves for Get In Her Ears first show of 2024, 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 Big Joanie, NewDad, Katy Kirby, Jaed, Cutty, Baby Rose, Vyva Melinkolya, Laura Misch, Roller Derby, Kllo, Liv Wynter, CHERYM, Riotmiloo…and more.

GIHE faves Lucy and Luke from South London duo Scrounge also came into the studio to chat about their recent performance at Third Man Records, the award-winning artwork on their debut album Sugar, Daddy, and their upcoming trip to New York to play New Colossus festival. They also recounted some of their highlights of 2023, including a whirlwind tour with tee-side noise punks Benefits, which involved a lot of long distance driving, and a lot of early starts.

Listen back to the show below:

 

We’ll be back on Soho Radio on Monday 5th February from 12-2pm!
 Make sure you tune in via www.sohoradiolondon.com

Tracklist
Big Joanie – New Year
chlothegod ft. Baby Rose – Bless Your Heart pt. 2
Isaac Delusion, Olivia Merilahti – All day
NewDad – Nightmares
SPRINTS – Heavy
Thermal – 18
Laura Misch – Hide to Seek
Jaed – All Abandon
Cutty – Overdrive (Garage Mix)
Shygirl, Cosha – thicc
This Mortal Coil – Song To the Siren
Erika Severyns – Ireland
Softcult – Heaven
Vyva Melinkolya – Song About Staying
Chelsea Wolfe – Tunnel Lights
Scrounge – Corner Cutting Boredom
**Interview with Scrounge**
Liv Wynter – Violence
Riotmiloo – Define Normal
Kllo – Affection
Ghost Marrow – Might Of The Small
CHERYM – It’s Not Me It’s You
Bikini Kill – Rebel Girl
Katy Kirby – Hand To Hand
Roller Derby – Always on My Mind
Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club
Mary J. Blige – Family Affair

FIVE FAVOURITES: Dermabrasion

Creators of brooding gothic anthems that rumble with discontent, Toronto-based duo Dermabrasion are preparing to release their upcoming debut album, Pain Behaviour, on 26th January via Hand Drawn Dracula.

Formed of Adam Bernhardt and Kat McGouran, Dermabrasion bonded over a shared fascination with punk music, the occult and the corporeal form. Inspired by Roman Catholicism, LaVeyan Satanism, genre fiction and how this literature affects humanity’s outlook on power, shame and duty, Dermabrasion’s Pain Behaviour is a formidable concoction of post-punk, industrial and metal influences, culminating in a sound they’ve coined as “death rock and roll.”

We think one of the best ways to get to know a band is by asking what music inspired them to write in the first place. We caught up with Adam and Kat to ask about their “Five Favourites” – five albums that have inspired their songwriting techniques. Check out their choices below and scroll down to listen to their latest single ‘Magic Missile’ at the end of this post…

 

1. Sisters of Mercy – Floodland
Kat: Not going to pretend we are too cool to love this heater of a classic. We wanted to share albums versus songs because recording a full-length release and looking at it as a cohesive statement was a new thing for us. But some of our shared staples, like this one, showcase the form so well. From the drums and guitar striking like thunder and lightning in the first seconds of “Dominion” (always let it play all the way through) to its swampy final conclusion, Floodland weaves its tonal and atmospheric motifs throughout every track. Not a concept record, but with a distinct feeling of beginning, middle and end. Not a rock opera, just Daddy Eldritch in his most megalomaniacal era, seeing how far he can push the camp and bombast that he says is satire but probably comes from a very earnest place. Using big words and existential concepts to divine personal meaning; sax solos, runtimes that prolong undeniably solid grooves to the point of a game of chicken. The dark and indulgent excess is magnificent and I want to bathe in it.

Adam: It will never not be funny that Andrew Eldritch recorded an 11-minute diss track with a 40-piece choir and harpsichord.

2. The Mall – Zone
Adam: This album will make you want to buy a synth. I mean I did, I bought two. I think I found this album through the YouTube algorithm, which is always nice. I listened to it quite a bit over the course of lockdown and the pandemic, and I used to play it a lot when I went back to work over the intercom. They called it ‘weird spacey music.’ They also fired me. The album, though, is great. It’s an interesting mix of EBM and synth pop but hardcore. Songs like ‘Habit’ or ‘An Answer’ are absolute earworms, and they’ve got some really great mournful melodies that I eat right up. I guess it kind of evokes a liminal space in a dead mall, or maybe I’m reaching a bit, but I love it all the same. Also, if you get a chance to see them live, watching them is a real treat. They do it all without a DAW, which is crazy!

3. Special Interest – The Passion Of
Kat: The Passion Of feels like where Special Interest distills its years of experimentation and chaos and tour and, and, and, and, into its defining sound and statement as a recorded group as much as a legendary live performance act. The live chaos and urgency transmutes to an oppressive and textured noise fog, dynamic enough for listeners to pick out a different nuance each time. Alli Logout’s vocal performance just sends me. Hardcore as fuck, hitting incredible notes, each of which delivering a different shade of emotion for every word, speech, homily, manifesto, whether sung, screamed, chanted, spoken, proselytized. I could reserve all those nouns and verbs for “Street Pulse Beat” alone. The dirty, groovy drum and synth tracks, crunchy bass tones, the words, the mood, the vibe. I listened to this album a lot while sick and housebound during the pandemic and it seeped deep into my bones. A fitting soundtrack to mourn an old life, sexily, and summon forth a new one.

Special Interest came through our city a couple times between 2017-2019 and made a massive impression on us. It was the “DISCO” era and I remember their sound and performance feeling really transgressive, especially with what I understood to be the ‘rules’ for aggressive guitar music at the time. It was my first time experiencing music that felt and looked hardcore, ferocious, that took up the same space as any d-beat or powerviolence band’s live drums with electronic beats. You wanted to throw down but also watch and listen because they brought such a distinct attitude and confrontational point of view.

I had such a limited tolerance for what I would accept as “worthy” musically, going into my 20s, and am still trying to outgrow this macho bullshit about things needing to be “heavy” to be worthwhile. But to some degree this was/is a reflection of (and overcorrection against) the attitudes around me, and this band has been here providing a reference point for how to be hardcore, but be sexy about it, provocative, dancey, confrontational in a more distinct way. Just straight up different, but bringing the same feeling and energy to the sound and crowd.

4. Godflesh – Streetcleaner
Adam: I never listened to much metal growing up because all the metal guys I grew up with were bigoted assholes, and the punk v. metal divide seemed so very important back then. I forget how exactly I heard of Godflesh but a metal band with Swans, Big Black and Killing Joke influences definitely caught my interest. That they did that all without a drummer was just weird enough to sell it to me. All their albums are great, but I think Streetcleaner is probably my favorite. Man, is this album GRIM. The atmosphere is so oppressive, so bleak, so heavy. It’s the Silent Hill pain dimension with drop-tuned guitars. Justin Broadrick is able to evoke such brutal imagery with his guitar, and G.C. Green’s bass playing is so pummeling, it all serves to create this hypnotic wall of sound that oozes discomfort. Misanthropy in its purest form. Godflesh are super creative with their drum machine patterns, and I always find something new whenever I listen to them.

5. Danzig – Danzig
Kat: Unironically and unapologetically my favourite record. I love Danzig in every era, it’s hard to choose just one album. But I think what endears me to Danzig most is that he is just simply unwilling or unable to be anything other than exactly who he is, and to me this album is the clearest statement of that.

If I have the timeline right, most of these songs were written and in the process of being recorded while Samhain was still a thing. Releasing an album under his own name meant Danzig wouldn’t have to deal with lineup change issues, but he was still bitter and had something to prove. And he still had that death rock stank on him.

It just feels like there was so much riding on this release that he could have gone too far to ~realize~ his ~vision~. But then you have literally Rick Rubin telling you what to do and who to get to make it sound absolutely perfect. Cooking all of Danzig’s angst and ambition and hubris down to its most concentrated form, removing from it anything extraneous, for a thrifty 40 minutes of relentless howling into a sparse, airless void above the band’s tight and driving grooves. It shouldn’t be anything more. It is exactly enough. And he needed to yield some control so he didn’t sabotage himself.

Reading this back it all just sounds like what I really like is the narrative I’ve created in my head from the lore of this album which–there you go, that’s it really. I have a parasocial relationship with this record.

Adam: Danzig benefits from having someone who isn’t Danzig behind the dials (or film camera).

P.S. Please give us a round of applause as two insufferable and very online music forum nerds of the 2010s who neither once here used the word “angular.” Disclosing for accountability that a second use of the phrase “wall of sound” was removed in editing. (lol)

Check out Dermabrasion’s latest single ‘Magic Missile’ below

Pre-order Dermabrasion’s debut album Pain Behaviour here

Follow Dermabrasion on bandcamp, SpotifyInstagram

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut