street harrasment – Get In Her Ears

An uncompromising feminist anthem that centers women’s experiences of harassment and fears for their safety in public spheres, LOUD WOMEN have shared their new collaborative charity single ‘Reclaim These Streets’. Sparked by the conversations around the untimely deaths of Blessing Olusegun and Sarah Everard, LOUD WOMEN’s founder Cassie Fox invited a collection of female and non-binary musicians to rage alongside her on this vital musical statement, with all proceeds from the track being donated to UK charity Women’s Aid.

“Two women a week are killed by men. Refuge services are having to turn away one in two survivors of violence – and yet refuge funding has been cut by one quarter since 2010,” Cassie explains. “This is a song of feminist solidarity and hope – all women and gender non-conforming people have a right to walk safely on every street, and be safe in their own home.” Backed by the voices of Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama, Shakespears Sister), Brix Smith Start (The Fall/Brix & The Extricated) and Patsy Stevenson (the face of the Clapham vigil) and with instrumentation provided by members of My Bloody Valentine, Salad and T-Bitch, ‘Reclaim These Streets’ is a powerful and necessary punk offering that demands the right to exist in a world free from gender-based harassment and violence.

The track features over 60 female voices from the independent & alternative UK music scenes, including Estella Adeyeri (Big Joanie), Janey Starling (ex-Dream Nails), Nadia Javed (The Tuts), Ren Aldridge (Petrol Girls), Jo Bevan (Desperate Journalist), Siân Alex (Gold Baby), MIRI, Kat Five (Feral Five), Holly Carter (Berries), Angela Martin (Bugeye), Elis Sarv & Kelly Chard (Noise Noir) and many more.

‘Reclaim These Streets’ simmers with a palpable, justified rage and provides a cathartic burst of relief for female and non-binary listeners who have been living under the shadow of street harassment for most of their lives.

Watch the video for the track below. Download ‘Reclaim These Streets’ via bandcamp.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Full list of ‘Reclaim These Streets’ contributors:
Abby Werth of I, Doris and Argonaut
Amber of Hadda Be
Angela Martin of Bugeye
Bec Jevons of IDestroy
Brix Smith Start
Caroline Gilchrist of Hot Sauce Pony
Cassie Fox
Charley Stone
Debbie Googe
Debbie Smith
Dungareen Jean
Elis Sarv from Noise Noir
Ella Patenall of Naz & Ella
Emily Eagle of The Pukes
Emma Sky of Slut Magic
Erika Severyns
Estella Adeyeri of Big Joanie
Gail Something-Else of Muddy Summers & the Dirty Field Whores
Gemma Cullingford of Sink Ya Teeth
Georgie Willsher of Beverley Kills
Gilan
Harriet Doveton
Helen McCookerybook
Holly Carter of Berries
Jade Ellins
Janey Starling
Jen Macro
Jo Bevan
Joyce Raskin
Julie Riley of I Am HER
Karen of Hagar the Womb
Kat Five of Feral Five
Kel of The Empty Page
Kelly Chard
Kimmi Watson
Kristina Stazaker
Lee Friese-Greene
Lilith Ai
Liz Hayward of Ode to Sleep
Lorna Tiefholz of Rabies Babies
Marijne van der Vlugt
Michelle Marti of Girls Rock Indiana
Minni Moody
MIRI
Molly Energi
Nadia Javed
Ngaire Ruth
Nicki Mirage of Brazen Hussy/KNM
Patsy Stevenson
Paul Maps – Joyzine
Penfriend
Priya
Ren Aldridge of Petrol Girls
Ros Cairney of Deux Furieuses
Roshi Nasehi
Rowanna Chown
Sam McCann of Gender Chores
Shona MacMillan
Siân Alex of Gold Baby
Siobhan Fahey
Stevie B of T-Bitch
Suteki Hegg
The Pukes
Umbilica

Garage rockers Noise Noir have shared Jessica Jones style vigilante visuals to accompany their debut single ‘I Don’t Need You’. The footage – shot and directed by Sergio Angot – shows band members actively taking down those who think it’s okay to harass women in public or private places.

Speaking about the video, vocalist Kelly Chard explains: “I wanted the video for ‘I Don’t Need You’ to be a hyperbole of the feelings I felt when writing the song. Sexual harassment is very present in London, and I wanted to play a Jessica Jones type character in the video. So instead of feeling emotionally strong, I felt physically strong enough to fight off bad guys. Reaching equality is very close to our hearts, so I wanted to highlight sexual harassment and domestic abuse. The video is set in various locations in London throughout the day to show how harassment and violence can happen on the streets in broad daylight, behind closed doors, and in a public busy surrounding.”

Recorded by Margo Broom (Big Joanie, Yassassin), mixed by Greg Burns of Sit Down, and released through Kelly’s independent record label We Can Do It, ‘I Don’t Need You’ is a seething attempt to shout back and empower those who have felt vulnerable or victimised by street harassment. Together; Kelly, guitarist Anthony, bassist Elis & drummer Davide are here to set the record straight through vicious riffs and powerful vocals. Watch the video for ‘I Don’t Need You’ below and follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Jessie Morgan

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Tag: street harrasment

LISTEN: LOUD WOMEN – ‘Reclaim These Streets’

WATCH: Noise Noir – ‘I Don’t Need You’