WATCH: The Baby Seals – ‘Yawn Porn’

Following the release of their debut album, Chaos, earlier this year, and ahead of their headline gig with us at The Cavendish Arms on 12th September, Cambridgeshire feminist punks The Baby Seals have shared a homemade video for album track ‘Yawn Porn‘. Showcasing the band’s ability to bring a cathartic sense of fun to poignant subject matter, the track races with a driving energy and gritty raw emotion, offering a fierce take down of the continuing sexism and derogatory imagery that consumes the world’s porn industry. Of the track, front woman Kerry explains:

“Porn has been something I’ve been concerned about for a few years now, especially as I have friends with young children who could have access to it soon. And it always seems to end in the same way, with the same theme of women being minimalised, and always in a submissive role. ‘Yawn Porn’ is about the fact that I’d like the industry to shake it up a bit, and to celebrate women enjoying sex. I think we are failing our young people by allowing the industry to continue in a way that is derogatory towards women, and feel that we should be guiding young people to have healthy sexual relationships.”

The video for ‘Yawn Porn’ was filmed by the band in Brighton, and features some punk friends that they made on the beach that day, dancing and singing along to the track. Kerry adds, “I like that all our videos are very DIY, because I want people who might not necessarily be confident enough to pick up a guitar or be in a band to watch them and to know that anyone can do it as long as you’re having a good time!”

Watch the brand new video for ‘Yawn Porn’ here:


Don’t miss the chance to catch The Baby Seals live at The Cavendish Arms, next Thursday 12th September. Support comes from indie legend Charley Stone and exciting new band Skutterfly. Tickets are cheaper in advance, and it really helps us and the bands if you’re able to nab yours sooner rather than later – so, pick one up on Dice now!

Chaos, the debut album from The Baby Seals, is out now via Trapped Animal / Green Island / Big Romantic.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

mariangelicalaneLeave a comment

WATCH: The Baby Seals – ‘Mild Misogynist’

‘Mild Misogynist‘ from long-term GIHE faves, Cambridge band The Baby Seals, is a song for every woman who has ever smiled and nodded silently while a mediocre man prattled on about how lucky everyone around him really is to have him in their life, secretly knowing he’s a few pints away from calling his ex crazy.

It is a high energy track with roaring guitars and throbbing drums that releases years of pent up frustration from the very opening bars. There is no attempt to soften the message, creating a cathartic energy that is difficult not to get caught up in.

‘Mild Misogynist’ is a painfully relatable song. It calls out the kind of person that might not be the most abhorrent of bigots, but nonetheless can be a hugely damaging presence in the lives of those around them with their casual approach to misogyny. The only way you don’t listen to this song and immediately think of someone who fits the description perfectly is if you are in fact that person that everyone around you finds terribly exhausting. It calls out nice guys and performative allies, the kind of person who doesn’t do anything that actually helps oppressed people, but makes a big deal out of having a friend with a minority background and is overtly, annoyingly proud of not doing hate crimes while still casually spewing micro-aggressions.

The track has a raw, unfiltered sound that comes right from the gut. There is no filter constricting this outpouring of feeling. It’s an eye-rolling purge of exasperation that comes from finally allowing yourself to speak freely. The upbeat rhythm and fun melodies stand in excellently stark contrast to the irritating subject matter. The song ramps up to its climactic ending, taking immense joy in feeling every emotion. The lines “The girls really like / The way I try / To kiss” are repeated with an increasing sarcasm that is delightful to hear, and revels in the simple yet rare pleasure of fully expressing every moment of built up frustration.

Watch the accompanying new video to ‘Mild Misogynist‘ here:


‘Mild Misogynist’ is our first taster of The Baby Seals’ upcoming debut album, Chaos – set for release this Spring via Trapped Animal. And we cannot wait to hear more of their sassy wit and empowering energy! Find out more about The Baby Seals and their upcoming live shows here.

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

Kirstie SummersLeave a comment

LIVE: Dream Nails – Old Blue Last, London 07.10.19

“You are not your job! Work is not your life!” belts lead vocalist Janey from feminist punk band Dream Nails – a validating statement that has their sold out crowd at Old Blue Last shouting back in agreement. Celebrating the release of their new single ‘Corporate Realness’ (from which the lyrics are taken); Janey, guitarist Anya, drummer Lucy, and bassist Mimi lit up the stage with their defiant anthems.

Get In Her Ears have been to many a Dream Nails gig, and we keep returning to see them for the same reasons: empowerment, solidarity, and comfort. Their songs about avoiding creepy grief thieves (‘Tourist’) and getting ghosted (‘Chirpse Degree Burns’) use humour to deflect from the stresses of navigating everyday life, but their ability to switch between the silly and the serious is what makes their live performances so vital.

Delivering their familiar and necessary chant of “women and non-binary people to the front, men to the back” three songs in, the band present an unshakable confidence as they blitz through their 40 minute set. Janey’s voice soars over the perfectly curated noise that Anya, Lucy & Mimi create, and is equally as commanding when she speaks about worthy causes and shameful statistics between songs.

Championing the cause of Solidarity Not Silence, Janey shouts out to the first support act of the night, Nadia Javed of The Tuts. She encourages the crowd to believe and support women who speak out against their abusers, and to follow the campaign that Nadia and other female musicians are a part of.

The band’s collective rage boils over during ‘Joke Choke’, a song that takes down people who think rape jokes are funny in a country where two women a week are killed by a current or former partner. It’s two minutes of frenzied guitar and crashing percussion, and a cathartic burst of righteous energy.

Much like second support act The Baby Seals – whose frontwoman Kerry described her sweat level as “bio-hazard” – Dream Nails know how to get their crowd working out. During their song ‘Jillian’, which is dedicated to cult fitness coach Jillian Michaels, the band ask everyone to squat down for a few moments, before leaping back up to join them in their poppy ode to the health guru.

It wouldn’t be a proper Dream Nails gig without renditions of iconic singles ‘DIY’ and ‘Deep Heat’. The first arrives mid-way through the set, with the crowd screaming back “Do It Yourself!” at all the right intervals. The latter closes the band’s set in furious style, proving that the band’s hex on Donald Trump and his British counterpart Boris Johnson is still as potent as ever.

With their militant mindset and knockout delivery, Dream Nails set at Old Blue Last was a reminder to all to keep fighting in the face of adversity, and to have a fucking good laugh whilst you’re doing it.

Follow Dream Nails on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Chloe Hashemi & Emily Barker

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Premiere: Kerry Devine – ‘Ariel’ (Oscuro Remix)

Having received acclaim from the likes of BBC Radio 2’s Marc Radcliffe and BBC Radio 5 Live, East Anglia artist Kerry Devine (The Baby Seals) has now shared a brand new remix of her captivating single ‘Ariel’.

Using the poetry of the Fenland landscape to inspire her work, Devine captures sounds and conversations to weave beautifully poetic stories, as exemplified in this latest offering. Remixed by fellow East Anglian Oscuro, this version of ‘Ariel’ flows with swooping beats and ethereal chiming hooks accompanying Devine’s soaring, rich vocals. Creating a twinkling, swirling soundscape, it’s a truly dreamy slice of effervescent alt-pop that demands multiple listens.

Of the remix, Oscuro explains:

“I really wanted to create an engaging sonic backdrop to support the vocal, I am always interested in the relationship between vocals and music and like to explore different ways to enhance the meaning of the lyrics with sound choice and processing.”

Watch the euphoric new video for the Oscuro remix of ‘Ariel’, for the first time, here:

‘Ariel’ (Oscuro Remix) is out tomorrow, 14th June, via Trapped Animal Records and Cargo Records UK.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment