PLAYLIST: January 2018

The festive period is over and we’re almost seven whole days in to 2018. Where did the time go? Who knows? The only thing we really know is our shiny new January playlist is well worth investing some listening time in. Chuck it on while you’re at your brand new gym, cooking up that healthy new dinner, or simply not surrendering to the overwhelming pressure that surrounds the ‘NEW YEAR NEW ME’ outlook…

The Big Moon – ‘Happy New Year’
2017 was a tough year, but it would’ve been tougher without our favourite garage-rockers The Big Moon. Their laid back anthems have covered love, loss, and “pull(ing) the other one”; and ‘Happy New Year’ is the perfect ambivalent alternative to ‘Auld Lang Syne’. Plus, there’s a suave dance routine you can mimic in their music video. All you need is a suit and some sass. (Kate Crudgington)

The Distillers – ‘I Am A Revenant’ 
“Another year has passed and I’m alright…”
Not going to lie, I’ve been pretty obsessed with Brody Dalle since first hearing Sing Sing Death House as a hormone-filled sixteen year old back in 2002. Her impassioned growl, ferocious snarl, and punk-inspired swagger was the perfect raging accompaniment to the trials and tribulations of teenage-dom. So, I was gushing with excitement to see The Distillers’ teaser this week for new material coming up in 2018 because even now, as a slightly more balanced thirty-one year old, I’m still in need of a raging accompaniment to life. (Mari Lane)

Pumarosa – ‘Sacerdotisa’
London electro-post-punk five-piece Pumarosa have released a new Spanish version of their debut single ‘Priestess’. In an interview with Q, vocalist Isabel Munoz-Newsome said: “politically, there’s this separatist theme and the Spanish government is shutting it down in a violent way. You can’t just shut down an opinion…I hope that this will translate and they’ll hear them.” I loved the original and I love this version. 2018 will no doubt hold a lot of political change and we definitely need a soundtrack for that. (Tash Walker)

Pretenders – ‘I Hate Myself’
Drank a life-ruining amount of gin on New Years Eve? Failed to start your new exercise routine? Considering signing up to Tinder again because you don’t want to die alone? Just me? Ah, sod all that ‘NEW YEAR NEW ME’ nonsense. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of self-deprecation, especially when you’re being schooled in it by rock n roll’s finest: Chrissie Hynde. (KC)

Green Pitch – ‘New Year Departure’
I came across Green Pitch in 2009 because I was mad about a band called The River Phoenix, and their lead singer provides the male vocals on this morose, melodic call and response track. It’s a bit heavy on the heart-strings, but give the rest of Green Pitch’s stuff a listen if you like melancholy, alternative sounds. (KC)

Camera Obscura – ‘New Year’s Resolution’
Whilst not a new song, I couldn’t not include this beautifully reflective offering from Camera Obscura’s epic 2013 album Desire Lines as we venture into 2018, and I vow – as I do every year – to “write something of value”. This heartfelt track gets me every time, especially since the tragic loss of Carey Lander over two years ago. (ML)

Sudan Archives – ‘Come Meh Way’
Sudan Archives is the music project from Brittney Denise Parks, a self-taught violinist, vocalist and producer – citing influencers from Sudanese fiddlers to experimental electronica. The almost unemotional vocals layered on top of the West-African folk fiddle, mixed in with percussion from hand-claps to tambourine, make this a concoction I’ve not come across before, and I can’t get this track out of my head. (TW)

Night Shades – ‘Caveman Crawl’
Formed back in 2014 when Shaun Blackwell and Clare McNamara arrived in London from New Zealand and met drummer Niall Kavanagh, Night Shades released their Evil Dreams EP in October last year. Taken from the EP, ‘Caveman Crawl’ is a raw, explosive blast of grunge-inspired rock ‘n’ roll. A hauntingly alluring offering that leaves us excited for what this promising band have to offer in 2018. (ML)

Witch Fever – ‘Carpet Asphyxiation’ 
I just love the raw, frenzied cacophony and shrieking vocals of this explosive track from Manchester based grunge-punk band. Describing themselves as “making noise with our big muffs”, Witch Fever will be headlining our first live night at The Finsbury of 2018 next Friday, 12th January, and we could not be more excited! (ML)

The Nyx – ‘Only One’
We are so excited to have The Nyx performing alongside Witch Fever at The Finsbury on the 12th, and we can’t wait to hear this new track live in the flesh. The band are going to be releasing a new tune to coincide with the appearance of every full moon this year, so keep your eyes peeled for more releases from these talented, tenacious women. ‘Only One’ isn’t up on Spotify yet, so listen to it below. (KC)

Rage Against The Machine – ‘War Within A Breath’
Whilst Zach De La Rocha’s lyric “Everything can change, on a New Year’s Day” is a direct reference to the date the Zapatistas revolted against the Mexican government in 1994, it’s  the perfect mantra for anyone who thinks 2018 is the year to become more politically engaged. If I can learn this tiny piece of background info about ‘War Within A Breath’ from a quick Google search, there’s no excuse for us not to switch ourselves on to politics in 2018. Let’s not have a repeat of 2017 (please?) (KC)

Soundgarden – ‘The Day I Tried To Live’
The start of a new year often causes us to reflect on those we’ve lost over the last twelve months. For me, personally, Chris Cornell passing away in 2017 was massively affecting. I heard the news the same day I was diagnosed with Endometriosis, and immediately turned to the majestic dark solace of his creations, just as I had on first falling in love with him as a discombobulated teen. I find this track from 1994’s Superunknown particularly poignant; and the suicide of musicians such as Cornell and Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington recently, a real wake up call to the issue of mental health in the industry. (ML)

Moglebaum – ‘Phone’
Moglebaum are a five-piece electronic act from Germany, and ‘Phone’ is taken from their upcoming record Grown Heat. It’s an ever-changing electronic track whose samples, beats and vocals deliver something new each time I listen. This is the perfect track to slip into during the dark first month of 2018 – January, we’ve got you. Self-defined as “Organic Electronic” could these guys be the 2018 trend we’ve all been looking for? Get listening and get talking. (TW)

Bloom Twins – ‘Talk To Me’
Teaming up with charities to raise awareness of pressing issues is not a new concept for the Bloom Twins. 2015 saw the twins joining forces with UNICEF, covering John Lennon’s iconic ‘Imagine’, in a campaign for children’s rights across the globe. This time, they’re combining action with their harmony-strewn electro-pop with latest single ‘Talk To Me’, in which they raise awareness of the importance of talking about mental health. (ML)

Poppy Ackroyd – ‘The Calm Before’
Composer Poppy Ackroyd, is a trained pianist, violinist and producer, and this track is taken from her upcoming album Resolve (released on 26th Jan via One Little Indian Records). ‘The Calm Before’ is almost entirely made up of clarinet sounds, even the percussion was created using layers of clicking clarinet and bass clarinet keys, starting with a looped and chopped rhythm taken from an improvisation that appears throughout. I think it’s breathtakingly beautiful, and I can’t wait for the album. (TW)

David Bowie – ‘Lady Grinning Soul’
The world lost the Starman two years ago in January 2016, and I’m still not over it. Whilst picking a favourite song from Bowie’s diverse and impeccable discography is always a struggle, I’ve chosen ‘Lady Grinning Soul’ because it was one of the first tracks that struck a chord with me when I arrived (very late) to the Bowie-loving party. (KC)

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Premiere: The Nyx – ‘Only One’

We’ve been huge fans of London band The Nyx for a while now. They’ve wowed us on numerous occasions with the electrifying energy of their live shows, received acclaim from the likes of Clash and Q Magazine for their eponymous debut EP, and have been responsible for one of our favourite tracks of 2017, with the seething ferocity of ‘Fire Breathing Lady’.

Now, with the start of a new year, The Nyx are back with a new release for every full moon of 2018. Kicking off the series is new single ‘Only One’. Out today, it oozes an immense, raw passion and emotion-strewn power; a perfectly glorious, riotous re-introduction to one of the most innovative bands of recent times.

We caught up with Becky from the band to find out more about the new releases and how The Nyx have come to be the exceptional, empowering force that they are today.

Hi! We’ve been big fans of The Nyx for a while now, but for those readers who aren’t familiar with the band, can you tell us a bit about who you are and what you do?
Hey, thank you! We are a group of women from London who make glass (ceiling) shattering rock music.

With empowering tracks such as ‘Fire Breathing Lady’, your music celebrates womanhood with an admirable energy. Did you make a conscious decision to focus on the theme of being female in your songs?
‘Being female’ is a large part of The Nyx. We’re purposefully an all-female group. The reason being – we’re stickin’ it to the man (both the system and the patriarchy)!! You only need to look at any Reading and Leeds festival line up, or any ‘Rock’ playlist on Spotify to realise how unbalanced the rock genre is (which mirrors the wider music industry, and also most other industries, and the world at large). It’s very frustrating, and part of The Nyx’s existence is, to quote Gandhi, “to be the change we want to see”. So, we do have some songs which channel the frustration we feel at the state of feminism, and it’s no surprise that they’re usually the heavier, more angsty tracks like ‘Fire Breathing Lady’. We always make sure they’re positive and empowering, but they come from a pretty pissed off place… But in all honesty, most of our tracks actually don’t focus on female empowerment. Most of them are pretty personal, or even political. Feminism is just one string on a large bow for us.

And will the new songs you release this year be continuing in the same vein?
I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people this year with what we’ve got planned. The music we’ve released so far as The Nyx, and the songs we’ve played live, are all pretty similar. Big rock, energetic tracks. But we’re actually a lot more versatile than that, and we haven’t really shown our true colours yet. We’ve got a whole load of slower jams under our belt. We’re also planning an acoustic release, and maybe even some genre clashes!!

Having so many releases planned next year will allow us to get that across, as opposed to what’s possible with a restrictive 4 track EP. Each full moon release stands on its own; we’re not playing to any rules. I kind of imagine it’s like we’re throwing punches. Oh, a soft track, cool, I know exactly who The Nyx are – another wishy washy girl band; oh SHIT, it’s a heavy banger; DAMN, that riff. WHAT?!?! Acoustic track uppercut, wasn’t expecting that; IS THAT A COVER coming at me from behind?! WOAH, I was just tripped up by a reggae song… The aim is to blow all expectations out of the ring. Those who know us already, we’re only just getting started. Those who don’t, you won’t have seen anything like this before.

You’re going to be releasing a new song on each full moon of 2018, which is a pretty unique idea. What was it that inspired you to do this?
Being in an unsigned band with limited/zero funds can sometimes feel like you’re screaming at the top of your lungs while floating through space. We released our first EP in 2017. We worked really hard at it but it just didn’t get enough exposure to elevate us. Following that we recorded two more tracks, which we’ve been sitting on for about a year, and have been waiting to release. While hitting our heads against a brick wall – thinking “are we just going to let these tracks loose into the big scary internet again so our Mums can listen to them 50 times and that’s about it” – the idea seemingly fell out of the sky. Release a track every full moon. It just felt so right. It was something really different – which showcases how much of an innovative band we are. We don’t want to follow what’s come before. It also linked perfectly with our ‘brand’ and what we stand for. The Nyx is named after the Greek Goddess of the night. Each moon represents a monthly cycle. It just represents us and what we stand for perfectly.

Releasing a track every full moon for a year also represented how we really want to make this year ours. We’ve been slogging along as a band for around five years now: two years as The Nyx, three years under a different name. In the two years of The Nyx, we’ve managed to lose three drummers which has really tripped us up every time, and made us ask “is someone trying to tell us something here???” We are so unbelievably passionate about what we do, which is why we keep giving it our all despite the sometimes bleak outlook over the past five years. As careers try to drag us into the system, and the band started to drift into a dream rather than a goal, we decided FUCK THIS we’re taking control. The full moon releases represent this.

The first new single ‘Only One’ is out today. Can you tell us a bit about the track and what it’s all about?
Something we’ve never been outwardly open about with the band is that me (Becky) and Simone are in a relationship and have been for the past five years. Especially in the early years of the band, we kind of kept it under wraps, thinking it was a ‘professional’ thing to do. But our connection is a huuuge part of what The Nyx is. ‘Only One’ is written about us.

What was the recording process of the new material like, and how did it differ from your previous work? Does one of you tend to do the majority of the writing, or do you take turns and share the responsibility?
‘Only One’ was actually recorded over a year ago now, and even in 12 months, it feels a bit old! I think that shows how much we’ve been growing as a band recently – we’ve really found our sound now. This time last year (with ‘Only One’), it was in its adolescence. I think that’s something which has made the five years of the band really worthwhile; we’ve bounced through multiple genres, and finally settled on a sound which feels like it’s OURS. The way it used to be is I’d write some songs, Simone would write some songs, then we’d play our separate songs. In the early days there was a really clear difference in the writing styles – my tracks were a lot more bluesy, Simone’s much more soul-infused. Coming to our shows was like watching two different bands in one. Then, over the years, we’ve fused together. We’ve found our flow.

Recently, we’ve been in the studio with Grammy award-winning producer Tommaso Colliva (Muse, Phoenix). We’ve currently recorded two tracks with him, which will be our 3rd and 4th full moon releases. They’ve really stepped up the game for us, which is how we’re looking to continue throughout the year with our releases, with each one building on the last.

Following the release of ‘Only One’, you’re going to be playing for us at The Finsbury on 12th January (which is going to be awesome!). What can fans expect from your live shows?
We are SO excited for 12th January because it’s our first gig in about 6 months (so we might actually explode on stage!). Also, it will be the first show playing with our new drummer who is amazing and we can’t wait to unveil her (also shitting it because she’s only been with us a month = pressure). Half the songs in the set are completely new so it’s kind of the first show of the new era of The Nyx (also = pressure). Playing live is where we shine. Our energy is something we’re often praised for, and live shows are where we can really get that across. We’re all completely invested in the moment and just let go of everything. Anything can happen and no two shows are the same. Come see for yourself!

And finally, with all these new tracks set for release, will there be an album coming up on the horizon?
We’re going to finish the year with thirteen tracks released. Feels like quite a nice album doesn’t it? But in all honesty, we’re not thinking that far ahead yet. We’ve only got four tracks recorded so far. And it was only last week that we discovered 2018 was an odd year where there’s an extra moon, so that’s made our lives a lot easier… We’re going to take it month by month and see what happens. But we know we’ve really set ourselves up for a challenge here. Again, being an unsigned band with zero funds, I really don’t know what the hell we’re thinking. But it feels right, and with enough growing support it will really spur us on to make this our year.

Huge thanks to The Nyx for answering our questions! Listen to brand new single ‘Only One’, for the first time, here:

 

Catch The Nyx at The Finsbury on 12th January for Get In Her Ears Live, along with Witch Fever, ARXX and Militant Girlfriend!

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Get In Her Ears w/ The Nyx

Kate and Tash were on air for the final show of 2017! They started with Black Christmas by Poly Styrene and ended on The Pogues – Fairytale of New York with all the best new music jammed in betwee. Highlights from Sacred Paws, H1987 and Pool Cosby. Becky from The Nyx joined them in the studio for the radio exclusive of their new track Only One released 2nd January 2018.

See you all in the new year!

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Tracks Of The Year 2017

As Time Magazine recently called it, 2017 is the year of The Silence Breakers, and us Get In Her Ears girls are here to support the women who are making all the right kinds of noise.

It has been increasingly difficult to absorb and process daily news stories about women and girls who have been sexually assaulted and raped by powerful men who (wrongly) assumed they would get away with it. Women from all walks of life started to use the #MeToo campaign to document their experiences of sexual harassment and assault earlier this year, and since then perpetrators have been called out, shamed, and fired – though few have apologised for their actions.

Whilst we can’t seem to stem the flow of pain caused by stories of inherent societal sexism, or the tories’ budget cuts to vital women’s services here in the UK, we can provide some respite in the form of some of our favourite immensely talented, informed, brilliant female musicians. These are the women who rocked our world in 2017 – we’d be lost without their precious anthems. Take a look at our top tracks below…

The Nyx – ‘Fire Breathing Lady’
Exuding their intense, raucous energy The Nyx deliver immense, electrifying offerings. Fuelled by a seething passion, ‘Fire Breathing Lady’ hits you with its fierce, empowering force like nothing you’ve heard before. I’ve had this track on repeat throughout the year – its thrashing power having seen me through the trials and tribulations of 2017, and marking these exceptional women out as a real force to be reckoned with. So, turn up the riotous sound of ‘Fire Breathing Lady’ and celebrate your womanly powers in all their glory. (Mari Lane)

Nova Twins – ‘Mood Swings’
Driven by devious and distorted basslines, Nova Twins (aka Amy & Georgia) have unmatchable attitude and instinct for writing anarchic anthems, and ‘Mood Swings’ is a warped reflection of swift emotional shifts that will be buzzing around your brain long after it’s stopped playing.
(Kate Crudgington)

Sink Ya Teeth – ‘If You See Me’
‘If You See Me’ was the debut single from Sink Ya Teeth who signed to James Endeacott’s 1965 Records this year. The track is drenched in addictive beats and nods to post-punk royalty ESG. A particular highlight for me was watching Sink Ya Teeth perform this live at one of our Finsbury nights; catch them if you can, these guys are worth seeing live. (Tash Walker)

Lizzo – ‘Water Me’
I’ve been in love with (queen) Lizzo for some time… I was completely obsessed with the uplifting wit of her 2014 track ‘Batches And Cookies’. And I’ve been equally head over heels with this year’s ‘Water Me’. A super empowering anthem, it’s filled with immense hooks and the completely infectious, invigorating chorus as Lizzo repeats “I am my inspiration”. Lizzo explains of the track: “It’s about needing nourishment, it’s about being loved for who you are. We’re celebrating black beauty and the meaningful freedom of water.” So, nourish yourself, inspire yourself, and fall in love with Lizzo’s ‘Water Me’. (ML)

Smerz – ‘Because’
Low slung rhythms, crunching beats and those ever so distinctive vocals, Because in short is some of the best obscure techno-pop around. Copenhagen based duo delivering distorted electro tracks, a perfect mix of minimal futurism and experimental nostalgia. I’m so into this track, it makes me feel like I want to don a heavy orange bomber jacket, an East 17 style beanie and head down to some industrial rave in a warehouse and two-step the night. (TW)

Dream Wife – ‘Let’s Make Out’
It was difficult to choose a specific Dream Wife track this year, as both ‘Somebody’ and ‘Let’s Make Out’ were equally as catchy and important as each other. Whilst ‘Somebody’ addresses victim-blaming and the shame around sexual assault, ‘Let’s Make Out’ is a shamelessly confident anthem about acting on your own consensual desires. I was fortunate enough to be on set during the video shoot, and it was a real joy to watch the band and their friends dance around at fake prom, living their best lives. (KC)

Queen Zee – ‘Boy’
I’m hooked on Liverpool punk sass-perts Queen Zee. ‘Boy’ is the first track of theirs that reached my ears, and it’s an anthem for trans-gender rockers and their allies who refuse to be oppressed by transphobic or homophobic attitudes.(KC)

The Orielles – Sugar Tastes Like Salt
In case you haven’t noticed, The Orielles have had the title of my favourite band for a while now. I named them as Ones To Watch last year, and it seems they’ve lived up to that title – having wowed crowds at festivals this summer (including a wonderful set at Green Man), become a BBC 6 Music favourite and received acclaim from the likes of The Guardian , as well as many other esteemed publications.

Though I’m a fan of everything they have to offer, this year’s ‘Sugar Tastes Like Salt’ is a truly epic creation. Racing with pounding beats, scuzzy hooks, jangly melodies and woozy vocals, Sid, Esmé and Henry show they’re capable of greatness with this dreamy offering. At just over eight minutes long, it truly is an anthem in every sense of the word. An anthem heralding the arrival of The Orielles into the ears of masses. The band’s first release on Heavenly Recordings, ‘Sugar Tastes Like Salt’ is a magnificent, clattering cacophony; a frenzied fusion of sounds that takes you on a musical adventure into the minds of its creators. (ML)

Madame So – ‘Black Is Beautiful’
London-based promoters LOUD WOMEN released their first compilation CD this year (buy a copy here), and Madame So gifted them with this superb track. ‘Black Is Beautiful’ is a poignant song about race, identity, and doing things for yourself. Her lyrics and unique voice move me each time I listen (and I love her reference to The Cure). (KC)

Amparo – ‘Reset’
If I could…I would have chosen everything that Amparo has released this year, constantly creating such beautiful dreamy soundscapes but if forced (and I am being forced) I’d go with ‘Reset’. A firm favourite of mine taken from Amparo’s EP Isolated Islands which has a melodic-chill atmosphere created with the idea of being enjoyed whilst exploring the outdoors. Absolutely excellent listening. (TW)

 

Beckie Margaret – ‘At Home (Where I Write)’
Cool Thing Records introduced me to Beckie Margaret in late 2016, and I’ve been mesmerised by her ever since. She has such a pure, faultless voice and it was a pleasure to interview her before her debut London show at The Waiting Room in October of this year. This is her second single, following on from ‘Cars & Catacombs’ and it’s totally divine. (KC)

Noga Erez – ‘Dance While You Shoot’ 
A sheer force to be reckoned with, if ever there was one, Tel Aviv artist Noga Erez has blown me away with her immense arrival into our ears (and eyes at Visions Festival!) this year. An utterly compelling performer, she oozes an hypnotic elegance as she delivers the glitchy, sweeping cacophony of ‘Dance While You Shoot’. In this utterly infectious track, Erez combines a magnetising grace with with a fiery, frenzied power; cementing herself firmly as one of the most exciting artists around, and a simply stunning performer. (ML) 

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