Premiere: Nun Habit – ‘Slip ‘n’ Slide’ / ‘Righteous Jerk’

Having wowed us with their sparkling charisma and buoyant energy playing for us at The Finsbury back in 2020, London-based queer five-piece Nun Habit have now announced their debut album, set for release in August. Taken from the album, the band have now shared a very special double A-side release with us.

First up, it’s ‘Righteous Jerk’ – “an anthem for the breaker-upperee whose only regret is that they didn’t get around to doing it first“, it oozes an eerie mysticism before being propelled by thrashing beats and scuzzy, reverb-strewn riffs. With a shimmering whirr of synths and Kate’s sweeping soulful vocals, it builds with an anthemic fuzz and twinkling energy as rich musical layers are fused together to create a frenzied, swirling splendour.

Then a different side to Nun Habit is revealed in ‘Slip n Slide’. With Greg taking the lead with the vocals this time, it begins as a gentler offering as delicate effervescent melodies flow alongside a glistening fuzzy whirr, with shades of the likes of The Postal Service. Sparkling with a lilting, jangly energy, the track graduates to a vibrant disco-infused cacophony, showcasing the band’s wonderfully quirky charisma.

Offering a much-needed euphoric sense of joy, both tracks exemplify all there is to love about Nun Habit. Not only their eclectic, musically rich soundscapes, but also their infectious sense of fun and refreshing tongue-in-cheek wit of their imaginative lyricism. Both ‘Righteous Jerk and ‘Slip n Slide’ will have you up and bopping ’round the living room, longing to be surrounded by sweaty friends dancing along to the unique, immersive energy of Nun Habit live.

‘Righteous Jerk’/’Slip n Slide’ is out on Monday, 5th April. Which also marks the day that Nun Habit launch a Kickstarter campaign to fund a vinyl pressing of their upcoming album, hedge fun. Produced by Ric James (Yassassin, Foals), hedge fun will be released in August, with an accompanying celebratory launch party on 16th August at The Victoria in Dalston. More info on bandcamp.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Armadillo Media / @Armadillo_Media

 

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PREMIERE: Yumi And The Weather – ‘What Will Become Of The Wishing Well’ (Inwards Remix)

With acclaim from the likes of John Kennedy and BBC 6Music’s Nemone, Brighton based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Yumi And The Weather (aka Ruby Taylor) has now shared a fresh remix of her latest single ‘What Will Become Of The Wishing Well‘. Re-imagined by label-mate and rising Worcestershire producer INWARDS (aka Kristian Shelley), it’s the first single to be taken from Yumi And The Weather’s upcoming new EP, set for release at the beginning of next month. 

Maintaining the soaring rich vocals and twinkling uptempo vibes of the original, INWARDS’ remix enhances the already present glitchy beats of the track and creates a whirring, electro-fused soundscape, replicating the original instrumental parts with electronics. Propelled by a gritty, driving energy and sweeping, reverb-strewn splendour, this latest rendition of ‘What Will Become Of The Wishing Well’ is a truly captivating and instantly uplifting offering, reminiscent of the dreamy majesty of the likes of The Postal Service.

Listen to INWARDS’ remix of Yumi And The Weather’s ‘What Will Become Of The Wishing Well’ now, and read our interview with Ruby Taylor about the track and her inspirations behind it below.

 

Hi Ruby, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
Hello! I am a musician/songwriter/producer based in Brighton and I make music under the name Yumi And The Weather.

How did you initially decide to start creating music?
I suppose it was a natural process as I started playing guitar and writing songs so it just came about from that, so wouldn’t say it was a decision… I suppose it was more of an experiment! Some guitarists just stick to guitar, but I started writing songs and taught myself how to sing through doing that, and I am so glad I tried it out!

Your single ‘What Will Become Of The Wishing Well’ is out now – can you tell us what it’s all about?
It was written about the misinformation and lies from the government around COVID and how we as humans are trying to keep our heads above water at this very uncertain time. The title comes from the idea that we are heading in to a cashless society, so it made me think about coins and how we have always used them for making wishes in the wishing well.

And it’s now been remixed by INWARDS – how did this collaboration come about?
I’ve known Kris for a couple of years before signing to Small Pond. We met at Nozstock festival a few years back as Yumi were playing and our radio plugger introduced us, and I listened to his music on the way home and it was so sick. I’ve always been a massive fan of his music so I was so happy when he said he wanted to remix this song.

We love the dreamy melodies and soaring vocals of your songs, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
Oh wow such a hard question… My main influences have changed over the years from starting the project, but I suppose to name a few for this EP would be: Mamman Sani, Secret Service, Alvvays, Dire Straits and The Cure.

Of course, no one’s going to see live music right now, but – in more ‘normal’ times – how is your local music scene? Do you go to see lots of live music?
My local music scene is incredible and I miss it so much. I was trying to go to a gig a week minimum before lockdown, and I can’t wait to get out again. Live music is something you just can’t beat and all this virtual gig stuff I know people are trying but it doesn’t cut it for me. Nothing beats being in a room with people losing themselves and being immersed in sound waves that are being created right in front of you.

And what can fans expect from your live shows?
Me and my live band being there in person, and trying to imitate the recordings – ha ha! Yeah, nothing fancy, just maybe that we are wearing clean clothes.

How do you feel the music industry is for new artists at the moment – would you say it’s difficult to get noticed?
As it’s very much a DIY ethos these days, you can’t just be a musician anymore – you kind of have to learn a bit about marketing and promotion etc. So, it’s a shame really because you would just want to spend most of your time writing and being expressive. So, it’s not difficult to get noticed, it’s more difficult to know how to get noticed, if you want to get noticed. But, ultimately, it’s being in the right place at the right time, because you meet people along the way and you don’t realise how people can have an effect until further down the line.

Finally, as we’re a new music focused site, are there any other new/upcoming bands or artists you’d recommend we check out?
At the moment I can’t stop telling people about a band called Actors. They released an album in 2019 and it’s fantastic. New/upcoming bands-wise I think keep an ear out for Club Kuru (UK), Oslo Parks (UK), Clementine Dream (FR), and SONS (BE).

Huge thanks to Ruby for answering our questions! 

‘What Will Become Of The Wishing Well’ is out now, taken from Yumi And The Weather’s upcoming EP, Some Days, set for release on 3rd December via Small Pond Records.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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