LISTEN: MOURN – ‘Men’

A rallying cry against toxic masculinity and street harassment, MOURN have shared their latest single ‘Men’. Lifted from their upcoming album Self Worth, which is set for release on 30th October via Captured Tracks, the song is an honest, cathartic purge of the distrust and anger many women suppress on a daily basis when they’re intimidated in public spaces.

“I don’t really trust men” the Barcelona trio admit over crashing drums and riotous riffs, fatigued by being spoken over, judged and exploited by the “fragile” eyes of men who believe women’s bodies are open to public criticism. MOURN are shouting back against this damaging and weirdly acceptable social behaviour, but like many women, the band have felt conflicted about facing this issue so directly.

“‘Men’ is about walking the streets and having to deal with looks, words and attitudes from different men,” MOURN explain. “To enter a store and be treated differently than male clients, and the same at work. This song portrays these situations and the frustration that comes with them. I’m sure there will be a lot of people that identify with these experiences, and being questioned for their identity. At the same time, I know there will also be people that are pissed or feel uncomfortable with these lyrics. But this is how we feel and no one can take our experiences from us.

These lyrics come from a sincere and confident mindset where we want to establish our validity and identity and not let it be broken. We talk about feelings we see in men because we feel they‘re taken into account more, and are imposed onto us. I also feel like with this quote being so long, it is like I’m trying to justify why we wrote about this topic, and the thing is, this in itself is an uncomfortable situation we’re being put through by society. In the end, it’s just a personal experience…lived by millions of people everyday.”

Watch the video for ‘Men’ below and follow MOURN on bandcamp, Facebook & Spotify for more updates.

Photo Credit: Cristian Colomer Cavallari

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Lunar Sounds – ‘Reputation’

Inspired by the dark side of modern dating, Leeds-based riot grrrls Lunar Sounds have shared their debut single ‘Reputation’. Filled with thumping beats and defiant vocals, the track pushes back against the patriarchal pressures women face when it comes to their appearance and their behavior on dating apps.

Formed of Chesca Henderson-Cox, Anna Reed and Caris Shekell, Lunar Sounds began making music together in early 2018, and releasied their debut EP The Void in September of the same year. The band launched their new single with a hometown gig last week, supported by Sheffield synth-pop heroes DUCK, and Leeds’ scuzz-pop duo Bad Idea.

Produced by band member Anna Reed, and mixed Brighton based engineer Katie Tavini, ‘Reputation’ is a raw slice of riot grrrl attitude and a welcome antidote to the often toxic results of trying to form romantic connections in the digital age. Band member Chesca explains further: “The song questions how men view women, and how women often feel like they need to portray some ideal version of themselves to be found attractive”.

We’re glad to see this trio challenging these insecurities, and having fun in the process too. Listen to ‘Reputation’ below, and follow Lunar Sounds on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: People Club – ‘Perfume’

Soulful vocals, snaking bass lines and a melancholy premise mesh beautifully together on ‘Perfume’, the latest single from Berlin-based indie soul group People Club. It’s the first single the band have shared from their new EP, Kil Scott, which is set for release on 15th November.

Formed of Sarah Martin (lead vocals), Ray Sonder (bass, backing vocals), Saxon Gable (guitar, backing vocals), Pete Costello (keyboards, backing vocals) & Drew Deal (drums), the band formed in 2018 after they all moved to Berlin in late 2017 from their respective countries (Australia, USA, UK, New Zealand).

Since then, they’ve been working together to create their new EP, the title of which – Kil Scott – refers to a fictional character who is a benchmark for toxic masculinity. The band use their music to dismantle his unsavory traits, and ‘Perfume’ hints at the way toxic masculinity can destroy romantic relationships.

The band explain the premise of ‘Perfume’ further: “The initial idea for this song was brought in by our guitarist Saxon, who, like so many, struggled to cope with the divorce of his parents during his childhood. ‘Perfume’ is a deeply personal contemplation of these experiences, told from the perspective of an anguished lover seeking affection from her partner. Despite her efforts, she receives no love but remains dedicated, but heartbroken forever.”

We’re intoxicated by People Club’s blend of the sad and the soulful. Listen to ‘Perfume’ below and follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

People Club Live Dates 2019
4th October – Workmans Club, DUBLIN
21st November – Club Acud, BERLIN
28th November – The Islington, LONDON

Kate Crudgington
@kcbobcut 

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WATCH: Noga Erez – ‘Cash Out’ (feat. SAMMUS)

Noga Erez has shared a set of brutal but fascinating new visuals to accompany her latest single ‘Cash Out’. Co-starring Philadelphia rapper SAMMUS, the video was directed by Hen Makhluf and conceived by Erez and her collaborator Ori Rousso.

The visuals tell the story of a society without men, where women are left to fend for themselves, pitting against each other in punishing street-fights. It brings the track’s context about the contradicting pressures piled on women through consumerist society to life, with stunning clarity.

Speaking about the new video, Erez explains: “We tell a story about a society of women left in a world without men. Specifically, focusing on a group who arrange street fighting meet-ups – fights for the mere joy and rush of adrenaline. In that female-only world we imagine the behaviour of the women and how much of the societal female characteristics remain and what’s lost.”

“The [song’s] intention is to list out things that can make you a successful woman, in the most twisted, chauvinistic way. What society’s version is contradicts itself (eat breakfast, not too much), and is derived from the image of well-being and wealth that is presented to us alongside commercials about food, food porn etc. It all sums up a person feeling that their mind is exploding from consuming everything that we are fed by society and advertising companies.”

Alongside SAMMUS’ blistering raps – “I can handle many scandals like I am the Pope, not the sistine’s / What I can’t do is dismantle every single trope in our histories.” – Erez’s message is more powerful ad relevant than ever. Check out the video for ‘Cash Out’ below and follow Noga Erez on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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