Track Of The Day: Circe – ‘Ruined Your Sons’

A jagged, dark-pop gem that challenges the pernicious behavioural tropes associated with toxic masculinity, London-based artist Circe has shared her latest single ‘Ruined Your Sons’. Lifted from her upcoming debut EP She’s Made of Saints, which is set for release via Jazz Life on 25th November, the track is a cinematic reflection on the apathy and disillusionment young men face while living under the thumb of patriarchal society.

“The song journeys through a story of the male gaze, battling with a sensitivity I believe/hope is buried beneath the surface of machismo,” Circe explains. “It tackles society’s obsession with hyper masculine performance and bravado, how it destroys the inherent sensitivity we are born with. People in power have let generations of young people down. From the lack of in-depth queer-inclusive sex education that actually represents contemporary sex lives to the under-representation of the female gaze in porn.”

Following on from her previous single ‘Ten Girls’ – which was inspired by Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale – on ‘Ruined Your Sons’ Circe takes a more tentative approach lyrically and musically, allowing space for her message about validating the need for sensitivity amongst young men to seep in. Her lush vocals sit alongside compassionate lyrics, whilst her vivid synth sounds are equal parts commanding and intoxicating.

Listen to ‘Ruined Your Sons’ below and follow Circe on bandcamp, Spotify & Instagram for more updates.

 

Follow Circe on Spotify, bandcamp, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter & Instagram

Kate Crudgington
@kate_crudge

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Track Of The Day: Priya Ragu – ‘Good Love 2.0’

In a sleek and groovy nuance, Priya Ragu releases an irresistible genre-quaking single with her latest release ‘Good Love 2.0’. The Tamil-Swiss artist has handpicked the absolute salt of her inspirations and constructed a tune that is equally easy as it is innovative, showing clear influence from a multitude of styles.

Pulsing bass and glossy vocals make ‘Good Love 2.0’ a feel-good pop banger, but it is not until Priya’s alternative funk-fuelled post-chorus comes in that we understand the musical density of this tune. With a sea of charismatic hand drums and glitchy production, Priya and her team have engineered the most refreshing taste of R&B that reflects an earnest taste of the current scene.

With shades of artists like Orion Son and King Princess, Priya has used both tender, poetic lyrics and the artistry of sound production itself to paint the emotive picture for her story in ‘Good Love 2.0’. Presenting strong songwriting with clear-cut infatuation-filled lyrics, listeners have such an exhilarating, dreamy treat in store. Optimism and curiosity fuel Priya’s ripened sonic energy that could make anyone, even for just a moment, imagine the sun. ‘Good Love 2.0’ is a moment of contentment and positivity that we all so deserve.

‘Good Love 2.0’ is out now. Listen on Spotify.

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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Track Of The Day: Nervous Twitch – ‘Keeping Faith In Something’

Having previously charmed us live at The Finsbury (sigh, those were the days) with their sunny, sparkling charm, Leeds trio Nervous Twitch have now announced the release of their fourth album, following 2017’s I Won’t Hide. 

Taken from the album, new single ‘Keeping Faith In Something’ fuses together upbeat rockabilly vibes with a racing Riot Grrrl power. Oozing vibrant ’50s-inspired melodies alongside wacky, whirring synth-pop hooks and a fuzz-filled colourful energy, it’s an instantly catchy offering, propelled by a frenzied joyous spirit. Guaranteed to brighten these chilly Autumn days, ‘Keeping Faith In Something’ offers a spot-on anti-capitalist message of impending doom, coated in a vibrant, uptempo musicality and glossy, punk-fuelled groove. Of the track, the band explain:

“Sometimes it feels as though society pins materialistic hopes and goals on life and you are judged for having alternative motives. But we are all running our own race, and sometimes cannot control the route we take.”

 

‘Keeping Faith In Something’, along with B-side ‘Something To Look Forward To’, is out now via Reckless Yes.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Roz Doherty

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Track Of The Day: Divide & Dissolve – ‘We Are Really Worried About You’

An eerie, thunderous instrumental that rouses listener’s state of awareness and questions what it means to be free, Divide and Dissolve have shared their latest single ‘We Are Really Worried About You’. The track is lifted from their upcoming album Gas Lit, produced by Ruban Neilson (Unknown Mortal Orchestra), and set for release in January 2021 via Invada Records who the band have recently signed to.

“[The single] is a call to transformation and freedom,” the duo explain. “This song and video seek to undermine and destroy the white supremacist colonial framework. We are weaving together our fight for Indigenous Sovereignty, Black and Indigenous Liberation, Water, Earth, and Indigenous land given back. Decolonise now.” Together, Takiaya Reed (saxophone, guitar, live effects) and Sylvie Nehill (drums, live effects) seek to undermine these forces through their doom infused, powerful soundscapes.

Crashing cymbals, distorted bass lines and striking saxophone sounds form a swirling vortex of cathartic dissonance on ‘We Are Really Worried About You’. The track is accompanied by a captivating music video, directed by Sepand Mashiahof. “The world is structured to mould us down into stunted vessels that have to gaslight ourselves of our own truths/experiences just to survive. This video felt like an expression of that process,” explains Mashiahof. “The desperation to be heard and the stonewall silence that pushes you into the void of perpetual self-doubt and self-sabotage. The concept and the collaboration aspects seemed to also mirror what it takes to move through this grief, that you need friends and community to be able to address these things together and help each other heal through it.”

With their dense and intriguing sounds, Divide and Dissolve are instrumental activists who seek to disrupt toxic white supremacy, and encourage others to do the same. Watch the video for ‘We Are Really Worried About You’ below and follow the band on bandcamp, Instagram, Spotify and Facebook for more updates.

Photo credit: Billy Eyers

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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