Track Of The Day: Maja Lena – ‘The Keeper’

Maja Lena is the latest moniker of Marianne Parish, formerly of Low Chimes. Following bewitching singles ‘Sacred Practice’ and ‘Birch’, she has now shared new offering ‘The Keeper’ – the title track from her debut solo album, set for release this summer. 

Maja Lena’s music is ethereal and beautiful, led by a haunting and unpredictable vocal melody. The song is meditative and introspective, as Parish explains: “…the song name ‘The Keeper’ to me resembles the keeper of the self…” She adds that it “… is about our relationship to ourselves and how we view ourselves. Whether we hold trust in ourselves and if the way in which we strive can ultimately lead to us feeling less satisfied in life.”

The instrumentation is folk-inspired, with nylon and acoustic guitars in conversation with an eerie double bass. Rachael Dadd’s backing vocals weave together with Parish’s lead, culminating in a psychedelic mantra-like chant. Rob Pemberton’s synth, warm and warbling, complements the classic folk sound alongside the haunting dissonance from the cymbals. Together, it creates a serene and natural ambiance oozing a spellbinding magic.

The video, with a witchy charm, was made together with Parish’s husband Luke Oakley-Smith and filmed on a ’90s VHS camcorder to reflect an eerie nostalgia. Abundant with pastoral imagery, beautiful animals and Kate Bush-like dancing, it captivates and reflects the introspection and curiosity inherent of the song.


The Keeper is out 23rd July via Chiverin Records. Save / pre-order the album here to find out what other magical realms it will take us to.

Jazmine Kelly
@surfjaz

Photo Credit: Aloha Bonser-Shaw

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Track Of The Day: Fräulein – ‘Pretty People’

Originally hailing from Northern Ireland and the Netherlands respectively, London-based duo Joni Samuels and Karsten van der Tol – aka Fräulein – have been winning us over since we first became pretty obsessed with last year’s single ‘Drag Behind’, and then continued to be totally hooked on its follow up, ‘Mary’. So, we were excited to hear that they have now shared an equally impressive new offering.

Reflecting on the shallow world of fashion, ‘Pretty People’ is inspired by a party that Joni attended at which it was highlighted that if you didn’t fit the right look, clothes or clock in the right number of followers online, you’d be dismissed. Propelled by sparse beats and stripped back hooks, the track builds with a captivating dark energy as Joni’s sweeping vocals create a majestic, grunge-infused atmosphere.

Oozing that trademark whirring, lo-fi twang that we’ve come to know and love from previous singles, ‘Pretty People’ showcases the duo developing and honing their sound with a more polished finish. With an anthemic scuzz, Joni’s vocals flow with a visceral passion, exuding a bewitching, gritty splendour.

Of the track, the duo sum-up: “The song is about refusing to be small, even if the people around you are telling you to be.”

And so my obsession with Fräulein’s sound continues. I cannot recommend these two strongly enough; I really think they have something wonderfully nostalgic, yet ultimately unique, to offer. And, as soon as it is safe to do so, I cannot wait for them to blow us away live at one of our gig nights!

Shot by Emma Swann and edited by Luke Macpherson, and filmed entirely on Mini DV tape, watch the new video for ‘Pretty People’ now:

Mastered by Noel Summerville (The White Stripes, My Bloody Valentine), ‘Pretty People‘ is out now via Practise Music. If you’re lucky enough to have tickets, you can catch Fräulein live at The Windmill, supporting Butch Kassidy, on 26th May.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Mumble Tide – ‘Sucker’

A charming cacophony of grungy guitars and bittersweet vocals that celebrates the feeling of moving on, Mumble Tide have shared their latest single ‘Sucker’. Marking their first piece of new music since their 2020 debut EP, Love Thing, this new offering sees the Bristol-based duo urge listeners to shrug off the weight of the world’s expectations and walk away with their heads held high.

Formed of Gina Leonard and Ryan Rogers, Mumble Tide originally met through a Gumtree ad and began making music from their bedroom under the supervision of Furbs the Furby, who nods approvingly as the pair create their casual-yet-cool sounds. Everything the band create is entirely self-produced, including their own videos and artwork, proving that all you need is good company and a comfortable atmosphere to make meaningful art.

“This one is just a super fun track we threw together. It’s about feeling confident and free and moving on, or at least trying to,” explains vocalist Gina about ‘Sucker’. “It’s about throwing the baggage off your shoulders and strutting away…but also accepting that it’s not that easy.” With its catchy chorus and rolling rhythms, Mumble Tide’s new single is a carefree slice of 90s-esque guitar music that fizzes with understated joy.

Listen to ‘Sucker’ below.

Follow Mumble Tide on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@kcbobcut

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Track Of The Day: Solidarity Not Silence – ‘This Is Sisterhood’

“Using my platform for the greater good. I stand in solidarity, this is sisterhood.“

This poignant refrain sums up all that the powerful new release from Solidarity Not Silence stands for. With members of The Tuts, Petrol Girls, Personal Best and Colour Me Wednesday collaborating, as well as a snippet of the legendary Kathleen Hanna speaking about the cause, ‘This Is Sisterhood’ sees members of the DIY feminist music community come together to raise funds for the legal costs of a group of women who are fighting a defamation claim made against them.

The Solidarity Not Silence movement was started to raise money for the legal cost for this group of women, after each of them spoke up about their accuser’s alleged abuse. A number of his former partners, as well as feminist musicians who spoke out in support, including Nadia Javed of The Tuts and Ren Aldridge of Petrol Girls, are facing a libel claim. Their case is immensely relevant in the aftermath of #MeToo and could affect legal precedent on how similar cases are treated by the law. 

And ‘This Is Sisterhood’ marks the perfect way to bring the case to people’s attention; as Nadia Javed explains: “… we’re musicians not lawyers. We can’t fight this case without the help of our lawyers, but what we can do, is use our skills and resources as musicians to tell our story, and build the momentum that we need to expand our fundraising campaign and keep covering our legal costs.”

A truly impassioned and empowering creation, ‘This Is Sisterhood’ is a totally necessary call to arms; a plea to unite in solidarity against the patriarchal norms seeking to hold us down. Starting with the glistening, honey-sweet vocals of Javed telling the story of Solidarity Not Silence, it builds with swirling riffs (courtesy of Katie from Personal Best) and a stirring energy to a rousing anthem.

As the poignant, spoken word from Ren (Petrol Girls) states some of the disturbing facts surrounding gender-based violence against the heartrending backdrop of a sweeping chorus of harmonic voices (all powerful voices from across the DIY punk community), we’re left to reflect on the track’s resonant sentiment – “When will the reputation of men stop being valued over our safety?”.

Propelled by an immense, stirring splendour, ‘This Is Sisterhood’ sends shivers down the spine with its emotion-filled sweeping power and urgent sentiment. An utterly necessary, and deeply cathartic, listen; a beautifully compelling way to bring attention to such a pressing issue, showcasing the true power of women and non-binary people coming together to unite and fight back against the powers that seek to control us.

Watch the emotive new video, created by Martyna Wisniewska and featuring footage of the community recording the track, for ‘This Is Sisterhood’ here:

Engineered by Simon Small and produced by Patrick James Pearson, ‘This Is Sisterhood’ is out now via Alcopop! Records.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Martyna Wisniewska

More information about Solidarity Not Silence and the defamation case:
The group of women has been fighting this case for over four years, and is desperately trying to fundraise enough money to maintain their legal representation. Since launching their crowdfunder – and again since identities were made public – they have received an extraordinary amount of support. It seems that their case resonates with many people who have had similar experiences of being silenced by someone with more power, fame or financial backing. 
However, they have now reached a crucial point in the case, where costs are escalating rapidly. Therefore, in an attempt to reach out beyond their usual networks they wrote and recorded this powerful single, which tells the compelling story of their legal battle, in 2019 and are now releasing it into the world. Their strategy in releasing the track is twofold: firstly they hope to raise money directly through digital downloads and merch sales, but ultimately the goal is to tell their story and get as much attention, and therefore donations, to their crowdfunder as possible. 

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