LISTEN: GIHE on Soho Radio with Comic Sans (03.03.25)

Tash, Kate and Mari were back on Soho Radio this month, playing plenty of new music tunes from some of their favourite female, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ artists.

Lauren and Rachel from London-based queer punk-rock band Comic Sans also dropped into the studio to talk about the evolution of their cathartic single ‘Mr President‘, what it was like supporting Aussie punk icons Amyl & The Sniffers on their French tour date in Toulouse last year, and how Comic Sans has helped them to build a community of like-minded LGBTQ+ fans, friends and allies.

Artists featured on the eclectic playlist include: Pigeon Dog, Sacred Paws, Dose, Goalies, Scrounge, NYX, jasmine.4.t, THE NONE, Amulets ft. Midwife, Serin, Calva Louise, Alexandra Savior, Ezra Furman, Brain Leak and more.

Listen back to the show below:

 

We’ve got some exciting updates to share about our April show on Soho Radio – so keep an eye on our socials for the date & time!

Tracklist
Little Simz – Woman
Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory – Live Forever
Tomberlin – tap
Amulets ft. Midwife – Lifelike
Pigeon Dog – Wet Washing
Goalies – Self Improvement
Maria Somerville – Garden
NYX – Daughters
Comic Sans – Mr President
**Interview with Comic Sans**
RAYE ft. 070 Shake – Escapism
Kedr Livanskiy – Agata Dreams
BACKXWASH – Wake Up
Sacred Paws – Turn Me Down
LAR x Chris Savor – Be So Cold
Dose – Parallelogram
jasmine.4.t – Guy Fawkes Tesco Dissociation
Japanese Breakfast – Mega Circuit
Brain Leak – Trying
Ezra Furman – Grand Mal
Alexandra Savior – The Archer
Serin – Let You In
THE NONE – My People
Calva Louise – W.T.F
Scrounge – UTG
ANOHNI – It Must Change

Kate Crudgington1 Comment

PLAYLIST: February 2025

The Get In Her Ears team have put together an eclectic mix of alt-pop tunes, punk bangers, immersive electronic soundscapes, grunge & shoegaze anthems, engaging instrumentals and indie musings for your listening pleasure. Take some time to scroll through our selections below and make sure you press play on the playlist at the end of this post.

Follow GIHE on Spotify to see all of our previous playlists too. As well as streaming these tunes, we encourage you to follow the artists we’ve featured on their social media, sign up to their newsletters and buy their records from bandcamp if you’re able to!

 

Scrounge – ‘UTG’
We love South London duo Scrounge for their politically-charged anthems and their latest single ‘UTG’ is no exception. Despite being softer in sound, it’s just as hard-hitting when it comes to the personal nature of the lyrics, penned by vocalist and guitarist Lucy. She explains further: “As a queer person, it feels as though you never stop coming out; you’re always protective of that tiny bit of yourself that makes you ‘different’. This song is a reminder to look after and respect your queer and trans mates who are often not given the dignity and respect they deserve.” We back that all the way here at GIHE. Scrounge will be releasing their second album, Almost Like You Could, on 18th April via Ba Da Bing! Records. (Kate Crudgington – Features Editor)

Sacred Paws – ‘Turn Me Down’
The latest single from long-term faves Sacred Paws, ‘Turn Me Down’ reflects on the rawness of rejection; juxtaposing this poignant sentiment with the duo’s trademark jangly energy and colourful musicality. And, after a five year hiatus, Ray and Eidlih have now announced the release of a new album, Jump Into Life, which is due out on 28th March – and I’m very excited about it!
(Mari Lane – Managing Editor)

Dose – ‘Parallelogram’
I was thrilled when this track from Dublin four piece Dose dropped into my inbox earlier this month. The dream-pop band features ex-Bitch Falcon guitarist & vocalist/Coolgirl producer Lizzie who I’m a big fan of, as well as Merpire who I saw perform live supporting Ailbhe Reddy at East London’s Moth Club a few years ago. Dose have been playing local shows in Ireland over the past 12 months and they’ll be releasing their debut EP later this year too. ‘Parallelogram’ is the second offering from this exciting new band and I’m looking forward to hearing more from them. (KC)

Maria Somerville – ‘Garden’
A beautiful, atmospheric offering from from Galway-based NTS Radio host Maria Somerville here. ‘Garden’ is lifted from her upcoming album, Luster, which is set for release on 25th April via 4AD. Her soft vocals and lilting electronics melt into each other, providing escapism and respite for overwhelmed ears. (KC)

Anika – ‘Hearsay’
I love this shadowy new track from British-born, Berlin-based musician Anika. It’s taken from her new album, Abyss, which is set for release on 4th April via Sacred Bones (one of my favourite labels). The LP is a form of sonic rebellion for Anika, inspired by the 90s grunge scene as much as it is about the unpredictable nature of the world we currently live in. (KC)

Bonnie Trash – ‘Hellmouth’
Ontario gothic rockers Bonnie Trash release their brand new album Mourning You today (28th Feb) via Hand Drawn Dracula! Originally formed by twins Emmalia & Sarafina Bortolon-Vettor, Bonnie Trash’s sound and aesthetic has evolved into a fully fleshed band with an angst-ridden energy and edgy aesthetic to match. This track ‘Hellmouth’ is the perfect example of both. Check out the accompanying video for it here. (KC)

Daffo – ‘Absence Makes The Heart Grow’
The songwriting project of Brooklyn-based, Philly-raised Gabi Gamberg, Daffo is a new fave for sure. New single ‘Absence Makes The Heart Grow’ offers a wonderfully scuzzy slice of indie-pop, searing with a raw emotion alongside its fizzing hooks. Of the meaning behind the track, Gamberg explains: “I wrote the song at the end of a relationship, and in my pain, I felt as though the cliche about distance making the heart grow fonder was a sham… It made everything harder, the waves of emotion that accompanied reuniting and separating were too intense to navigate.” Definitely one to watch for 2025, you can catch Daffo live at The George Tavern on 13th May. (ML)

Raue – ‘Escape’
Californian duo Raue (pronounced Roo-AY) are inspired by the sounds of Softcult, Wolf Alice, Fleshwater and Billie Eillish. I love their blend of swirling riffs and soft vocals on this track ‘Escape’, which features on their debut EP, too scared to explain, set for release on 9th May. (KC)

Gloin – ‘Horse Fighting’
Toronto-based post punks Gloin are totally new to me, but I love their latest single ‘Horse Fighting’. It’s taken from their excellently titled upcoming second album, All of your anger is actually shame (and I bet that makes you angry), which is set for release via Mothland on 28th March. (KC)

Grandmas House – ‘From The Gods’
Following on from their raucous love song ‘Slaughterhouse’, this new single from Bristol punks Grandmas House is visceral break-up anthem. It’s lifted from the band’s upcoming EP, Anything For You, which is set for release on 11th April via Duchess Box Records. Check out the accompanying video for the track here. (KC)

Punchlove – ‘(sublimate)’
I’m hooked on Brooklyn band Punchlove’s latest single ‘(sublimate)’. Combining shoegaze riffs with twitchy electronics, the track has an industrial edge that becomes more prevalent after repeated listens. ‘(sublimate)’ is inspired by band member Jillian Olesen’s perception-altering experiences after a self-imposed lengthy period of digital and physical isolation, exploring feelings of “entrapment and suffocation within a reality that is inextricably bound by the powerful grip of the digital world.” (KC)

Calva Louise – ‘WTF’
The ferocious new single from Calva Louise, ‘WTF’ showcases front woman Jess’ fierce vocal with an immense power. She explains that the single is “about that feeling of powerlessness that occurs when we are in situations beyond our control.” Calva Louise will be supporting Bloodywood on their European tour, and you can catch them at Kentish Town Forum on 27th March – and I strongly recommend catching them live, as you can imagine it’s a pretty colossal experience. (ML)

BACKXWASH – ‘Wake Up’
I love the the raw power behind this shape-shifting track from Zambian-Canadian rapper and producer BACKXWASH. ‘Wake Up’ is taken from her upcoming album, Only Dust Remains, which she will be releasing via her own label Ugly Hag on 28th March. This new record has been described as “leaving the ashes of BACKXWASH’S critically acclaimed trilogy of albums behind and taking a bold new direction” in sound. BACKXWASH will also be returning to the UK to play Supersonic Festival in Birmingham later this year. (KC)

Alien Chicks – ‘Donkeyhead’
Brixton trio Alien Chicks are back with this belter of a new single. Taken from their second EP, Forbidden Fruit, which is set for release on 9th May via Hideous Mink Records, it’s another raucous offering from the post-punk band, spotlighting their ability to write tongue-in-cheek anthems that fizz with frenetic energy. (KC)

Rebuilt Boys – ‘Shotgun Divorce’
This is the third single from Peterborough-based queer/trans electronic noise-rock two-piece Rebuilt Boys. Full of jagged riffs, post-punk inspired electronics and pounding beats, it’s a raw and righteous anthem of defiance. (KC)

Laura Jane Grace – ‘Your God (God’s D*ck)’
A stark reflection on religious devotion and the ever increasing limits to free speech that the far right are imposing, this raging new single from Against Me alumni Laura Jane Grace oozes all the fierce energy and tongue-in-cheek wit that I’ve come to know and love from her solo work. (ML)

Rival Queens – ‘Not Your Enemy’
You may know her as the guitarist for artist-on-the-rise Maya Lakhani, but now Sally-Anne Hickman has launched her own solo project, Rival Queens. Born out of a songwriting course by Phillipa Cookman (The Singing Guitarist) that Hickman attended, Rival Queens draws inspiration from the ‘90s grunge movement and epic guitar-driven rock, and this debut single showcases Hickman’s musical prowess as its catchy refrain “I am not your enemy” hammers home its message with a raging sense of urgency. Crown and Conquer, the debut album from Rival Queens, is set for release on 27th June. (ML)

SPELLLING – ‘Alibi’
This is such a gear change in sound from San Francisco-based artist SPELLLING and I love it! Featuring Turnstile’s Pat McCrory on guitar, ‘Alibi’ is a cathartic dose of pop punk, featured on her upcoming album Portrait Of My Heart, set for release on 28th March via Sacred Bones. (KC)

Monday’s Child – ‘Problem Girl’
This hazy new single from Belfast-based alt-rock band Monday’s Child is a reflection on insecurity and the contradictory nature of our inner voices. ‘Problem Girl’ will feature on the band’s debut EP, which is due to be released in May of this year. (KC)

Brain Leak – ‘Trying’
Brain Leak are a bit of a supergroup of sorts – the project of Tara-Gabriella Engelhardt from the band Adjustments, the band also features Sid from The Orielles, Jess from Peaness and Giulia from Working Men’s Club. Combining a glistening raw emotion with a fizzing gritty energy, debut single ‘Trying‘ is propelled by the delicate celestial power of Engelhardt’s vocals, offering a beautifully resonant reflection on attachment and the challenging emotional experiences that can accompany it. A new favourite for sure, I strongly suggest keeping an eye out for more from Brain Leak – they’ve already sold out Yes! in Manchester. To find out more, read our interview with Tara here. (ML)

Ezra Furman – ‘Grand Mal’
The latest single from innovative artist Ezra Furman, ‘Grand Mal’ is first taster of her upcoming 10th album, Goodbye Small Head, I really love its swirling cinematic layers which ripple alongside Furman’s trademark raw emotion. Describing the album, she says: “Is it dark? Yeah! Is it also wonder-struck, laced with psychedelic beauty, triumphant in its wounded way? Yeah again. And by the end of it, the whole thing flames out in a burst of good old-fashioned rock and roll.” It sounds perfect, and I can’t wait for its release on 16th May. (ML)

Freak Slug – ‘Liquorice’
After being completely obsessed with their single ‘Spells’ last year, I’m very excited to hear that Manchester’s Freak Slug will be releasing the extended version of their debut album, I Blow Out Big Candles (But With A Cherry On Top), on 7th March, following the original release last November. This latest single only features on the expanded edition and offers jangly hooks, quirky energy and sugar sweet vocals in abundance. Catch Freak Slug live on their UK tour in May, including a headline show at Moth Club on the 22nd. (ML)

Housewife – ‘Work Song’
This single from queer Canadian artist Housewife is an infectious glitchy anthem that fizzes with relatable angst. It’s taken from her upcoming EP, Girl Of The Hour, which is set for release on 7th March via Submarine Cat Records. The EP is a buoyant reflection on identity, love and gender, all underscored by Housewife’s playful alt-pop sounds. (KC)

Supersaurus – ‘Fool For You’
We’ve been big fans of “non-binary fronted indie-pop girl band” Supersaurus since being introduced to their queer sad-pop bangers back in 2023, and new single ‘Fool For You’ offers another nostalgic heartfelt anthem. Of the track, the band explain: “If life was a 90s romcom, it would be the soundtrack. Every main character deserves their own epic soundtrack and ‘Fool For You’ serves as the perfect anthem for anyone who has ever been a fool for love and surrendered to its enchanting allure.” (ML)

Blonde Maze – ‘Never Dream’
I’ve made no secret of my love of New York artist Blonde Maze over the last decade of Get In Her Ears, and so it always bring me a lot of joy when she shares a new song. ‘Never Dream’ is her third collaboration with innovative electro artist Attom and oozes all the dreamy blissful vibes and soothing heartfelt charm that I’ve come to expect from her gorgeous creations. The single comes ahead of the release of her sophomore album, Second Sight, on 23rd May – and to say I’m excited about a brand new collection of her gloriously cathartic offerings is an understatement. (ML)

Shura ft. Cassandra Jenkins – ‘Richardson’
This is the second single from British songwriter Shura’s upcoming album, I Got Too Sad For My Friends, set for release on the 30th May. Featuring New York vocalist Cassandra Jenkins, ‘Richardson’ is a song about “walking, thinking, and trying to find comfort somewhere” guided by Shura’s soft voice and gentle beats. (KC)

Deerhoof – ‘Sparrow Sparrow’
One of the new ‘double B-sides’ from innovative dance-rock collective Deerhoof, ‘Sparrow Sparrow’ showcases their quirky fizzing energy and shimmering charm perfectly. The track is released alongside ‘Overrated Species Anyhow’, and the band are donating all proceeds to The Trevor Project – a non-profit suicide prevention organisation for the LGBTQ+ community. (ML)

Selma French – ‘Little Sisters and Friends’
The latest single from Norwegian artist Selma French, ‘Little Sisters and Friends’ offers a comforting ode to the younger people in our lives, and reflects on the need to care for and support them in their life’s journey. Flowing with lilting folk-strewn melodies and the rich sparkling grace of French’s vocals, it’s a gorgeous first taste of her upcoming second album, No Sign Of Rotten Leaves, which is set for release on 25th April. (ML)

Penelope Trappes – ‘A Requiem’
This is a beautiful sonic rumination from Brighton-based Australian producer and multi-instrumentalist Penelope Trappes. ‘A Requiem’ is the title track from her upcoming album, which is set for release on 4th April via One Little Independent. I’ve found each of Trappes’ singles and accompanying videos for this project to be really thought-provoking and evocative, and despite the album’s melancholy context, I feel like she has expressed something truly pure and beautiful about the shape-shifting nature of grief on this latest effort. Watch the accompanying visual, filmed by Agnes Haus, here. (KC)

Maud The Moth – ‘Exuviae’
Another exquisitely eccentric offering from Spanish-born, Scotland-based multi-instrumentalist Amaya Lopez-Carromero aka MAUD THE MOTH here. ‘Exuviae’ is lifted from her upcoming album, The Distaff, which is set for release on 21st February. The LP is an “ethereal but violent” amalgamation of autobiographical experiences, folklore, myth and poetry” which the artist explores in her own idiosyncratic manner. (KC)

Divide & Dissolve – ‘Provenance’
Multi-instrumentalist Takiaya Reed is back with her heavy instrumental project Divide and Dissolve and this gargantuan new single ‘Provenance’. Full of her trademark eerie saxophone sounds, crushing riffs and bruising beats, the single is the first offering from Divide and Dissolve’s new album, Insatiable, which is set for release on 18th April via Bella Union. Reed will also be returning to Supersonic Festival in Birmingham this year – which I am very excited about! Watch the accompanying video for ‘Provenance’ here. (KC)

Venamoris – ‘Truth’
Eclectic American duo Venamoris – formed of Dave and Paula Lombardo – have moved into darker sonic territory on their new album, To Cross Or To Burn, released today (28th Feb). Full of cinematic electronics and impassioned vocals, this track ‘Truth’ is lifted from the record, which focuses around soul searching and the need for acceptance. (KC)

 

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Five Favourites: Clara Mann

Having charmed our ears last year with the sparkling emotion-strewn sounds of single ‘Stadiums’, and having previously shared stages with the likes of Bat For Lashes and Bill Ryder-Jones, London-based artist Clara Mann has now announced the release of her debut album, Rift, next month. A poignant exploration of the space between the light and dark, it offers a heartfelt ode to hope; an exquisite rumination that ripples with the stirring grace of Mann’s evocative vocals, alongside twinkling folk-strewn melodies.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, ahead of the release of Rift, we caught up with Clara to find out about the five albums that have inspired her the most. Read about her five favourites, pre-order the album, and watch the beautiful new video for latest single ‘Doubled Over‘ below:

Paul Simon – Still Crazy After All These Years
Some of the best songwriting in the history of ever. One of those writers who makes me pause the track to think “HOW did he do that?” My mum used to play this album in the car on the way to the dentist/big supermarket when we were children, so it’s special to me; and maybe I’m biased, but I think it’s magic. The actual title track makes me cry every time. Paul Simon’s particularly good at metaphor, if I’m being dry about it, but it never feels contrived, just true and poignant.

Mary Margaret O’Hara – Miss America
Mary Margaret O’Hara is my heroine – I love the balance she finds between the strange, the playful, the painful…. Her voice is so clear and true, and her (rather rare) performances that I’ve dug up from YouTube are highly charged; almost difficult to watch, they’re so intense. It’s almost like performance art, but less self-aware than that implies. This is the only full length album she ever recorded, and I’m so glad we have it. 

Blake Mills – Heigh Ho
I remember where I was when I first heard this record; I remember how much it affected me. Again, it’s full of humour, as well as pain, and the production is almost cinematic. Though maybe that word makes it sound less subtle than it is – I just mean it paints colours. 

Les Filles de Illighadad – Les Filles De Illighadad
In the village where I grew up in the south of France, there was a yearly culture festival celebrating North African and Saharan music, literature, and art. I guess it was a celebration of the immigration from Morocco and Algeria, a way of welcoming people and making a start on mending the fraught relations between France and that part of Africa. The village was suddenly full of exhibitions, market stalls and instruments that I’d never seen before, all brought by musicians and artists representing their regions. I remember, as a child, being particularly struck by the indigo robes that the Tuareg people wore – I thought the colour was so beautiful and so striking as they walked around the centre-ville. Even then, I think I was aware that I was lucky to be being exposed to the music they brought with them, music so different to what I heard at home. Fatou Seidi Ghali, the guitarist in Les Filles De Illighadad, is the first female Tuareg guitarist. But, apart from anything else, the music is just so extraordinary, and so feeling, and I listen to this record all the time. I love the agility of her playing and of the voices – it’s magic, and it reminds me of the village in the summer, and the blue robes.

Iris DeMent – My Life
A country classic. Another amazing female voice. Country music is profound and also profoundly silly, sometimes you can hear the laughter in her singing. Iris DeMent is so good at telling stories; stories of home, love, death, landscape… She breaks my heart again and again.

Huge thanks to Clara for sharing her ‘Five Favourites’ us! Watch the beautiful new video for her evocative latest single ‘Doubled Over’ below:


Rift, the upcoming debut album from Clara Mann, is set for release on 7th March via state51. Pre-order here.

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Introducing Interview: Brain Leak

Centered around the complex introspections of Manchester-based Tara-Gabriella Engelhardt (Adjustments, Julia Bardo), Brain Leak are a brand new project bringing together like-minded musicians from the scene, and already creating quite a stir. Enlisting the help of Giulia Bonometti (Working Men’s Club), Jess Branney (Peaness), Sidonie Hand-Halford (Orielles) and Ellie-Rose Elliot (Blanketman), Engelhardt transforms poignant contemplations on life into gloriously hazy indie anthems. Combining a glistening raw emotion with a fizzing gritty energy, debut single ‘Trying‘ is propelled by the delicate celestial power of Engelhardt’s vocals, offering a beautifully resonant reflection on attachment and the challenging emotional experiences that can accompany it. We’re super excited about this new project, and can’t wait to hear more from Engelhardt and co. this year!

To celebrate Brain Leak’s debut single release, we caught up with Tara about how Brain Leak came to be, her main inspirations and writing process, platforming marginalised artists, and more. Have a read below, and make sure you watch the gorgeous new video for the ‘Trying‘ below!

Hi Brain Leak, welcome to Get In Her Ears! How are you doing today?
Hello! I’m really good today, thanks. It’s a very bright and clear winter’s day in Manchester, which makes me happy. I hope you’re doing well!

You’re quite the supergroup with members from The Orielles, Peaness and Adjustments – so, are you able to tell us a little bit about how you all came together to form Brain Leak, and what inspired the new project?
Ahh thank you, that’s kind of you to call us that! I am very lucky that my best friends are also some of the best musicians I know. In January 2024 I showed Giulia one of my songs entitled ‘Hide’ and she loved it. Her excitement about the song and confidence in me was the catalyst that made me take my songwriting more seriously. I was already gigging and writing with Adjustments and had only been playing guitar for a mere year and a half by that point, so my solo stuff wasn’t massively on my radar as something to pursue. In the months that followed, I kept writing. I recorded ‘Trying’, which Giulia helped me to produce and, in the summer, I asked Sid, Jess and Giulia if they would want to play for me and they said yes! We had already recorded bits together for the other songs in the set, so their parts were already taking shape. With a good few rehearsals to learn and tighten the songs, before we knew it, we had our first gig supporting Floodlights at Deaf Institute in November. I then asked Ellie Elliott (Blanketman/Splint) if she would step in as dept drummer and she said yes, and has just nailed the gig we played in Hull. I’m very grateful for how seamless getting this talented group together has been. I’d say the main inspirations for this project came from my desire for connection and self-expression. I picked up the guitar in 2022, with a desperate need for an emotional outlet when I was going through some grief, primarily so that I could incessantly sing and play along to Roy Orbison. I found it incredibly cathartic (who wouldn’t? Roy really knew how to emote). I have always written poems and excerpts, and after becoming more comfortable with basic chords, I naturally began to synthesise my writing with melodies. There is something very powerful about the connection between melody and words, and I have found songwriting to be a radically therapeutic process. Music is so special because it helps you to connect with yourself as well as others. I really enjoy when people come up to me after a gig to talk about one of the songs. It starts a dialogue about things most people don’t generally feel comfortable talking about, even though so many of us have similar experiences. I like that Brain Leak can instigate these conversations.

You’re about to release your debut single ‘Trying’ – I love the way it combines a glistening raw emotion and fizzing gritty energy! What are the main influences behind the track?
Thank you so much! It really means a lot to me that you feel that from it. The song is influenced by the things I learned from intensively looking inward: the messy intertwining of my attachment to substances and my attachment to love; having realisations about my past behaviour and taking responsibility. When I wrote it in Feb 2024, I was six months into my recovery from addiction, in regular therapy and deep diving into YouTube videos about attachment styles, co-dependency and neurosis by a woman named Heidi Priebe (10/10, would recommend). I was connecting dots left, right and centre about where my dependencies originated from. It was overwhelming to be realising so much. It was as if I was being forced to experience all the emotions from my past that I thought I had successfully numbed out when I was still using substances. I was seeing clearly how I was responsible for my choices in life, and I was holding myself accountable. From all this combined, ‘Trying’ was born! 

And are there any specific musicians or artists who particularly inspire your writing?
When I actually write, I don’t have other artists or musicians in mind, I just write whatever comes out, if that makes sense. But in general, I have a few musicians in mind that inspire me a lot. Nilüfer Yanya is a big one. Her catchy, unpredictable melodies, emotional lyrics and incredibly tight instrumentals make her the whole package deal for me. My dream is to support her. I’ve found the songwriting and delivery of Jack Merett from Famous to be incredibly inspiring. I don’t understand how he’s managed to capture such raw feelings in recordings, it’s very special. I sincerely think he’s one of the most talented artists out there. I’m also inspired by the energy of Ought and Cherry Glazerr. Ought for their uplifting and cathartic vibes and Cherry Glazerr for the somehow both chilled and upbeat feeling she gives. I could go on.

How was the song writing process for you, was it quite a different experience from what you’ve been used to in other bands that you’ve been in? 
Yes, it was a very different writing experience. When I was Julia Bardo’s session drummer, I just came up with straightforward parts that would support the song. Then, with Adjustments, usually we are all jamming and when I’m feeling good about what I’m playing on drums, I’ll tune into the guitar sounds the boys are playing and experiment with melodies as we all play, based on whatever suits what they are playing. Then we’ll go over the jams, pick favourite parts, discuss a structure and build from there. This was totally different because every bit of the song from structure to tone is up to me, there’s no one to draw from or bounce off. It was also far more personal content that I was writing about. It was quite a weird process now that I’m reflecting on it! I came up with the bridge first, which doesn’t feel typical. It was after speaking at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting about how unstable I felt, I analogised my instability to the feeling of being on a constant seesaw. I felt compelled to start with that. I didn’t feel like it was a chorus or a verse, so I wrote the chorus and the verses around it. The whole song was also much slower. It was more of an emotional ballad. The more I played it, the more it naturally sped up, but I kept the bridge slow. Then with it recorded roughly, I thought a bit about the drums but mostly figured them out when I took it to be properly recorded with Lewis Johnson-Kellett, who gave some helpful direction. Jess came in and did some cool tremolo guitar bits, Giulia came up with a bass part and the song was finished! It was interesting to be doing it without a band and to be in the driver’s seat with so much creative control, especially as I am still very new to guitar. I’m just glad Manchester is full of amazing musicians who are happy to offer their expertise.

You grew up in Cardiff, but are now based in Manchester – how does the DIY music scene compare in each city? 
I haven’t actually lived in Cardiff since I was 16 so I don’t know much about the DIY music scene. But from what I gather, it’s got a lot going on, with the beloved Moon club and Clwb Ifor Bach still being at the core of things. I really love Manchester for its DIY nature. People here have put so much time and effort into events and spaces that bolster the community. So much of life revolves around music here, from band stuff to DJ nights and everything in between. I’ve been to a fair few DIY parties in the various mills with some amazing DJs. Partisan Collective has been instrumental in the DIY scene in Manchester, creating an exciting but also safe community. People will often have gigs in their practice spaces which has been fun over the years. The arts and music scenes overlap a lot, putting events on together, which is very wholesome. I practice at Islington Mill, which is such a creative hub and lots of collaborating across the arts go down. It’s a very energetic and authentic place to be, especially for music.

You’ve already been playing live with Brain Leak, with a sold-out show at YES in Manchester already under your belt, which is pretty impressive! How was that for you, and were you expecting such an amazing reaction so early on? 
Thank you!! It was quite a mad experience to see the room so full. We had friends we knew were coming so I expected people to be there, and I had played Hot Take with Adjustments the previous year and it was well promoted with a pretty good crowd but that was all I expected. I really felt the energy of the crowd that night, which made it a very fulfilling gig to play. After the show, a couple of people told me they had teared up at one of the songs and I ended up talking in depth with someone about addiction and love etc and that is something I didn’t expect. It was really cool, and I hope that kind of thing continues. Love it when people cry at my songs!! Just kidding.

And what can fans who’ve not yet seen you live expect at your gigs? 
I really like this question. Expect lots of passion and emotion. I tend to feel the songs quite deeply as I sing them and get a bit lost in them. The girls are very tight. With the incredible voices of Giulia and Jess on backing vocals and the trancey drums that both Sid and Ellie nail, I think the set is quite powerful. Expect a front row sonic experience of my diary. Even if you’re at the back.

Generally, when you’re out on tour, or playing shows, are there any particular essentials that you like to take with you to keep you going?
Yes! So: Vocalzones (a must. Jess has a cute tin she keeps them in), camcorder (for dressing room messing around), herbal teas (you never know if a venue will have them), my faux fur coat (I wear it for the first song to feel comfortable and ease into being up on stage), one litre water bottle, I have a worry stone that’s very soft I like to hold when I get nervous. I think that’s it! 

As we’re an organisation with a focus on supporting new and marginalised artists, I just wondered how you feel the industry is for them at the moment? And do you feel much has changed over the years in its treatment of female and queer artists?
I have definitely noticed more female and queer artists getting noticed in the last few years, which is definitely good. There are people such as yourself who give such a cool platform for these artists and that genuine encouragement and support also seems more prevalent today. A friend of ours has put on a day festival in Liverpool for a few years called “Bitch Fest”, which is focused on female artists and that’s really cool, so there are people looking out. I think with these things, there are always going to be people boosting marginalised groups up for the right reasons, there will be people putting them forward with ulterior motives and there will be organisations that turn away from the whole thing. It’s hard for me to comment more than that when I haven’t been in the industry for very long and have never dealt with anything corporate that a label comes with.

And are there any other exciting new artists or bands on the Manchester scene that you’d recommend we check out?
Yes! Modema, Lili Holland-Frick, Dove Ellis, Wyatt. I’m drawing a blank after that but I’m sure there are plenty more!

Is there anything else you’d like to add about upcoming plans or particular thoughts you’d like to mention?
I have plans to record one song at the end of Feb and another sometime before summer, but no release plans yet. We have also just been asked to support She Drew The Gun in February at Factory in Manchester, which is very exciting!

Huge thanks to Tara for answering our questions! Watch the beautiful new video for ‘Trying’ below:

Photo Credit: Alicia Fretter

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