Track Of The Day: ĠENN – ‘Catalyst’

Taken from their excitingly diverse recent EP Liminal, the latest track by Brighton based four-piece ĠENN is a perfect slice of high-energy post-punk. 

‘Catalyst’ delivers on the fizzing chemicals its title promises; a spiky minor-key riff from Janelle Borg collides with Leanne Zammit’s stormy bass, while vocalist Leona Farrugia’s striking command to “stay awake” would jolt even the most bleary-eyed into action. The sonic intensity is complete with heavy, punching drums from Sofia Rosa Cooper, as crowd-chants and climbing chords build the energy to fever-pitch. At its crest the song swells into a rousing call to arms, a sparkling rallying cry for mass revolution both personal and international. As Farrugia explains: “Lyrically the track could be interpreted as a cry for collective change, but I had, in fact, began writing from my own perspective, realising the ‘revolution’ one can make within their own approach to everyday life; changing the rhythm of my thoughts to achieve freedom from unhealthy traditions.”

Finding freedom in frenzy (the band’s name means exactly that in Maltese) is ĠENN’s great strength, as they hop around genres to produce an increasingly exhilarating body of music.

Liminal, the latest EP from ĠENN, is out now. Catch them live at their Autumn run of dates next month – tickets here.

Leonie Bellini
@teenpeachmovie

Photo Credit: Holly Whitaker

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Track Of The Day: SPIDER – ‘I’m Fine, I’m Good, I’m Perfect!’

A brooding, dark-pop tune that reflects on the grey area between feeling emotionally overwhelmed and totally apathetic, London-based, Irish born musician & producer SPIDER has shared her latest single ‘I’m Fine, I’m Good, I’m Perfect!’ Full of heady guitar distortion and raw, relatable lyrics, the track playfully embraces and dismisses life’s darker moments with its catchy chorus and smooth vocals.

Born and raised in Dublin, twenty-one year old SPIDER harnesses the strong feminine energy of the arachnid she’s named after as a totemic symbol through which she can explore her own emotional resilience. She struggled growing up as a young Nigerian girl in a predominately white country, but creating music provided her with an outlet for her most unfiltered thoughts. Now, with new single ‘I’m Fine, I’m Good, I’m Perfect!’ she continues this narrative of breaking down personal barriers to share her truth, and she does so with witty, provocative flair.

Following on from her debut single ‘Water Sign‘, SPIDER’s latest offering was created whilst she was quarantining in her South London flat during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspired by songwriters like Lorde, Conan Gray and Taylor Swift, SPIDER spins her own cohesive musical webs to catch her listeners off guard, distracting them with poppy melodies as she unravels her innermost thoughts.

Listen to ‘I’m Fine, I’m Good, I’m Perfect!’ below.

Follow SPIDER on Spotify, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Alex Jayne – ‘Hollywood’

Having already received acclaim from the likes of The Line Of Best Fit and Chris Hawkins on BBC 6Music, Alt-pop artist Alex Jayne’s latest release, ‘Hollywood‘, is a mesmerising treat. Conjuring euphoric vibes, it unravels the head as it leads us somewhere new. “It’s a song about the fantasies we hold onto and get hurt by” says Alex.

Alex’s simple striking lyrics glide against a limitless expanse of immaculate production. The controlled nature of Alex’s voice is calming and grounding. Her sometimes hopeful, sometimes wistful, repetitions of “Hollywood”, cleverly render even the word itself strange and undefinable. Mid-way through there’s a cutaway to Alex casually and candidly chatting. She utters, in her casual spoken voice: “… don’t talk to me about the future, I can feel it there waiting, y’know?” This charmingly ordinary split second is a beautiful plot twist in a song which is comfortably and successfully cinematic. 

After the two years we’ve had, this notion of striving for a chameleon like, omni-out-of-reach reality lands with just the right balance of promise and poignance. Whether the song summons thoughts of lost love or just that sense of your future living somewhere in the distance, this is an emotional track which speaks to the moment we’re living in with a welcome uniqueness. 

Tutku Barbaros
@tutkubarbaros

Photo Credit: Laurie Barraclough

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Track Of The Day: Me and The Moon – ‘Strangers’

Having supporting the likes of Marika Hackman and Flyte on tour, and with acclaim from the likes of Radio X’s John Kennedy, indie-alt connoisseurs Me and The Moon return with a sparkling sing-along tune with their latest release. In a free-flowing melodic affair, ‘Strangers‘ drapes a veil of hazey guitar tones over the song and steers Me and The Moon to a dynamic, multi-faceted platform that doesn’t neglect the band’s original folk undertones. With its ear-worm melodies and luscious sparkling vocals, the track flows with a dreamy, optimistic tone, despite its melancholic lyrics.

While reflecting upon the turmoil of bad timing, ‘Stranger’ exudes the acceptance of time as a challenging and complicated element in our lives; although it may be painful to witness someone enter and exit our path, there is a beauty to be found in the temporary which Me and The Moon does a captivating job of encapsulating. ‘Stranger” never remains stagnant.

Me and The Moon is both exploratory and humble in ‘Stranger’ as they coast off of a new, refreshed sound. With a poppy catchiness in an indie casing, it exudes the energy of the likes of Middle Kids or TOPS. ‘Stranger’ is an anthem for stepping outside of comfort zones whilst always remembering the way home.

Mastered by Pete Maher (The Rolling Stones, Patti Smith, U2), ‘Strangers’ is out now.

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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