Premiere: LORI – ‘I’m Still Here’

Known to us as the magnificent front-woman of rockers Weekend Recovery, songwriter LORI has now announced her debut solo EP, set for release next month via Criminal Records.

The second single to be taken from the EP, and the collection’s title track, ‘I’m Still Here’ offers a reflection on LORI’s recent mental health journey. Propelled by swirling, electro-infused hooks, LORI’s emotion-strewn crystalline vocals soar throughout with an empowering sentiment. Oozing a sweeping subtle power and shimmering emotive energy, it’s a perfectly heartfelt alt-pop gem; a much-needed stirring message of resilience and self-love. A huge step away from the ferocious punk-pop of Weekend Recovery, ‘I’m Still Here’ channels LORI’s distinctive impassioned spirit in a sparkling new direction.

As LORI reiterates the refrain “I’m still here. I survived”, I can’t help but feel extremely grateful that she got through everything to be where she is today; offering this deeply moving, and instantly catchy, survivor anthem.

Listen to ‘I’m Still Here’, for the first time:


‘I’m Still Here’ is out tomorrow, 27th August. LORI’s solo EP of the same name is set for release on 3rd September via Criminal Records. Catch LORI live:

6th Sept: Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield
7th Sept: Hope and Anchor, London
8th Sept: The Prince Albert, Brighton
9th Sept: Dead Wax Digbeth, Birmingham
10th Sept: Chameleon Arts Cafe, Nottingham
11th Sept: Santiagos, Leeds
12th Sept: Retro, Manchester

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Keira Anee

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Track Of The Day: Siv Disa – ‘Toxic’ (Britney Spears Cover)

Having previously charmed our ears with poignant singles such as last year’s ‘Fear’ and ‘Music In the Streets’, New York artist Siv Disa is currently based in Iceland and has now announced her upcoming debut album, Dreamhouse. Ahead of the album’s release, Disa has shared a wonderfully unique rendition of ‘Toxic‘ by the legendary Britney Spears.

Recorded with her long-term collaborator Sam and the Sea, Disa says of the decision to record this cover:

“I really liked the idea of doing a slowed-down, psychedelic/alternative rendition of ‘Toxic’ that paid tribute to the original without trying to recreate it. It’s not like we could make ‘Toxic’ a better pop song, it’s already the perfect pop song. We were just trying to play with it I think- there’s so much material in it...”

Propelled by a shimmering musicality and chiming beats, Disa’s rendition of the 2001 anthem oozes its own majestic ethereal haze as the bewitching, sweeping allure of her vocals flows throughout. Adding a unique, spellbinding splendour and haunting mysticism to the original, it’s a beautifully captivating ode to our favourite pop queen.

And it couldn’t come at a better a time; after years of abuse and control from the media, her own loved ones and patriarchal society as a whole, it looks like Britney Spears is finally on track to being granted the independence and freedom she deserves as both a woman and an artist. As Disa explains:

“Now that the abuse of Britney’s conservatorship has been exposed I hope we’re all taking a minute to think about how she was publicly judged ten years ago, and how that played into the nightmare she had to live in. I hope she gets back everything that was taken from her. We love you, Britney!!“

So, celebrate Britney by immersing yourself in this exquisite rendition of a timeless pop classic. #FreeBritney

Siv Disa will also be releasing a cover of The Shins’ ‘Those To Come’, which is out tomorrow, 26th August.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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WATCH: Taraka – ‘PSYCHOCASTLE’

Set to release her first solo album in October, former Prince Rama front-woman Taraka has now shared the advance single from her debut. ‘Psychocastle‘ was released last week and, if it’s any indication of things to come, the upcoming album – Welcome to Paradise Lost – promises a grunge laden, visceral departure from the psych-dance stylings of Prince Rama.

Welcome to Paradise Lost was conceived by Taraka whilst she was attempting a return to a pre-internet Eden by living in solitary confinement in a hot Texas gallery with a live serpent. ‘Psychocastle’ certainly sounds like someone struggling with their own company in an overheated space. Lyrics swing from love to hate in the same breath, moaning guitar hooks wail over a distorted vocal. The overall effect is deliciously uncomfortable, a sort of Courtney Love/Hole for the post-pandemic generation – those same grunge sensibilities, but with less earwig chorus hooks and more sprinkles of inertia, confusion, distress and stasis.

An accompanying music video (directed by Matthew Hoffman and Taraka and shot on 8mm) juxtaposes brutalist tumbledown city apartment blocks with salubrious, bucolic scenery. Taraka is pictured against both landscapes predominantly attached to a bed that she seems doomed to take everywhere with her. The aesthetics hark back to the old saying “you made your, bed you lie in it” (used memorably by Love as part of ‘Miss World’), and perhaps allude to feminist politics – in particular Emma Sulkowicz’ performance art piece ‘Mattress Performance (Carry That Weight)’. Taraka plays with ideas of reality and escape with a colourful, quirky charisma as she is filmed in a leotard depicting internal organs, muscles and skeletal structure whilst a bloodied tampon swings joyfully between her legs – a powerfully arresting image. 

To quote from the artist directly: “Ever try to consult your inner self, but inside your skin is merely a rotting corpse? Ever feel like every path you take is just another mobius strip leading you back to where you first began? Congratulations, welcome to the Psychocastle.”

‘Psychocastle’ is out now, and is taken from Taraka’s debut album Welcome to Paradise Lost – due out 8th October via her label Rage Peace.

Kate Sullivan
@katesullo

Photo Credit: Matthew Hoffman

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Track Of The Day: Salad – ‘Things In Heaven’

Having previously wowed us with the sparkling energy of their live set playing for us at The Finsbury back in late 2019 following the release of their most recent album The Salad Way, reformed ’90s legends Salad have now returned to our ears. As expected, the band have had to cancel many plans over the last couple of years, postponing tour dates and taking a pandemic-enforced hiatus; with changes to line-up, the band now spread across the country and personal bereavements and struggles taking hold, a bit of ‘Salad Mojo’ was lost. However, now – after an 18 month band hibernation – gigs have been rescheduled, and the band felt it was time to record something epic; a song worthy of this much-welcome come back. And so Salad returned to a song they’d started rehearsing at the end of 2019 – the poignant ‘Things In Heaven’.

Described by the band as “a somewhat derailed singer hauntingly persuading her loved one that there is beauty in this broken world“, ‘Things In Heaven’ offers an eerily majestic atmosphere. As the soaring, bewitching vocals of front woman Marjine van der Vlugt’s vocals flow, a sweeping, cinematic splendour shimmers alongside a whirring, ethereal soundscape. As its scuzzy effervescent hooks are propelled by an immense dramatic energy, it’s impossible not to become utterly immersed in its hauntingly captivating, celestial allure. ‘Things In Heaven’ will cast a spell over you; taking hold with its exquisite, other-worldly grace.

Of the meaning behind the track, songwriter Paul Kennedy explains more:

“Tom and Felicity live in Santa Maria, California. They’ve got a great relationship but Tom is prone to depression. One day, when they had planned to deal with various problems in their life, it was too much for Tom so they decided: hang that – let’s get in the car, get down to the beach, and go surfing. By the majesty of the open sea, Felicity opens Tom’s eyes to the wonders of the natural world.“

‘Things In Heaven’ is accompanied by a video, filmed and directed by friend of the band Nic Tuft. Depicting Marjine as a naked, tenacious mermaid emerging from the sea whilst battling crashing waves, it conveys the song’s theme of “the beauty that you can see in brokenness” perfectly.

‘Things In Heaven’ is out now via Three Bean Records. Download from the band’s website now. And you can catch Salad live on their upcoming tour:

10th September – Arts Centre, Colchester (supported by Piney Gir)
19th September – Bodega, Nottingham
26th September – Twickenham Festival
12th October – Komedia, Brighton (supported by Piney Gir)
24th October – The Lexington, London (supported by Piney Gir)

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Keira-Anee Photography / @keiraanee

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