Five Favourites: Ailsa Tully

Following acclaim for previous singles ‘Greedy’ and ‘Parasite’ from the likes of The Line Of Best Fit and Clash Magazine, Welsh artist and GIHE fave Ailsa Tully has now announced the release of her upcoming EP, Holy Isle – due out in September. Taken from the EP, recent single ‘Sheets‘ insightfully reflects on those first moments of waking, as your senses gradually start to stir whilst limbs stretch amid the crisp white linen. Combining lilting melodies with Tully’s crystalline, honey-sweet vocals, it oozes an immersive, delicate emotion and sparkling grace. With a heartfelt splendour, it offers an exquisite slice of folk-strewn indie, resonating with a glistening allure and subtle, yet stirring, sentiment. We can’t hear to the EP very soon!

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate the upcoming EP, we caught up with Ailsa to ask about her “Five Favourites” – five songs that she loves the most. Check out her choices below and scroll down to listen to the uniquely captivating ‘Sheets’.

Rozi Plain – ‘Conditions’
Let’s start with this one because it’s a sonic masterpiece. I love how relaxed it is, how fluttery and flighty the synth parts are, the simple directness of the lyrics, and the grounding repetition of the bass riff. It has a wondrous quality like you are an (extremely calm) child on a day out, observing a blustery day by the beach.


Hildegard von Bingen – ‘Spiritus Sanctus Vivificans’
Hildegard von Bingen was a German Benedictine Abbess around in the 10th century and is one of the best-known composers of sacred monophony as well as being a respected writer, philosopher and mystic. I am so intrigued by her, a prolifically creative woman in the Middle Ages who was actually recognised for her work. Her music has an incredible purity and is so evocative of an ancient sacredness which I often feel I need to tap into. It reminds me of walking in the mountains in Wales where I grew up.


Joni Mitchell -‘Don’t Interrupt The Sorrow’
I listened to the album Hissing of Summer Lawns countless times with my Dad in the car. This was where I first fell in love with Joni’s lyrics and her ability to paint these incredible pictures of people and social situations. The power of her emotion and her voice just cut right through, coupled with these incredibly unusual arrangements. Every element is good enough to have made it amazing by itself. Me and Dad would talk about it on many journeys, extremely fond memories.


Sudan Archives – ‘Come Meh Way’
I am a cellist and spent a while trying to work out how to incorporate the cello into my live set up… In the end I gave up and turned to the bass. Sudan Archives made me wish I hadn’t. How she performs with a violin and how she uses it to accompany her voice is so unique to her, very mesmerising. She gets a really cool scratchy, earthy tone and puts it through loads of pedals. Catch her live if you can!

Caroline Polachek – ‘So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings’
I listened to this song all the time when I started dating my boyfriend. It reminds me of feeling all that crazy joyful excitement. It’s just a great pop song!


Thanks so much to Ailsa for sharing her Five Favourites with us! Listen to latest single ‘Sheets’ below:

Holy Isle, the upcoming EP from Ailsa Tully, is set for release 1st September via Dalliance Recordings.

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Track Of The Day: Aisha Badru – ‘The Way Back Home’

Having previously charmed our ears with the soothing sounds of last year’s ‘Soil’s Daughter’ and 2018’s poignant debut album Pendulum, singer-songwriter Aisha Badru has now announced her upcoming new EP, set for release in December.

Ahead of the EP’s release, new single and title track ‘The Way Back Home’ offers an endearing reflection on relationships, and the age-old realisation of “if you love something, set it free”. Flowing with twinkling, folk-inspired hooks alongside Badru’s rich, soulful vocals, it oozes an immersive, heartfelt emotion. Propelled by a gentle, lilting energy and shimmering grace, a sweeping majestic splendour ripples throughout this beautifully stirring ballad as its poignant lyricism swirls throughout. A simply exquisite, evocative creation that’ll soothe the ears with its resplendent, uplifting allure.

Of the writing of her upcoming EP, Badru shares:

“I knew exactly what to say without thinking about it. It was as if I was writing exactly from my heart.“

‘The Way Back Home’ is accompanied by a beautifully hand-crafted lyric video, directed and animated with intricate illustrations by Tash Tully. Watch it here:

The Way Back Home, the upcoming EP from Aisha Badru, is set for release on 3rd December.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business – ‘He Earns Enough’

Following their poignant previous single ‘I Am Afraid’ and their captivating cover of Empress Of’s ‘Woman Is A Word’, Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business have now announced their debut EP, set for release in October. Featuring members of Trash Kit, F*Choir and Bamboo, the six-piece choral punk ensemble have received acclaim from the likes of Steve LaMacq on BBC 6Music, and have now shared a brand new single; the title track of the upcoming EP.

Propelled by an anthemic, mystical power, ‘He Earns Enough‘ reflects on shamelessly money-grabbing men who increased their fortunes to the tune of billions during the pandemic, while millions around the world struggled and suffered. Building in intensity as chiming hooks crescendo alongside soaring harmonious voices, glitchy beats pulse against the poignant, angst-driven refrain. As the swirling layers of vocals trickle alongside each other and grow with an empowering energy, ‘He Earns Enough’ offers a simple, yet stirring, message, oozing a sweeping, celestial splendour that’ll bewitch the listener instantly with its eerily enchanting allure. Ending on the climax of the voices coming together with impassioned shouts of “Enough!”, it captures the rage and sense of hopelessness of living with the continuing injustices of a patriarchal capitalist society.

Of the inspiration behind the track, Jenny Moore explains:

“I heard a story once about the head boss of Tesco discussing the future of the company and his role in it. He bemoaned the fact that, because of the women and migrants, men like him were becoming extinct. This year, the big billionaires in the US increased their wealth by $1.2 trillion. During a global pandemic. Women and migrants took care of a dying world and men ate it up – made millions on the virus and its ruthlessness, extracted Earth’s resources, laid off workers, denied sick pay, threw some pennies to ‘causes’ and then went to outer space for a party. I think, maybe, he earns enough.”

Agreed, Jenny!

Watch the beautifully crafted new video for ‘He Earns Enough’ here:

He Earns Enough, the upcoming new EP from Jenny Moore’s Mystic Business, is set for release 8th October via Lost Map Records. Pre-order here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Introducing Interview: 45ACIDBABIES

Having blasted into our ears with the quirky, fizzing sounds of ‘Mommy’s Favorite 1‘ and recent single ‘Only Class6 From Now On’, Dutch garage pop-punks 45ACIDBABIES have previously wowed crowds sharing stages with the likes of Sleigh Bells and Blood Red Shoes. And today they share brand new release ‘Don’t 4get To Smile‘ – a wonderfully obscure cacophony propelled by a swirling energy and vibrant, honey-sweet allure.

We caught up with the band to find out more…

Hi 45ACIDBABIES, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourselves?
Thanks! So happy to be a part of this! We’re a four-piece. We make pop songs with a raw edge. We love to look for that thin line between sweetness and creepy, and try to follow that line with everything we make. The colour pink is our star of Bethlehem and one day we would love to paint this world pink. We want to create an environment to make you forget about the normal standards for a second so you can look at the world with the eyes of a newborn and be who you want to be!

How did you initially all get together and start creating music?
We went to a pop music school together. Herman Brood Academy it’s called. One of the subjects gave us space and time to create a set and perform it on stage at the end of a term. The teachers thought of the four of us as an interesting combination and they weren’t wrong. We stood out and that resulted in us joining the school tour where we played various venues with some of our schoolmates’ bands. At the last show of that tour we said yes to this rollercoaster of creative excesses and we were born.

You’re about to release your quirky new single ‘Don’t 4get To Smile’ – can you tell us a bit about this? Is it focused on any particular themes? 
With ‘Don’t 4get To Smile’ we enter a Black Mirror kind of world, where happiness and validation can only be found on the internet. Everyone shows their best side on social media, while in real life, no one is special and we’re all glued to our phone screens 24/7. We know something is grim about this way of living. We could do something about it, but we choose to be ignorant and go with the flow, because we’re way too small to turn things around. We can’t all be Neo, the one from the Matrix, right? EVERYTHING IS FINE.

We love your vibrant, fizzing obscure pop sounds, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
It’s different for every band member. That makes us the interesting match we are today! I think I can safely say that the movie Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a good overall influence. For the visuals, as well as the music.

You’ve previously shared stages with the likes of Sleigh Bells and Blood Red Shoes, but has there been a particular gig you’ve played that stands out as a highlight for you? 
We loved playing with Sleigh Bells and the Blood Red Shoes. We also have very good memories of our tour with the Staat, one of the most important presences in the Dutch music landscape, our first real tour abroad. But I think our favourite gig ever was this very unexpected gig in the middle of nowhere. In a tiny DIY coliseum made out of pallets. It was filled with wasted people who were dancing like crazy and flinging with branches and making the coliseum quake by stomping on the beat. It was awesome. Big shout out to Piet Naus Memorial Festival. Always.

Being based in Holland, how do you find the scene is for new bands and artists there? Would you say it’s difficult to get noticed? 
We have this really cool event called Popronde. It’s a tour where 45 towns anticipate to give young bands a stage. Stages vary from real venues to the pub around the corner. We did Popronde at the beginning of our career. Performed a lot. Drove a lot. Slept very little. Shook a lot of glasses out of the pub’s cutlery cabinets by playing very loud. It’s not very difficult to get noticed, but it is difficult to hold on to the buzz. People’s concentration span is quite short and there are loads of cool bands running around in the Netherlands. Perseverance is key.

How have you been connecting with your audience and other musicians during the pandemic?
In the beginning I started riding my bike to deliver merchandise contactless to fans. Bands started playlists to support one another. Venues and organisations came up with live stream plans and creative ways to give artists a stage and the people at home gigs. We all became very creative with it. But I must say it has been exhausting. I really hope there will come an end to this soon because people are starting to lose hope and fun in what they do; you have no idea what a live audience and some interaction can do – it’s so so so important to do this together.

And has there been anything/anyone specific that has been inspiring you, or helping to motivate you, throughout these strange times? 
The time we had on our hands by not performing gave us space to develop as a concept and as individuals. Our concept is a lot stronger now than it was before.

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any other upcoming bands that you’d recommend we check out?
There’s this new Dutch band from Nijmegen called 4B2M – short for 4 brothers 2 mothers (you guessed it, the foursome consist of brothers from two different families). They all played or are playing in other Dutch bands and last summer they stormed the scene with this new collective and a couple of great singles like ‘This Is Happening’ and ‘Get It Done’. GO check ‘em out!  

Finally, what does the rest of 2021 have in store for 45ACIDBABIES?
We have two more singles coming up and the latest single release will be all the singles of 2021 bundled in an EP with some more goodies included, which we’ll keep a secret for now. Keep in touch and you’ll find out soon enough!

Massive thanks to 45ACIDBABIES for answering our questions!


‘Don’t 4get To Smile’ is out now. Listen on Spotify.

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