WATCH: ESYA – ‘Blue Orchid’

“I only came here for the meat” broods ESYA on her latest track ‘Blue Orchid’, lifted from her new EP Absurdity of ATCG (II) – Emergent Form, released in digital form today (15th Nov). Filled with buzzing synth textures, direct vocals and pummeling beats; the song fleshes out the absurdities of our relationships and interactions with each other.

ESYA (aka Ayşe Hassan of Savages/Kite Base/180dB) has been busy cutting her teeth on the solo electronic music circuit since the release of her debut EP, Absurdity Of Being, in 2018. The first of a trio of records, Absurdity of ATCG (I), followed shortly after, and her latest release Absurdity of ATCG (II) – Emergent Form, now completes her “wonky exploration” of alternate personas.

Laced with themes of acceptance and growth, ESYA’s music is a captivating blend of experimental electronics and urgent lyricism. ‘Blue Orchid’ extrapolates on these elements, as do the other six tracks on the new EP. They’re also underscored by a scientific idea, as ESYA explains further:

“This EP is about becoming the next version of yourself, about engaging in the process of coming into being, or becoming prominent…ATCG refers to the building blocks in human DNA, that set the foundations of what we will be before we take our first breath along with the absurdity we encounter in the life/society we are born into. The intention is to be honest, abrasive and direct, confronting the things we fear the most.”

We can’t wait for ESYA to headline our next gig at Notting Hill Arts Club on Sat 30th November. Tickets are available on DICE, and you can find all the event info here. Watch the video for ‘Blue Orchid’ below (directed by Alex Keegan), and grab a copy of ESYA’s new EP on vinyl here.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Get In Her Ears talks #TransAwarenessWeek 14.11.19

Kate was back in the studio this week playing loads of new music from the likes of PINS, The Dolly Shakes, Chartreuse, Despicable Zee, Big Joanie, Alessi’s Ark & HAVVK.

To highlight #TransAwarenessWeek, Kate & the GIHE grrrls also chose tracks from some of their fave trans artists, including Planningtorock, Queen Zee, Shea Diamond, ANOHNI & Jackie Shane.

If you identify as trans and are seeking advice or support, you can contact the UK-based charity Switchboard LGBT+ on their helpline: 0300 330 0630

Listen back:

Tracklist
Queen Zee – Boy
Le Butcherettes – Tunisia
Noga Erez – Off The Radar
The Dolly Shakes – Deep Fat Fryer
Planningtorock – Transome
The Mysterines – Who’s Ur Girl?
Lucia And The Best Boys – Good Girls Do Bad Things
Big Joanie – Fall Asleep
Alessi’s Ark – Born Free
Shea Diamond – I Am Her
Chromatics – Move A Mountain
PINS – Ponytail (Orielles remix)
HAVVK – Operate
Gazelle Twin – Glory
CN Lester – Heroes (David Bowie cover)
Chartreuse – Woman, I’m Crazy
Siv Disa – Moths
Anohni – 4 Degrees
Argonaut – Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Piss Kitti – Girls In i-D
Captain Handsome – I Wish I Had A Dog
Despicable Zee – Counting Cars
Lucy Barton – Roadrunner
Salsola – Cass
JAAYNS – Natural Born Enemies
Mariuk – The Sword
CRISP&CLASSY – Suffocate
Weekend Recovery – Going Nowhere
LibraLibra – Tongues
ILL – Kick Him Out The Disco
The Joy Formidable – Austere
Jackie Shane – Any Other Way

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JazzWorks ‘Jazz Is For Everyone Panel’ at Southbank Centre Feat. GIHE (Free Event)

GIHE are thrilled to announce we have been invited to speak on JazzWork‘s ‘Jazz Is For Everyone Panel’ at Southbank Centre (Level 5 Function Room) on Saturday 23rd November, as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival.

The panel will be chaired by Francesca Treadaway (Senior Communications & Public Affairs Manager, Incorporated Society of Musicians), and Maxie Gedge (Project Manager, PRSF Keychange Initiative), and CN Lester (musician & activist) and Liz Exell (Musician & Founder of Jazz Herstory) will also be speaking alongside GIHE.

Running from 4-5pm, the panel will discuss how far has the industry come in supporting artists of different genders and gender minorities, and which barriers still exist for artists who identify as a range of genders to making music, and building a sustainable career. JazzWorks aim to facilitate a conversation between industry representatives, funders, and musicians on how the current infrastructure is supporting these artists, and where they need to go next.

JazzWorks will be curating a full day of workshops, talks, and networking opportunities on Saturday 23rd November, so we urge you to turn up early and attend as many as you can!

Reserve your FREE ticket for the ‘Jazz Is For Everyone Panel’ here.

Find out what other JazzWorks events you can attend here.

This session is part of JazzWorks, EFG London Jazz Festival 2019’s dedicated day of discussion and debate focusing on some of the most important topics facing jazz and the music industry at the moment. The official partners for JazzWorks 2019 are Help Musicians UK and Incorporated Society of Musicians. 

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Gazelle Twin & NYX Electronic Drone Choir to perform ‘Deep England’ as part of EFG London Jazz Festival

A unique artist with razor sharp vision and uncompromising creativity; Gazelle Twin (aka Elizabeth Bernholz) has paired up with the NYX electronic drone choir once again to perform ‘Deep England’; a hair-raising transformation of her recent album Pastoral, which exhumes England’s “rotten past” and questions its uncertain future. The performance will take place on 20th November at Southbank Centre, as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival.

The collaboration was first commissioned and performed in December 2018 as part of a collaborative series at London’s Oval Space, but now Bernholz’s operatic voice will be displayed in all its glory alongside the equally as powerful voices of the NYX choir in the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Together, Bernholz and NYX use their voices, acoustic glitching, polyphonic overtone and ambient textures to bring Gazelle Twin’s Pastoral vision to life. The unique choir explore and test the limits of organic and synthetic modulation to explore the entire spectrum of collective female voice as an instrument. Their veiled Handmaid’s-Tale-esque silhouettes are a formidable sight on stage, so expect to be blown away by the power and the glory of their live show.

GIHE will be at the show, and we urge you to grab a ticket for it here.

For more information about EFG London Jazz Festival events, click here.

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