Promoting and Supporting Women in Music
This week Kate and Mari played all the new music, including tracks from Slowcoaches, Shamir and Dream Nails.
They discussed the #MeToo campaign and the ‘commonplace’ of toxic masculinity in the music industry. Plus, the super lovely Blonde Maze came in for a bit of a chat and a dreamy live performance.
Listen back to the show here:
Feast your eyes on the sharp new visuals from Rookes for thier latest single ‘The Heel Of My Hand’. The song is about losing the first woman she ever loved, which she describes as a “catalytic experience”. The shoot itself was completed in 12 hours at a studio in Dalston, with a cast and crew of just six people.
“I had to adapt to a lot of change very quickly, as well as attempt to process my sexuality – which I had been avoiding for a long time in strange and elaborate ways,” explains Rookes. “We made a story thread with my playing instruments a priority too. This is very significant to me, as I play all my live shows solo with multiple instruments, and I think it’s really important for girls and young women to see that”.
We admire Rookes’ insight and energy, both of which are clearly displayed in the video for ‘Heel Of My Hand’. She’s committed to changing perceptions about women in music too: “There is a stereotype out there that most women in the music industry are usually vocalists or backing vocalists, and it needs to die. The only way that’s going to happen is when people see more women doing other things on stage than just singing”.
Watch her new video below and follow Rookes on Facebook for more updates.
Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut
A year since our first #Blogtober night at The Finsbury, and following a load of super amazing bands playing for us over the last ten months – including REWS, Trash Kit, The Empty Page, Kid Cupid and Deux Furieuses – we’re back at the North London venue with three more incredible bands.
Friday 13th may be unlucky for some, but we were super lucky to kick off our night with the thrashing, garage-punk sounds of Brighton duo Sit Down.
Next up, the truly joyous, sparkling pop-punk of trio Charmpit was all kinds of wonderful, leaving us all feeling empowered and slightly spooky…
Headliners H.Grimace delivered an impeccable set to a packed-out venue. Their gritty post-punk sound and insightful social commentary blowing us all away with a unique, blunt power and Sonic Youth-inspired haze.
HUGE thanks to all the bands who played for us – we’re feeling very grateful to have been able to host another night of amazing new music and lovely people!
Photos: Jon Mo / @jonmophoto
Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Almost a year after they released their incredible debut EP, Toronto band Weaves have now released their brand new album.
Taken from the album is powerful new single ‘Scream’, featuring the eerie force of Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq’s vocals alongside the husky, soulful splendour of front woman Jasmyn Burke. Filled with Weaves’ trademark disjointed hooks, it’s a truly compelling offering oozing a captivating warped power and majestic sense of female unity.
Of the track Burke explains:
“On tour we meet so many people, and often I meet young girls and women of colour who say they’ve never seen someone that looks like them represented in a rock band. I just wanted to say, ‘hey, we’re here, we’re strong and we deserve to see ourselves reflected more often in the world.’ Female identifying people regardless of race are not just one person — we have different ideals, passions, friends etc. and yet we get pigeon-holed or are systemically dismissed and treated as less.”
Watch the striking video for ‘Scream’ here:
Wide Open, the new album from Weaves, is out now via Memphis Industries.
Mari Lane
@marimindles
Get In Her Ears 