WATCH: deep tan – ‘xenomorph queen’

Having been a big fan of London’s deep tan for a few years now, I’m excited to see that – following last year’s diamond horsetail EP – they’re back with a brand new single, and new line-up, ahead of their live shows supporting QOTSA on tour next month.

Reflecting on themes of matriarchy, queer parenting and sapphic love, ‘xenomorph queen’ oozes all the discordant immersive allure that we’ve come to know and love from the trio. Instantly captivating the senses with its mystical ethereal majesty, it showcases deep tan’s ability to create their own truly unique brand of other-worldly angular post-punk.

Of the track, the band expand:

“‘xenomorph queen’ witnesses the real star of the alien franchise in a new context: in the throes of a lesbian romance. a sensual – but still punk – track about matriarchy, queer parenting and sapphic love, this close encounter offers a new, intergalactic perspective on #hotmilfsinyourarea #xenomilf”

‘xenomorph queen’ is accompanied by an animated new video; in equal parts playful and enthralling. Watch it now:

‘xenomorph queen‘ is out now via Practise Music.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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ALBUM: Grrrl Gang – ‘Spunky’

Upbeat from the opening bars, Indonesian rising stars Grrrl Gang’s debut album, Spunky!, lures you in with a colourful, bouncy mood, only to blindside you with darkly reflective lyrics. Given the first track is called ‘Birthday Blues’, this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, but the depth of the emotional journey this band takes you on can still feel like a sucker-punch.

The album is a case study in dissatisfaction with early adulthood. The first few tracks are all high energy and exciting; at a glance, they are the perfect picture of a fun party lifestyle, but the lyrics deliver a different picture. The birthday is unsatisfying – no longer a celebration, but ageing into a directionless adulthood. Bar-hopping feels like shallow entertainment, business school doesn’t afford the opportunities it once promised… A fight breaks out in a karaoke bar. The joy in these songs are surface level, and reality rudely forces itself on you no matter how hard you try to stay optimistic.

The single ‘Cool Girl‘, with its absolute encapsulation of isolation in a crowd, sits comfortably in the middle of the album, marking a turning point for the whole mood. The preceding tracks sow the seeds of doubt about a life being lived because it’s what is expected, building up to a breaking point with ‘Cool Girl’.

From this point onwards, Spunky! shifts its tone dramatically, becoming abruptly vulnerable. The next track, ‘Better Than Life’, cuts through all the pretend optimism. It hits you with the upfront “I feel caged in my body/I’ve been flirting with death” delivered in a direct and deadpan style, whilst the rebellious, self-destructive appearance of previous tracks drops away in exchange for a brutally honest depiction of how the world tears at your mental health. This is followed by ‘Tower Moment’, a moody instrumental piece that makes you sit with the feelings the album so far has raised.

The mood shifts again with ‘Mother’s Prayer’; a poignant moment of reflection. The sense of isolation lingers on this track, despite it being specifically about the people who care – “My mother’s prayers/Can only get me so far”. There’s a realisation that demands a moment of quiet to digest, before the understanding comes that the only actual choice you have is to carry on.

Spunky! draws to a close with a sense of hope to it. ‘Blue-Stained Lips’ in a love song; the liveliness of the music has a lot more body to it than the counterparts at the beginning of the album. Insecurities still linger, but they are gentler now, acknowledged but overruled by the brighter tunes. The album ends with ‘The Star’, which addresses the work required to get to a truly healthy place, but with a firmly optimistic attitude – you can’t help but be convinced that things are about to get better, that moving past the struggle is not only possible, but getting closer every day. Some of the most wholesome moments in this track are also the simplest – “I look in the mirror/And I like what I see”.

Having been featured in the likes of NME and Spin, with Spunky Grrrl Gang showcase their ability to fuse together their empowering riotous punk energy with a poignant raw honesty and relatable fizzing emotion. Uplifting and cathartic in equal measure.

Spunky!, the debut album from Grrrl Gang, is out now via Trapped Animal, and via legendary label Kill Rock Stars in America. Order here.

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

Photo Credit: Tiny Studio

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WATCH: Charlotte Carpenter – ‘You’re My Reason Why’

To celebrate the release of her new album A Modern Rage, East Midlands singer-songwriter Charlotte Carpenter’s latest single ‘You’re My Reason Why‘ is accompanied by a cinematic video telling a dystopian gay love story. Charlotte Carpenter has previously released a string of successful EPs, which have garnered attention from tastemakers such as The Line of Best Fit, through to rock bible Classic Rock, and has received airplay from the likes of BBC 6Music, BBC Radio 2 and Virgin Radio.

‘You’re My Reason Why’ is a beam of light amongst a collection of darker-edged songs on the album. It has a sad, yet resolute, feeling, evidenced in the slow piano keys at the start – “Even if the world will fall apart, I’ll still be here falling down for you”. A burst of guitar builds towards the emotional chorus, as the uplifting message that love will sustain any disaster oozes through the shimmering musicality. Reflecting on Carpenter’s fond memories of spending time with her wife in a rural cottage during lockdown, it offers a heartfelt twinkling emotion and stirring grace.

Full of references to older technology, and harking back to a more innocent time – whilst exuding a subtle sense of foreboding – the video offers the perfect accompaniment to this comforting yet poignant ballad. If you require an “end of the world love letter to your other half”, this song is the one. 

Of the meaning behind the track, Carpenter explains:

“I can honestly say, they were some of my favourite times together. It put so much into perspective for me. I had stripped away all of those routines and expectations, and I found what I truly valued in life, which is love and time.”


A Modern Rage, the new album from Charlotte Carpenter, is out now.

Fi Ni Aicead
@gotnomoniker

Photo Credit: Fraser West

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Introducing Interview: Small Crush

Having just released their second album, Bay Area band Small Crush create their own distinct brand of dreamy surf-pop with a shimmering energy and whimsical nostalgic charm. With lilting scuzzy vibes and the luscious honey-sweet vocals of front person Logan Hammon, each track perfectly balances vulnerable a raw emotion with blissful, carefree vibes and glistening allure.

We caught up with Logan to find out more about the album – have a read, and make sure you check out Penelope now!

Hi Small Crush! Welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourselves and how you initially got together to start creating music? 
Hello Get in Her Ears! Logan here, We are an indie rock group from the SF East Bay Area! I’ve always written songs ever since I was little and always admired my dad for playing music. In high school, I joined up with Jackson, our guitar player, and started working on my songs more. We met our current drummer, Allen, and bassist, Joey, through mutual friends and the love of music. 

I really love your luscious scuzzy energy and uplifting surf-pop vibes, but who would you consider to be your main musical influences?
Some of my favourites are Cub, The Cardigans, and Joni Mitchell. I love looking up to other female musicians. It always inspires me to keep going. Cub has a great rock-pop vibe. The Cardigans are so dreamy and sweet, and Joni’s songwriting is unmatched. 

You’ve recently released a new re-imagining of an older song, ‘Rumblin Tummy’ – what made you decide to do this, and how does this differ from the original, ‘Tummy Rumblin’? 
When we played this song live we always felt an urge to speed it up and make it more dancey. We played it so many times this way, it just felt right to record a version that the crowd enjoyed as much as we did playing it. I like re-imagining songs because it allows them to transform in ways we didn’t think of initially. 

And you’ve recently released your second album Penelope,  which is very exciting – congratulations! Are you able to tell us a bit about it? Are there any particular themes running throughout it? 
Penelope is kind of my “saying goodbye to childhood” record. I chose the name because when I was little I named a lot of things Penelope. Stuffies, a chicken, a songbird, and a frog – pretty much anything I could! It felt right to name the album something I resonated a lot with when I was little. Most of the songs are about wishing for a simpler time and reminiscing on old memories. 

What was the recording process for album like? And how did it differ from your 2019 debut? 
We set some time on District Recording’s schedule for a week and basically worked day and night getting it done. We even slept over a few times in the studio for an album slumber party. We then just edited things here and there in the weeks after. It was pretty similar to our first record, but I’d say we had more self-confidence and drive to get it done. 

Being based in California, how would you say this influences you as a band? Would you say it’s a good place to be involved in music? 
Living in the Bay I have felt so lucky to be surrounded by so much good music and different influences. I’ve grown up here my whole life and it’s definitely had a huge impact on my music. I like to mix a lot of genres and ideas to form Small Crush’s sound as a whole, and I think living up north versus LA gives us a little more breathing room to grow. 

You’re setting off on tour with Jeff Rosenstock later this year, which sounds like it’ll be a lot of fun! When out on tour, are there any particular essentials that you like to take with you to keep you going when away from home?
My #1 tour essential is my coffee pour-over set up – I seriously can’t function without it! Also, noise-canceling headphones for our long van rides and small sleeping quarters. A few good books are great for when you get tired of staring at your phone too long. 

How do you feel the industry is for new artists at the moment? And do you feel much has changed over the last few years in its treatment of female/gender non-conforming and queer artists? 
Through the power of the internet I feel a lot of new artists have a lot of control in taking their art into their own hands. It’s great that through promoting yourself you can find the best audience for you and your music. Before IG and TikTok, you had to have a lot of outside help to promote and find shows. Now, we have the power to plan our own gigs and find our own connections along the way. I feel like there has been some change in regards to female/gnc/queer artists, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. 

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any other upcoming artists you’re loving right now that you’d recommend we check out?
I’m currently loving Similar Kind, Strawberry Launch, and Chokecherry!! 

Finally, as well as the tour, what does the rest of 2023 have in store for you? 
Mostly getting ready for the tour and working on some new stuff for 2024!

Massive thanks to Logan from Small Crush for answering our questions!


Penelope, the latest album from Small Crush, is out now via Asian Man Records. Order here.

Photo Credit: Trinity Gardener

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