Get In Her Ears Live @ The Cavendish Arms, 20.08.22

For the second of our August gigs this year, we were at The Cavendish Arms in Stockwell for the first time to host immense Aussie duo Mannequin Death Squad, with support slots from two exciting new bands Maya Lakhani and Dogviolet. And what a lovely night it was at this cosy venue south of the river… Thanks so much to the three incredible bands, and to everyone who made it down to join us for this pretty special night!

Kicking things off, it’s the debut gig for brand new ‘supergroup’, Dogviolet. Formed of members of GIHE faves Naz & Ella, as well as The Dead Zoo and Suggested Friends, they deliver a stirring set to an adoring crowd. As swirling shoegaze-tinged melodies and a gritty grunge-infused energy flows, front person’s Naz’s raw, heartfelt vocals ooze an immersive shimmering emotion.

Next up, it’s another first gig for Maya Lakhani and her newly formed band. With a sparkling energy, their impassioned alt-rock blasts out as ferocious riffs swirl alongside her rich, compelling vocals. Reflecting on poignant themes such as violence against women, and including a spellbinding cover of the Kate Bush classic ‘Running Up That Hill’, it’s a truly impressive first outing for this exciting new project.

Closing the night, it’s a true honour to be hosting the London leg of immense Aussie duo Mannequin Death Squad‘s UK tour. Propelled by a gritty, angst-fuelled drive as riotous riffs and relentless thrashing beats rage with intensity, they deliver a truly exciting set. As Elly and Dan swap between drums and guitar every few songs, they treat us to their seething grunge-rock offerings with a fiercely captivating energy.

Biggest thanks to the three incredible bands who played for us last night, to everyone who came out to support them, and to The Cavendish Arms for being such a welcoming and lovely venue. Make sure you don’t miss our next gig on 10th September at The Shacklewell Arms with a joint headline set from Gemma Cullingford and Alice Hubble, plus support from Yay Maria – get your tickets on DICE now!

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photos: Paul Dawes / @paullikesrobots

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Introducing Interview: Tina Boonstra

Having previously charmed our ears with her heartwarming 2020 EP, City Of Doubt, and received acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music’s Tom Robinson and BBC Introducing, alt-pop artist Tina Boonstra has now returned with a beautiful new single. A stirring reflection on female friendships and how life rarely meets your expectations, ‘Martha’ flows with lilting melodies and a shimmering, heartfelt lyricism, showcasing the raw, immersive emotion of Boonstra’s vocals.

We caught up with Tina Boonstra to find out more about what inspires her and her experience of the industry… Have a read, and listen to ‘Martha‘ now!

Hi Tina, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m an artist based just outside of London. I’m really interested in songs that tell stories, and I’ve been trying to write them since I was a kid.

How did you initially start creating music?
I think I was eleven or twelve when I wrote my first song. My sister played guitar at the time so I tried to get her to work out the chords to play along, but she couldn’t figure them out. That’s when I started playing guitar. After that I just kept on writing new songs, and that fuelled me to practice playing. I was never really very interested in playing covers – it was the writing that really excited me and still does now

Your new single ‘Martha’ is out now – can you tell us what it’s all about?
It’s a story about getting to know someone. And how first impressions aren’t always that accurate., When you meet someone for the first time, you almost never start at the beginning. You start somewhere in the middle and travel simultaneously forwards and backwards together as you begin to build a picture of who they are, where they’ve been and where they’re going. The way this song developed, it took me by surprise; it takes a pretty dark turn when Martha starts telling her story. But I suppose that’s true for a lot of us – there’s the self we show when we meet someone, but then over time we share more of the things that have shaped us, the good stuff and the hard stuff. 

You’ve been compared to the likes of Regina Spektor and Sam Fender, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
I love songs that tell a story. So artists like Sheryl Crow and Fleetwood Mac have really had a big influence on me over the past few years. 

How is your local music scene? Do you go to see lots of live music?
It’s been difficult over the past few years, but it’s exciting to see things start to happen again. There’s this incredible record store not far from where I live called LP Cafe. It’s a tiny place, but they host some great events, they do a lot to support the local scene and they make a mean flat white too.

And what can fans expect from your live shows?
I love playing these songs live – there’s nothing like the energy of a room full of people singing songs you wrote in your bedroom. Expect all the emotion, joy, pain, heartache that you hear on the record times a hundred. Expect to dance, sing, cry and maybe even make some new friends. 

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any new/upcoming bands or artists you’d recommend we check out?
I’m really looking forward to hearing Nadine Yomi‘s new EP – she’s just released a new single, ‘Bloom’. I love her songwriting and her voice. Definitely go and check her out.

And how do you feel the music industry is for new bands at the moment – would you say it’s difficult to get noticed?
The times when I’ve focused on making music instead of ‘making it’ in music have always been a lot more fun for me. As an artist I have an amazing opportunity to introduce fans of my music to other great artists. I love curating nights, sharing great music with people I love and giving other artists the opportunity to share their story. I think if we could do more of that as artists, the better the world would be. 

Finally, what does the rest of 2022 have in store for Tina Boonstra?
I’m working on an album at the moment. It’s my first one, and I’m very excited about it. There are a lot of stories to tell. Mostly stories of older women, which kind of surprised me in the writing process, but I hope it will connect people. Also, me and my band are playing at Between the Trees Festival later this month!

Massive thanks to Tina for answering our questions!

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Track Of The Day: Aderyn – ‘Playground’

‘Playground‘ is the latest single from South Wales indie-pop artist Aderyn, recent ‘Artist Of The Week’ on BBC Radio Wales. It’s a fun, summery and infectious pop song with a rock edge, recorded in LA with Bobby Bloomfield (who’s previously worked with the likes of 50 Cent and Linkin Park). 

The production is clean and polished with many engaging pop hooks and a cool, fizzing musicality propelled by the tight and energetic rhythm section. Aderyn sings blunt and playful lyrics following a recent breakup, delivered full of attitude and sass; sometimes sung so fast she’s almost rapping. She’s mastered immersive lyrical storytelling, allowing you to picture the scene in your mind – a story that many will relate to and cathartically sing along with in the chorus.

Musically, the song is built around fuzzy, slightly distorted riffs giving it a rocky edge, bringing to mind artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Soccer Mommy and Pale Waves, whilst incorporating swirling guitar chops, synth hooks and vocal harmonies.

Of the track, Aderyn explains:

“Playground was written just after a break-up. I was definitely in the ‘anger’ state of mourning the relationship when I wrote this song. I often joke at my gigs that singing this song live is a form of free therapy for me”. 

‘Playground’ is accompanied by a vibrant music video, showcasing Aderyn’s cheeky charisma and colourful energy as she sings directly into the camera at a sunny seaside theme park, at one point holding a pink smoke flare to amp up the attitude and fun. Watch here:

You can catch Aderyn live at  Sŵn Festival, Cardiff on the 22nd October. Find info about this and other tour dates via her Instagram .

Ella Patenall
@ellapatenall

Photo Credit: Hannah Tottle

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Track Of The Day: Aiko – ‘Restless’ (ft. Boy Jr.)

Having previously received acclaim from the likes of Elle and Harper’s Bazaar, in an electrifying unravelling, Moscow born/Czech raised and London based Aiko brings honesty, energy and spunk in her latest single. Casted by the shadow of art-pop and electro-driven indie vibes, ‘Restless‘ serves as a track that is suited for both the dance-floor and a night-time solo drive.

With a dark, yet lively, disposition, the unique soundscape Aiko fosters is filled with motivation. ‘Restless’ spins its own wheels to the point of instability and – although things may get unbearable – the spirit of the track accepts this phenomenon with resilience: “I’m scared to bits, but won’t call it quits.”

The gentle vocals that float throughout the verses of ‘Restless’ are reminiscent of Canadian alt-poppers Dizzy while the track’s banging chorus calls on the spiritual fire of acts like MUNA and Maggie Rogers.

Pulsing electronic drums draped in cinematic synths and curious samples make for a sonically dense mix that creates its own breath. Each verse of ‘Restless’ feels like a reflection, while each chorus explodes in revelation. Aiko has created an emotional push and pull both lyrically and musically that is relatable and invigorating.

Jill Goyeau
@jillybxxn

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