Video Premiere: Currls – ‘Honey’

Having previously wowed us with their colourful charisma live at The Victoria last year, Brighton’s Currls have been receiving acclaim from the likes of Huw Stephens and BBC Introducing’s Melita Dennett, and most recently were featured on the Glastonbury 2022 Emerging Talent long-list. Now, having announced that their debut album will be set for release this November, the band have shared an uplifting new single.

A colourful ode to female friendship and owning your own unique individuality, ‘Honey‘ is propelled by an empowering energy as lilting, catchy hooks flow alongside frenzied beats and unifying, singalong refrains. And, as the soaring, soulful vocals of front person Holly take the lead, an enlivening dose of twinkling, scuzz-filled garage-rock is created; an energising and compelling anthem of self-love that’ll motivate and inspire on first listen.

‘Honey’ is accompanied by a vibrant, DIY video showcasing femmes coming together to celebrate each other and themselves. The perfect, sparkling energy-boost you need on during this lethargic heat wave.

Watch the video, for the first time, here:

Hello, My Name Is, the upcoming debut album from Currls, is set for release on 11th November.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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LIVE: Charmpit @ Sebright Arms, 08.07.2022

On Friday we had the absolute honour of hosting DIY legends Charmpit’s last ever London gig at Sebright Arms. With support from total faves Bitch Hunt and indie ‘tweecore’ outfit adults, it was truly a wonderful night – with so many familiar faces from the community coming together to celebrate a band who have been such an inspiration and joy for so many. And to sellout was a a total dream – huge thanks and big love to the three beautiful bands and to everyone who joined us for this memorable night filled with all the best vibes and bittersweet emotions!

Opening the night, Bitch Hunt deliver an empowering, cathartic set. Despite not having had the simplest of weeks (graduations, minor surgeries and struggles on public transport all contributing to stress levels), they radiate a blissful energy as each scuzzy punk-pop offering – reflecting on themes ranging from being non-binary and losing loved ones, to men who take up too much space – tugs at the heartstrings and fills the venue with a joyous sense of unity. Expressing their love of Charmpit and reflecting on memories of First Timers fest in between tracks, it’s a perfect start to what turns out to be a perfect night.

Next up, South London’s adults blast onto the stage with all the fuzzy energy you could ever desire. With both vocalists donning matching Charmpit ‘Anarchism Is For Lovers’ tees, and even treating us to a cover of the beloved headliners, they deliver half an hour of glistening, indie-pop perfection. Simultaneously oozing a lilting, uplifting scuzz with a poignant, angst-driven rage at the state of the world, each track twinkles with a sparkling drive as relatable lyrics about mutual aid and looking out for each other in hard times flow with heartfelt emotion alongside infectious, jangling hooks.

And then it’s Charmpit‘s turn to play their last ever London gig… Emotions run high in the packed out space as their sparkling charisma and vibrant energy instantly flow from the stage, filling the venue with an all-encompassing euphoric splendour. As they treat us to a set of career-spanning classic DIY anthems, it’s an utter joy to see the crowd dance, sing (and cry) together to this band who have meant so much to all of us over the years. From earlier colourful offerings such as ‘Buckfast My Heart’ and ‘Margot’ (who is now 7 and president of her Climate Society at school), to tracks from their latest (and last…) album Cause A Stir, each track oozes the band’s trademark shimmering, colourful zest and playfully quirky wit, whilst touching on stirring themes such as toxic relationships, true friendship and anarchy. Despite the sadness at this being the last time we will all be together in a room dancing to Charmpit, it’s a truly joyous occasion – celebrating all there is to love about this inspiring, adorable and innovative group whose uplifting bubblegum pop tunes have healed, helped and motivated so many. Having followed their career from the start, and with fond memories of them playing live for us at The Finsbury back in 2017, it’s a total honour to host this incredibly special event dedicated to these four wonderful humans who have played such a pivotal part in the London DIY community over the last decade.

What more can I say… Thank you to the three truly wonderful bands, to all who came out and – most importantly – thank you to CHARMPIT! We love you so much; thank you for all the music and the inspiration that will stay with us forever. It was a joy to host this event and to see so many lovely familiar faces!

Join us in a couple of weeks when we’ll be back at The Shacklewell Arms with total faves ARXX, with support from Fräulein and Lusa Morena – tickets selling fast, so make sure you get yours on DICE now! And then we will be at The Victoria on 12th August to dance the night away with Nikki & The Waves, BAXTR and Panic Pocket – you should also nab tickets for that soon too!

Words: Mari Lane / @marimindles
Photo Credit: David Harris / @chopstick68

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Track Of The Day: Stud Count – ‘Give Me Time’

Pairing their signature light, catchy vocals with a heavier sound beneath, Philadelphia band Stud Count’s latest single ‘Give Me Time‘ examines – in their words – the “emptiness of surface level friendships”. The frustrations of such a situation are reflected in the music from the very first bars: the drums and guitars blend into a high-energy roar that echoes the sheer depth of emotion inevitable when you’re confronted by a noticeable lack of depth in your relationships.

The simplicity of the lyrics captures those moments of realisation incredibly well. It quite bluntly calls out the superficiality of the connection early on with the lines “There’s not a lot goin’ on here / Baby, that’s the truth”, in a way that it’s often not easy to call out when “right now you feel fine”. There is weight to the vocals that, despite Norelle Green’s naturally bright and upbeat tone, feels almost resigned to the disappointment of the situation. The lyrics are weighted by the sense of reluctant acceptance you need to reach before you can vocalise the dissatisfaction of a shallow, unfulfilling friendship. This complements the rage in the music itself wonderfully. The aggressive thud of the drums and the scream of the guitars throughout the track reflect everything that comes before and beneath that acceptance – the pain, the disappointment and the loss. The music is fuelled by a driving post-punk energy, reflecting all those feelings you have to process to get to the moment of acceptance.

The track ramps up and reaches its peak with an immense, howling guitar solo; it feels like the frustration has finally reached breaking point and bursts out in a scream of riotous strings, before winding back into the final verse.

The bouncy vocals make this song catchy and upbeat in a way that doesn’t detract at all from the rich, gritty power of the instruments beneath. It blends the raw energy from different stages of a long emotional process in a way that encapsulates the whole in a few short but expertly crafted minutes.

‘Give Me Time’ is out now. The eponymous debut album from Stud Count is set for release on 22nd July via Smartpunk Records.

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

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GUIDE & PLAYLIST: Supersonic Festival

Event: Supersonic Festival

Where: Digbeth, Birmingham (The Mill, 29 Lower Trinity St, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4AG)

When: Friday 8th – Sunday 10th July 2022

Ticket Info: Full Weekend ticket: £130 / 2 Day Weekend ticket: £100.00 / Day ticket: £50 (ticket link here)

General Info: Now celebrating its 16th year, Supersonic Festival have put together another “ambitious programme of mind bending music, sense shifting art and life altering experiences” with their 2022 Guest Curators Decolonise Fest and Radwan Moumneh. There will also be extracurricular talks, screenings and activities across the weekend, including Do.om Yoga and an exhibition on the power of DIY printing.

Who’s Playing: Full line-up & timetable here

Divide & Dissolve, Rachel Aggs, Grove, BUNUEL, Bloody Head, Blue Ruth, Bismuth, A.A. Williams, Follakzoid, J. Zunz, No Home, Nadja, June Of 44, Richard Dawson & Circle, Old Man Gloom, Thou, The Bug ft. Flowdan, Jerusalem In My Heart, Radwan Moumneh, Aabronia, BINT7ALAL, Big Brave, DJ Awkward Black Girl, Farida Amadou, Matters, Jessika Khazrik + Nurah Farahat, PRNCSS, Shovel Dance Collective, Holy Tongue, Paul Purgas, Erin Weisgerber, Pharaoh Overlord + Aaron Tuner and more!

Who GIHE recommend you catch: We’re already big fans of the the heavy sounds of No Home (Saturday, The Mill, 16:30), the beautiful noise of A.A. Williams (Sunday, The Mill, 15:50), and the gargantuan grace of Divide & Dissolve (Sunday, 7SVN, 21:30) so we recommend you catch each of their sets. Grove (Friday, 7SVN, 22:30), Rachel Aggs (Saturday, The Mill, 17:30) and J.Zunz (Sunday, 7SVN, 16:50) are well worth your attention too!

We recommend attending The Art Of Collaboration talk (Sunday, Centrala Upstairs, 13:10), which will feature conversations between interdisciplinary artist, producer and DJ Jessika Khazrik, producer & composer Elizabeth Bernholz aka Gazelle Twin and NYX choir Director Sian O’Gorman.

Decolonise Fest will also be hosting a talk (Saturday, Market Place Stage, 18:40) and playing a DJ set afterwards – both will be great!

For more information on the festival visit their official website

Check out our Supersonic Festival Playlist below!

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