INTERVIEW – B-ahwe ‘26% MIXTAPE’
B-ahwe by Isla Mcrobbie INTERVIEW – B-ahwe ‘26% MIXTAPE’ Crammed into a small south-east London record store B-ahwe speaks – thanking names to an eager crowd ready to get dancing. 11.12.23 Words by Isla Mcrobbie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqZjXf-lAEQ Emotion is pouring in her voice, this is an album of young adulthood, a project devoted to self enlightenment in her era of take your time, breathe relax – a comment on quarter-life adolescence and the ivory tower every person should take a bathe in. In a world of bombardments of others’ achievements, the now 28-year-old spoke of confronting the societal stigma around achieving things by a certain age. Age is a percentage, not a number. 26% MIXTAPE waters the spirit and nourishes the soul. Free oneself in the language of Jazz, a rich poetic narrative of sitting out and finding solace. Opening the album to a soft drum palate she speaks her first words ‘Take time – time a little to reload’ [Track 1: Reload]. This album is a love letter to young adulthood, ambitions dream-captured in the ever-changing world of fast cityscapes and motorway pavements. B-ahwe is no stranger to poring soul into jazz-inflected new directions, but this album takes the cake. Acting as a blank canvas for her to incorporate influences spanning drum n’ bass, broken beat and alternative hip-hop – the 8-track project spans a story of modern renaissance. You Might Also Like
Gen and the Degenerates
Gen and the Degenerates Genre: Alt Rock, Punk Rock Exposure: On the Rise Location(s): Merseyside https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbGxyWmCQaQ You Might Also Like
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Gen And The Degenerates ‘Famous’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Gen And The Degenerates ‘Famous’ British alt-punk outfit Gen and the Degenerates have announced their debut record Anti-Fun Propaganda alongside the release of new single ‘Famous’. 07.12.23 Words by Molly Gregson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbGxyWmCQaQ The Degenerates have made a name for themselves on the British post-punk and alternative scene, building an equally raucous, socially conscious and degenerate audience. Now they’re gearing up for their biggest project to date, their debut full length album, Anti-Fun Propaganda out on the 23rd February, and with it they bring the latest in a series of satirical, writhing and explosive singles- ‘Famous’. Gen and the Degenerates may appear to be manifesting further success with their recent single titles – ‘Famous’ follows up the release of similarly titled ‘BIG HIT SINGLE’ – but you only need to hear the opening lines of these amusingly obnoxious titles to see that they are darker diatribes to the culture of celebrity and industry. ‘Famous’, as described by lead singer Genevieve ‘Gen’ Glynne-Reeves (she/they), “is a kind of poison pill disguised as a pop confection. It’s taking a satirical look at celebrity culture, materialism and where we draw our self worth from, but it’s masquerading as a sexy, unrequited love song” The Degenerates have mastered the skill of delivering biting social commentary through vibrant punk anthems, but they also bring two conflicting thematic approaches, a particular warmth that arises out the hedonistic friendship of a band in their early 20s, and a darkness that comes when the vibrance of youth has been corrupted by the fraught nature of contemporary social issues. Gen certainly embodies the fun and ferocity of the band. Their vocals on ‘Famous’, as well as her charismatic performance in its accompanying video make for an enchanting frontperson. But Gen and the Degenerates work as a friendship-driven collective. This social aspect of their music looks to be prominent on Anti-Fun Propaganda, which they have described as “a coming-of-age story seeing the band find out who they are, and what they stand for. Late nights and early mornings, sexuality, gender politics and mortality, all while surviving your twenties in a volatile and confusing world fuelled by turmoil”. Anti-Fun Propaganda will be released on the 23rd February via Marshall Records, produced and recorded by the renowned Ross Orton (Arctic Monkeys, Amyll and the Sniffers, The Kills) You Might Also Like
NEW EP RELEASE – Eden Rain ‘But I’m Alright Now’
NEW EP RELEASE – Eden Rain ‘But I’m Alright Now’ Eden Rain releases delightful sophomore EP, ‘But I’m Alright Now’ 06.12.23 Words by Matt Sharp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-TTLVsJ4WI Originally from Leeds, now based in London, Eden Rain has been piquing interest with her regular stream of releases in 2023. This has culminated in her new 5-track EP, ‘But I’m Alright Now’. The project is composed of 4 previously released singles,as well as brand new track, ‘Ghost Girl’. The name of the project has a rather endearing origin story. ‘But I’m Alright Now’ was actually the punchline to a joke told by Eden’s father when she was younger. When in a session creating these songs, the true meaning of the joke suddenly becameclear, and Eden excitedly called her dad to tell him. Since this, the name has developed, and taken on new meanings. For Eden it is reminiscent of the idea of faking it till you make it, and trying to convince people you’re in a better place than you truly are. However, in talking about the project Eden expressed she was “proud and pleased to say that on a good day, I think I am actually alright now.” The project begins with one of my personal favourites, the effortlessly charming,‘Terry And Julie’. This tale of love meanders wonderfully between verse and chorus, with memorable lyrics present throughout. The protagonists of ‘Terry’ and ‘Julie’ are wonderful characters in this love story. On this we see excellent song-writing, over mellow production courtesy of Josef Page. Following the first track we have, ‘I Found My Brain’, which is brimming with relatable lyricism. This one is a slightly more energised offering, with a chorus primed for a live setting. “I found my brain last night, down the back of the sofa”, is a fantastic sentiment in which to base the song around. This track makes way to ‘Pet Names’. A more sombre expression, ‘Pet Names’ is a sweet indie pop number, discussing themes of love and a significant other. In this middle point of the EP, there comes across a theme of ups and downs across the project, with Eden Rain reflecting on her varying life experiences. ‘All Things Change’ is next in the track list. In ‘All Things Change’, themes of acceptance and the removal of caring stand out to me. Whilst it contains a certainamount of sadness, this song has a triumphant nature. There are brilliant, slightly tongue-and-cheek lyrics, to do with bathing with toasters, but the energy of the track remains jubilant. The pinnacle line of ‘All Things Change’, strikes as Eden Rainmaking peace with events in her life. I find this to be another stand out offering from the project. The EP reaches its conclusion with the highly emotive, ‘Ghost Girl’. The ghost metaphor is deeply compelling, and stirs reflection upon listening. “I’m a ghost at the party” is a line that stands out for its relatability. The production is floating and atmospheric, and provides the base for one of Eden’s best vocal performances yet. With this song we see a superb ending to a hugely captivating EP. Eden Rain recently excelled at her sold-out headline performance at The LowerThird in London. Another headline performance, this time at Oporto in her hometown of Leeds, suggests live performance to be an area she is not only comfortable in, butan area where she excels. Eden Rain is a young artist with a huge amount of promise, showcasing on this EP a song writing ability beyond her years. With these headline performances, and this dazzling new EP, Eden Rain is due to have a fantastic 2024. You Might Also Like
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Josie Oliver ‘Tomorrow’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Josie Oliver ‘Tomorrow’ Josie Oliver wishes for a better ‘Tomorrow’ in her new single 06.12.23 Words by Giulia Castagnaro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgec8J9GYbM Josie Oliver is a UK-based singer and artist. She recently released her fourth single titled ‘Tomorrow’. This song starts with a beautiful piano intro, inviting the listener into an emotional space. The melody of ‘Tomorrow’ maintains a rather sad undertone which accompanies us throughout. The lyrics present a moment of heartbreak and how although we know someone is not good for us, we might still endure the pain instead of letting them go. Josie Oliver explains that just like a bitter pill that is hard to swallow, she will wait out the pain until tomorrow. The song captures a feeling of nostalgia for what once was. It presents a longing so strong that even though it now turned into pain, you are unable to let go of what is hurting you. As Josie expresses, it has become a habit, and ‘you are one of the worst of them’. While at the beginning of the song, the lyrics indicate a sense of pride for her stubbornness to move on, ultimately, there is anger and pain in holding on just as much as there is in letting go. Holding on to this habit will not make the pain go away. Just like Josie’s feelings, her song becomes something you cannot let go of. I have been listening to ‘Tomorrow’ every single day, immersing myself in her wondrous melody and heartfelt lyrics. The song paints a bittersweet, yet beautifully painful experience, leaving the listener wanting to know more about how this heartbreak came to be. Any indie fan will love Josie Oliver’s ‘Tomorrow’ as it hits home with a theme all of us can relate to. You Might Also Like Indie, Josie Oliver, New Releases, On the Rise, Pop, Single
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – PROJECTOR ‘No Guilt’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – PROJECTOR ‘No Guilt’ PROJECTOR are one of the many notable talents to emerge from Brighton in recent years, with their upcoming album ‘NOW WHEN WE TALK IT’S VIOLENCE’ reflecting the evolution of a band that have drifted into the spotlight and reached a new heights since their debut back in 2017. 05.12.23 Words by Kristian Floate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IGxhwkT2UM Aside from the indisputable growth in production quality, PROJECTOR have a firm footing on a sound that holds a fusion of stylistic influences, while pioneering their own sound altogether at the same time. Their latest single ‘No Guilt’, taken from their debut album due to release in February 2024 with Venn Records, is a prime example of PROJECTOR’S rock-ready versatility – with vocals that offer an essence of Interpol and the early days of the Kaiser Chiefs, while layering twangy guitar hooks that wouldn’t go unnoticed in a Squid single, or a release from fellow Brightonians KEG. This familiarity, infused with refreshing chant-worthy vocal screams and infectiously energised noise, pushes PROJECTOR to untapped terrain that has taken the trio to the mainstream rock scene with flying colours. With endless Spotify playlist features and BBC Radio 6 airplay, the self-produced trio are turning heads already. ‘No Guilt’ is built on a simple foundation of four ascending notes, which quickly blossoms into a gritty stop-and-start rock ballad of intense rock experimentalism. Released alongside a cinematic retro-esque music video filmed at Duke of York’s Theatre, ‘No Guilt’ pushes listeners into the artistic flair that PROJECTOR have developed and perfected in recent years. The raw, emotional angst of PROJECTOR is channelled seamlessly to the live stage, and with 15 UK/EU tour dates across February, March and April, their newest offering will be guaranteed to leave their mark on rock, grunge and pop fans alike. Whether you’re an advocate for vinyl, CD or digital, their debut album is ready to pre-order in all three mediums – so get your 2024 listening off to a strong start! Album Pre-Order – NOW WHEN WE TALK IT’S VIOLENCE | PROJECTOR (bandcamp.com) Tour Tickets – Live – Projector (projectorprojector.co.uk) You Might Also Like
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Lauran Hibberd ‘mary’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Lauran Hibberd ‘mary’ Lovers of indie-rock with a dash of nostalgic 2000s-esque sound will have Lauran Hibberd’s latest single ‘mary’ on repeat for months. 04.12.23 Words by Sophie Coombs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNknDPPJWcw The single comes in advance of Hibberd’s second album ‘Girlfriend Material’ which is due to release in March 2024. One hopes it is an excellent taster of what to expect in the album by the Isle of Wight-born artist. ‘mary’ combines a sound similar to Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Sour’ with early-noughties rock plus a Hibberd twist to create a fresh yet familiar anthem. The song would not be out of place as a TikTok trending sound nor as a scene opener in the likes of ‘Mean Girls’. The single tells a tale of the protagonist falling for the eponymous Mary during a double date with her boyfriend and the aftermath of the two women beginning a relationship. It oozes the excitement and anticipation that comes with a budding new romance. Its chorus hits you all at once, featuring powerful drums and Hibberd’s impassioned lyrics which will be stuck in your head hours after playing: “This has never happened to me before, where I ditch the guy for the girl next door.” Parallels between the verses are to be noted too and spotlight Hibberd’s songwriting skills. Witty comparisons between her (ex)boyfriend and Mary allow a glimpse into the singer’s humorous personality. Hibberd’s hook brings the song to its crescendo, with catchy lyrics and toe-tapping beat. Throughout the single, instruments used are as compelling as Hibberd’s vocals and this is most evident in the final moments. The song finishes with the most commanding line used throughout: “Everybody wants a Mary.” This song cannot be reviewed without mentioning its themes of LGBTQ+ relationships. Katy Perry’s 2008 ‘I Kissed a Girl’ was praised for its representation of the LGBTQ+ community, and Hibberd’s ‘mary’ is a strong reminder of the progress made in the past 15 years. The experience of a same-sex relationship is normalised and sung about just as heteronormative relationships have been for the past centuries. This single tells so much more than a story of two women in the early stages of their relationship, it tells of the development our society has made in accepting LGBTQ+ love for what it is – love. You Might Also Like
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Home Counties ‘Wild Guess’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Home Counties ‘Wild Guess’ Indie-fans, we have good news for you: The London-based band Home Counties is back with a new single and a new album announcement! 04.12.23 Words by Céline Galletti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2wEIO047ec Their new song “Wild Guess” is not afraid to experiment: synth music, guitar, rhythmic beats and soft vocals are married together to produce an irresistibly catchy rhythm. At points, the amalgamation of different sounds will be almost cacophonical, but the band manages to make it all work perfectly together and create a very rich musical universe. Clapping, maracas, whistles, soft percussions, choruses and synthetics give rhythm to the main singing voices, a male/female duo that harmonises together beautifully. I challenge anyone to try not to dance along, I guarantee that it will be extremely difficult. But don’t get fooled by the cheerful rhythm, as the lyrics are drastically more bitter. The band reportedly wanted to give voice to the shared fears of young generations by exploring their own various anxieties. They ask us the enigmatic question “In what way do you suffer?”, giving for granted that we are in fact suffering, and inciting us to name our fears. They talk about the fear of old age, of life passing you by, of financial responsibility and phone addiction, and create a parallelism with ecological catastrophes, thus echoing a lingering ecological anxiety: “Like a river full of dirt, I’m hurt, has we burn”. The tonal contrast between the lyrics and the rhythm creates a bittersweet ironical tone: after all, it is better to sing about your problems than cry about them. Home Counties are the voice of a generation, and what a harmonious voice that is. Their full EP “Exactly as it seems” comes out on the 3rd of May 2024, and they will be touring in the UK from the 7th of May onwards. This marks their comeback after a couple years off the radar, and the band is clearly fresh of new ideas and creative inspiration. Give them a look if you want something to brighten up your winter playlist, and keep up with their newest updates on their Instagram @homecountiesband. You Might Also Like
INTERVIEW – Willow Beggs ‘The Muse’
Photo Credit: Laura Braithwaite (@SeekHappyDays) INTERVIEW – Willow Beggs ‘The Muse’ Willow Beggs is a 21-year-old Bedfordshire-based artist and spends her time as a studio musician, bass player, a member of The Beggs Sisters and a solo artist. 01.12.23 Words by Genevieve Pughe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZY4WLXRSAI A talented artist in many ways, she also has studied fine art, potentially a clue towards inspiration for her new track ‘The Muse’. The song echo’s themes of misogyny and is partly based on the infamous statement from Picasso that women, to him, were either ‘goddesses or doormats’. But now we get to see the perspective of The Muse, who is always looked at but never seen. It was a pleasure to get to speak with her about her creative process, experiences, and her new track The Muse. How long have you been focusing on your music, and what kicked it all off? I want to say in the last 5 years, I’ve started to really hammer down and put my focus into it. I’ve always been interested in music, with my dad being a musician. Then I went to university and focused on my fine art for a long time, and I never really found the time to put all of my energy into it. But recently I decided, this is what I want to do so why don’t I just start now? What really inspires your writing process? Things that inspire me are just the everyday, mundane thing. Just being aware of everything that’s around me. I can think quite existentially sometimes, which can be overwhelming, but I think it’s quite important to channel those thoughts into art so that’s what I do. If I get inspired by something morbid, like fear of death, I want to try to put that into a song. I’m also inspired by anything I see in the media. If anyone says something that interests me, I’ll put it in my notes on my phone or put it in a song lyric. If you go on my note’s app, it’s just filled with random jotted down sentences. Are there specific musical influences which inspire your music? Billie Eilish is an obvious and big influence. I’ve always been a fan of her music, and I love that it’s so mainstream and pop, but also so heartfelt and sad at the same time. Dodie Clark as well, I used to be obsessed, and followed that obsession from a young age. Matt Maltese’s music is great, and Imogen Heap also is a genius and huge influence. I would say Hide and Seek is probably one of my favourite songs. Photo Credit: Laura Braithwaite (@SeekHappyDays) How do you find performing? Have you had a favourite venue, or a favourite performance? It’s hard to remember all the venues I’ve played at! Brighton Dome is probably my favourite I’ve performed at as that was our first gig as The Beggs Sisters, so you can imagine my mind and nerves at that moment. I would also say the Black Lion, our local pub, is one of my favourite places. It’s really intimate, homey, and comforting. Very good vibes. It’s always really comforting to see familiar faces, and kind of feels like there’s less pressure involved. One of my goals in particular is to go on tour. Whether as a solo artist, session musician, in a band or playing bass, I think my ultimate goal is just to get to go touring. Or to play festivals, they just look like so much fun and I would love to do that one day. You perform also with your family, could you tell me a bit about that? Yes! I perform in a band with my dad Nick Beggs and my sister Lula, called The Beggs Sister. A lot of people think that it’s just me and Lula as The Beggs Sisters and my dad just plays bass in the band. We have a running joke where he always says he’s just the ugly one. Whilst working on my own EP I have also been investing a lot of energy in our outcoming EP for January, as well as our gigs we have been doing recently. Our next one is at 229 in London. Our preshow ritual is mostly just blasting Man Down by Shakka and having a boogie to get rid of nerves. Lula and I tend to write separately, and then build on each other’s work. We write about similar ideas; she came to me the other day saying she wanted to write a song about the menstrual cycle because ‘I’m sick of my period!’. So, then we started collaborating on that idea which has been really fun. It’s so nice to have her with me, because she also grew up wanting to be a solo artist and she told me first hand how difficult it was being a woman in the industry. Photo Credit: Laura Braithwaite (@SeekHappyDays) Would you say your family inspires you a lot? Yeah definitely, you take inspiration from everyone around you, and you just cut things that you like from certain artists and make them your own. A nice composition of everything that you love. You mention about it being difficult for women in the music industry, can you expand on that? Well for instance, I have found that when I’ve played bass in other people’s bands, and we’d be doing soundchecks, being in an all-female band at times it can be quite intimidating. Especially when a lot of the sound engineers, who have been male, have been quite patronising and talked to us like we don’t know what we’re doing, that can be quite difficult to navigate. Being a solo musician is scary, let alone being a woman in the industry. There is still a lot of work to be done. I am excited to talk to you about your new track The Muse. Was the inspiration conceptual or personal? A lot of it was conceptual but
NEW EP RELEASE – CIEL ‘Rather Be Alone’
NEW EP RELEASE – CIEL ‘Rather Be Alone’ Drawing inspiration from the 1990’s Goth and Grunge scene, CIEL’s second EP Rather Be Alone takes on the different kinds of love and heartbreak you can experience. 01.11.23 Words by Jamie Shovelin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH_2G_YT5LU Featured on BBC One and Amazing Radio, CEIL is an English based grunge-indie band with three members. The band have just released their new EP and have announced a UK and France tour set for February 2024. Let’s take a closer look at Rather Be Alone Circles is the opening track to the EP and has the longest run time and gave the EP its name “Rather Be Alone” through its lyrics. This song was perfect for the opening track of the album, the slow build of the beginning with the string noise of the guitar leading into the drum beat flawlessly lets you know what your in for with the rest of the EP. The song itself lyrically is beautiful, the bridge of the song “you call me, you hurt me, you want me”, comes off almost in a haunting tone with the reverb on the soft vocals, this was my personal favourite part. Talk is the second track in the EP, the track itself is very different from the previous but still within the same range of genre. You’re instantly met with the beat of the drum and a loud guitar riff compared to the slowed start of the album. The first line of each verse has almost a harsh beginning to the vocals being louder than the rest of the verse being in the singer’s usual softer tone adding something special to the song. Shut in My Body is the third and shortest song on the EP. This song heavily leans into 90’s grunge music without sounding to different compared to the rest of the EP. The repetitive lyrics of the chorus and the riff of the bass makes it very easy to get stuck in your head, the heavy bass paired with the soft vocals has blended very well for the band throughout the whole EP without overshadowing either of the vocals or instrumentals. The final track of the EP is Pictures. Pictures is the best way to end the EP as it sounds closer to the first track Circles compared to the other tracks. The song over all reminds me heavily of the goth genre, particular the distorted vocals and pause of the instrumentals near the end of the song. The EP overall is the perfect example of different types of hurt you can go through and beautifully displays it in their lyrics with all of them in some way or another discussing heartbreak or tough times. Every song on the EP is catchy and easy to sing along with after only listening through a couple of times, perfect for singing along with when their tour starts in early 2024. You Might Also Like