Dead Naked Hippies - Hero Fisher - Linda Em

Dead Naked Hippies - Rare.

Background - With an angular opening riff that batters its way into your head and stays rattling around in there all day, Rare is the ferocious new offering from Leeds art-rock trio Dead Naked Hippies. Don't be fooled by the initial ferocity, Rare serves to empower others and front woman Lucy Jowett is not holding back:

“It is a song about self love. I think we're quick to judge the term & deem it laughable or irrelevant in fear of being arrogant, or weird. But if you take a hard look at the society we live in, it's clear to see why so many people struggle to feel content in their own minds and their own bodies. I've always struggled with myself and it sickens me to think that so many other people feel the same. It needs to change.”

Expanding more on the band’s mission, and where latest release Rare fits in – Lucy says: “We're used by advertising companies, so they can make money out of our discontentment. Bombarded with images of fake realities, only to make us feel like ours isn't enough. We're made to feel like our creativity and passion will never be as important as serving a functional purpose in society. It's dull, boring and I'm ..king mad about it. Most importantly, I want people to know that they're not alone.”

By creating a vehicle, alongside band mates Joe Clarke (guitar) and Jacob Marston (drums), through which Lucy can express and tackle her own internal issues, Dead Naked Hippies offer a space for others to do the same. Rare is a cathartic rallying call in the form of pounding drums, guttural guitars and righteous vocals. TWITTER.

Following on from the song 'Guillotine' which was our first taste of Dead Naked Hippies back in June we now have the chunky and somewhat rambunctious follow up track 'Rare'. A loud alt rocker that takes no prisoners, it's hard to ignore and easy to embrace.

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Hero Fisher - If I Die and Nothing Happens - (Warning - Flash Video).

Background - With it’s heavy dub bass and raw distorted vocals, the sound of ‘If I Die And Nothing Happens’ belies Hero’s playful lyricism. The dark spectral soundscape she builds evokes a deep volcanic winter as her ambient instrumentation facilitates the telling of a fundamentally human story. Hero’s lyrical quest for light also serves as an affirmation of life, and a recognition of the beauty around us. Moreover, it showcases Hero’s unique dynamism as a songwriter.

There are light moments within the dark, as in her canny layered vocals and the sublime motorik outro. The glacial production style shines with the same vitality that Hero has carried through all her work. Ultimately, ’If I Die And Nothing Happens’ is a heady reminder of the heights of alternative music and its limitless potential to tell new stories and explore new ideas. Hero’s influences are vast, but she distils them into a sound that feels both effortless and rare.

British-born, French-raised and London-based, Hero Fisher (yes, that’s her real name) is returning to release her sophomore LP Glue Moon. Hero’s career has so far seen her collaborate with Alison Mosshart and Boy George in the Mark Ronson-scored ballet Carbon Life, open for The Rolling Stones and Neil Young at Hyde Park, and get shortlisted for the 2014 Glastonbury Emerging Talent Prize. In 2015 she released her debut album, the critically-appraised Delivery which won her fans in The Horrors and Blur.

By turns a blistering rock and roller in the vein of Patti Smith and PJ Harvey, and an experimental folk storyteller à la Jeff Buckley, Hero Fisher resists easy generic categorisation with her protean and cinematic musical storytelling. Able to expertly strike a variety of different narrative poses, she is at once the spurned lover and the fired-up rabble rouser, predator and prey. With Glue Moon previous singles ‘Sylvie’, ‘Push The Boat Out’, ‘I Let Love’ and ‘Lonely’ Hero’s lyrical imagination proved unique and bountiful. ‘If I Die And Nothing Happens’ takes her sound into unchartered territory. It’s a testament to her resplendent artistry, and a display of her limitless potential to find new sonic avenues. WEBSITE. 

'If I Die and Nothing Happens' is our fourth feature for Hero Fisher who continues to impress with her imaginative and intriguing music. There are some clever melodic hooks that contrast well with the dub bass and ambient backdrop, and Hero Fisher's vocals once again are just so engaging, that it leaves me simply wanting to hear more.


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Linda Em - Two Hands.

Background - London-based Irish-born songstress Linda Em presents her new single 'Two Hands' ahead of her ‘London Irish’ EP, to be released on September 21 via Talking Elephant Records. This new single comes on the trail of her blazing ‘Wild Fire’, a sultry earworm of an EP teaser.

This EP is the first step in a different direction for Linda, towards a more atmospheric and spacious sound and vocal performance. It is both poetic and storytelling while still being brutally honest and personal. Her pure and raw vocals beautifully convey a nostalgic lyrical narrative, her warm endearing vocals drawing the listener into her musical story telling.

The ‘London Irish’ EP was recorded, produced and mastered at Orphan Recording, Dublin by Gavin Glass (Paul Brady, John Grant, Lisa Hannigan, Mundy), who is also music director for John Carney's film ‘Sing Street’). It was mixed by Scott Halliday (John Grant, Lisa Hannigan and previously guitar tech for Prince and James Vincent Mcmorrow). 

‘Two Hands’ is about seeking a safe, quiet space in which to gather strength when the trials of your everyday life feel overwhelming. Linda Em co-wrote this song with Ian Montague.

“There was a particular point in my life where I felt very alone just been kicked out of college and my mum and brother were both in hospital. I was the main caregiver. I went into the church at the end of the road and sat asking for something (I didn’t know what). You light a candle and expect god to be at the end of the bed that very night. I used to search for churches in-between the madness” is me reflecting on those moments. When we cannot fix something, we always try to go to a higher place for help and as a young person whose family was not “normal”, I looked for that more often,” says Linda Em.

“As we grow and work on self, we realise that the higher powers we are seeking are not some greater godlike figure but something within ourselves, even if it’s just simple acceptance. That’s why the end of the song refers to that “bitter sweet surrender” of letting go and letting go of ego “humiliate me slowly” of being willingly open to vulnerability and letting go of pride. And also of being reborn spiritually “open me unholy again and again“, each able to become our own superhero.” WEBSITE.

We featured 'Wild Fire' back in the middle of July and the second single from the 'London Irish' E.P. due later this month is 'Two Hands'. It's another gorgeous modern folk song where Linda Em's vocals are so full of emotion and personal feeling. The musical arrangement is sublime giving even more passion to this truly beautiful song.

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Linda Em - School Damage - Quiet Hollers

Linda Em - Wild Fire.

Background - London-based Irish-born songstress Linda Em has announced her new ‘London Irish’ EP, to be released this fall via Talking Elephant Records. Ahead of that, ‘Wild Fire’ is the first single from this release – a sultry song that is as much of an earworm as it is seductive.

This EP is the first step in a different direction for Linda, towards a more atmospheric and spacious sound and vocal performance. It is both poetic and storytelling while still being brutally honest and personal. Her pure and raw vocals beautifully convey a nostalgic lyrical narrative, her warm endearing vocals drawing the listener into her musical story telling.

The ‘London Irish’ EP was recorded, produced and mastered at Orphan Recording, Dublin by Gavin Glass (Paul Brady, John Grant, Lisa Hannigan, Mundy), who is also music director for John Carney's film ‘Sing Street’). It was mixed by Scott Halliday (John Grant, Lisa Hannigan and previously guitar tech for Prince and James Vincent Mcmorrow). 

‘Wild Fire’ is about the power struggle in a relationship built on control and passion, where there can be no victor. Written by Linda Em and Eamon P. Gilmore, on this track, Em shares vocal duties with Gavin Glass.

“This is definitely more of love story or indeed a power battle. If you watch Game of Thrones, for instance, you'll see that Wild Fire was one of their deadly weapons of choice. The fear of wild fire is indeed a fantastic metaphor for human passion and love and energy that could not be controlled or tamed," says Linda Em. "The song is also an expression of a woman's desire for freedom and the sadness that comes when two lovers simply aren't right for each other. Even if they have this intense love, we realise as we get older, that love alone just isn’t enough." WEBSITE.

We have to go back to February 2016 for our previous Linda Em feature where among other things we commented at the time that her music "strides across genres, it's a melting pot of ideas, held in harmony by the clear commitment to deliver a top class piece". So now we have 'Wild Fire' which opens with a softer folk lilt and Linda Em's beguiling vocals. As the musical backdrop adds a couple of layers, Gavin Glass's duel vocals take the piece even further, the first of four on the new EP, this really is something special.

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School Damage - Assimilate.

Background - A To X is the second album by Melbourne anxiety-pop quartet School Damage. The new album (due out on 31 August via Chapter Music) focuses their simultaneously sharp and wobbly DIY pop aesthetic, taking in the wooziness of Young Marble Giants, the bite of Devo and the busy melodies of the Television Personalities.

Carolyn Hawkins from the band explains further about the song: "'Assimilate' came out of a sense of frustration at being a girl that does music stuff, and not knowing where I stood on the whole issue – like join the crowd or oppose it? The feeling of being part of a scene, but kind of not feeling a part of it as well. And then whether to argue against it, or just try to do your best within it, and then this feeling that I am part of the problem too. I didn’t know how to approach it, I still don’t. But also it’s okay to be confused too and to not know all the time."

A To X comes hot on the heels of School Damage’s instantly loveable self-titled debut from 2017, which earned the band raves from Brooklyn Vegan, Noisey and BBC 6Music among others. About the new album, Carolyn says: “A To X is about trying (and failing) to find patterns in the overwhelming jumble of activities involved in being alive. We were going to call it In Alphabetical Order but I guess we never quite made it to Z!” FACEBOOK.

As genres go anxiety pop is a perfect fit for 'Assimilate'. Hopefully School Damage are in a better place themselves, nonetheless the mixture of potent pop hooks and edginess gives this song some vitality and surprisingly a level of charm as well. 


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Quiet Hollers - Addicted.

Background - “Addicted”, is the first new single that Louisville’s Quiet Hollers since the release of their acclaimed sophomore album Amen Breaks that came out last summer, and which tackled important socio-political issues and helped shine a light on the effects of mental illness. In a similar vein, “Addicted” is a powerful single about opiate addiction, broadly. Which, given the current epidemic facing society, is timely and relevant.

Quiet Hollers' frontman Shadwick Wilde didn’t intend for it to be a “drug song” necessarily, though its inception came at a time when his family was struggling with the loss of his mother’s brother, who died of a fentanyl overdose. Wilde himself has struggled with addiction since adolescence. Fortunately, he’s always stayed away from heroin, but we’re in the middle of an epidemic and just about everyone has lost someone to it, so he felt it was important to acknowledge how deeply vulnerable we all are to these things, and how serious that problem really is. Not just of the problem of addiction, but of this world we’ve created and why it can be so hard to live in.

The band is still touring in support of Amen Breaks, that spawned several stand-out singles including “Pressure” (which yielded one of the better music videos of 2017, especially if you’re a wrestling fan!) and “Medicine” (Spotify), an undeniable song about about panic disorder, depression and medication. Each of the songs on the album examine core themes that drew parallels with the cultural crossovers of the 1970's, a decade marred by division, political corruption, and terrorism… issues we can all relate to these days. Expanding their shape-shifting palate to include vintage drum machines and samples, on Amen Breaks, Quiet Hollers raise questions of spirituality, sexuality, and mental illness to its new audience in tones that range from the cinematic to the psychedelic. WEBSITE.

We had the pleasure to feature Quiet Hollers three times last year and the new song 'Addicted' is equally pleasing to share. The bands mature alt rock sensibilities are ever present, as is the genuine commitment to what is, a very critical and sadly widespread problem. Sometimes passion and emotional concern are part of the solution, even when delivered through music, as that can often reach our hearts.  

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Quality Not Quantity: Linda Em - Overcoats

Linda Em - Blue Girl (Single edit).

Background promo - With both BBC and Irish radio support for her debut album “Shadow Lands” , new single “Blue Girl” is available on download on 29th February. The single takes you back to the 1960s Phil Spector “Wall of Sound” girl group soul era, with Linda’s pure and raw vocal beautifully intertwining with the soulful backing singers.

Linda’s lyrical narrative has a nostalgic feel to it bringing back the early days of Woodstock, with some saying that she has an old soul for such a young woman. No surprise when she quotes Joan Baez, Carole King and the husky laments of Melanie Safka as her song writing influences. Performing at the credible 100 Club (London) and Ifracombe Folk festival her set up can be acoustic or with her full seven-piece band, which includes soul backing singers and a mandolin/ bodran player bringing the Celtic vibe to the music.

Linda’s clear, warm, sultry vocal draws the listener into her musical story telling throughout her album “Shadow Lands”. What‘s unique is the extraordinary mix of other influences that create Linda’s original Roots sound. There is folk (revisited from a current London / Irish cultural perspective), a bit of rock, Celtic, American blues and even a hint of Ska if you listen closely. The overall production of her songs take you  back to the 60s/ 70s sound pulling you right back to Woodstock  with an overall modern day eclectic feel.

Getting straight to the point, 'Blue Girl' is, in my personal opinion an absolutely stunning song. Vocally it has passion, style and heart. Add in the wonderful harmonies and notably cool music delivery, and you may have spotted that I really like it. The song strides across genres, it's a melting pot of ideas, held in harmony by the clear commitment to deliver a top class piece.

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Overcoats - Nighttime Hunger.

Background promo - New York-based Overcoats’ female duo Hana Elion and JJ Mitchell announces the release of their newest track, “Nighttime Hunger,”. Hana and JJ are also pleased to announce they will be heading to SXSW, where they will be playing in the official showcase.

The new single is a step towards a darker, more ambitious sound. Grounded in the duo’s trademark soulful minimalism, the song is about the fears that subside by day but emerge and consume us by night. Bullett Magazine says “it almost sounds sweet and innocent. But there’s a lot of threat implied in the lyric of their song.”

The girls’ most recently finished their three-month tour overseas in support of their first EP. This tour included notable performances including showcases in London, a headline show at Dublin’s renowned Whelan’s, and a set at Longitude Festival alongside the likes of James Blake, Hozier and Ibeyi. They have since been packing various NYC venues such as Rockwood, Pianos and Mercury Lounge. The girls head down to NPR’s Mountain Stage later this month.

Those who’ve had the pleasure of seeing the girls live know that Overcoats’ is more than a band, it’s an artistic bond whose unique telepathy palpably resonates with their audiences.

Somebody is determined that my weekend gets off to a great start as far as the music goes. 'Nighttime Hunger' charms and delight in equal measures. The minimalist style is apparent within the musical accompaniment, however this unleashes the vocals to interact wonderfully.

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