Jockstrap have shared their new single and video, ‘Concrete Over Water’. It’s the latest teaser to arrive ahead of the London-based duo’s debut full-length record, on its way via their new label home, Rough Trade. The band’s Georgia Ellery says: “‘Concrete Over Water’ was written on a summer’s night in 2019 in a flat in Farringdon which was above a pub, and above a train line. The place hummed when the trains went under. “The video was born out of the celestial themes in the song. Eddie [Whelan, co-director] and I created the characters (Moongirl, Voyager, Magma Boy, etc.) to explore the feelings of wonder, inspiration and the search for answers, to reflect what the song represents to me.” Bandmate Taylor Skye adds: “I can’t quite remember producing ‘Concrete Over Water’. I was living in my auntie’s attic at the time and it was extremely hot. Georgia sent me the demo fully written, then I sent her the song fully produced. That was it.” [via Dork]
Ailsa Tully returns with captivating new single ‘Mothering’ on Dalliance Recordings (Gia Margaret, HighSchool, Wilsen). ‘Mothering’ explores miscommunication, unfulfilled expectations and family ties, accompanied by a bewitching music video. The track is raw and pulsating with words left unsaid. Tully has expanded into new sonic territory through her love of field recordings; making use of objects found in an outbuilding such as rakes, wire mesh and paint pots to create distinctive drum sounds. This adds an industrial quality to the track which, when paired with Tully’s emotive choral elements, earthy bass, and expansive layers of guitar, sculpts an unmistakeable sound and marks a new direction for Tully. Speaking about the song, Tully says: “’Mothering’ is about the distortion between the person you really are, and the person people want you to be. In our relationships, we tend to perceive others through the prism of our own experience and therefore fail to see beyond our own warped view. This is the first time I have explored creating drum parts with found sound, it feels very visceral and exciting, and a step in a new direction. I think it’s the rawest song I have ever made.”
After a successful 2021 including signing to Sony’s Music For Nations, and releasing their debut EP Reincarnate to critical acclaim, Witch Fever return with new single ‘Blessed Be Thy’ which was produced by Pigs x7’s Sam Grant at Blank Studios in Newcastle. Witch Fever are well versed in using religious thematic material to develop their lyricality, and ‘Blessed Be Thy’ sees Amy Walpole tailor language, cadence, and rhythm of a traditional hymn to deliver her own message, “blessed be thy shame / It makes us remember truth / A slow decline, the cursed divine / A place to hang your youth”. Bassist Alex Thompson says of the track, “it just goes heavy", as it boasts a crunchy wall of noise akin to bands like Show Me The Body and Gilla Band. Alex adds, “it was literally the last song we wrote before we went into the studio but came together really quickly. I think it still has an essence of some of our older material, so it’s a good way to bridge the gap.” Teaming up with long time collaborator Sam O’Leary, Sony’s 4th Floor Creative team, and stylist Matt King (Brooke Candy, Shygirl, Bimini), they delivered a video for ‘Blessed Be Thy’ that’s akin to Blur’s ‘Song 2’, The White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’, and early 00s music channels like Kerrang and Scuzz.
Pussy Riot and Slayyyter have joined forces to release new single 'HATEFUCK'. 'HATEFUCK' arrives with a Danin Jacquay-directed, NSFW video starring both artists. Pussy Riot's Nadya Tolokonnikova said of the collaboration, "Audio-visual art piece 'HATEFUCK' is the next piece of Pussy Riot's ongoing 2022 cycle Patriarchy R.I.P. that revolves around a super(s)hero character who owns magic superwoman-like qualities and uses these powers to destroy the patriarchy. The song follows 'PUNISH' and 'LAUGH IT OFF', which were released earlier this year and runs in tandem with Pussy Riot-curated exhibit Patriarchy R.I.P. that runs on billboards all across the US, mostly red states." "'HATEFUCK' heroines, vengeful dominatrixes and goddesses, they serve justice by creating a hell on earth for sexual abusers, for privileged exploiters of marginalized, alienated and objectified groups," Tolokonnikova added. "Created under the influence of Hieronymus Bosch's visions of hell." Slayyyter said, "It was so much fun working on this song with everyone. I have always admired Pussy Riot, and to work with Nadya was amazing. I think the song and video embody strong woman empowerment, so I loved that we got to join forces to create it all." [via Line Of Best Fit]
Charli XCX has unveiled the music video for the CRASH album cut 'Used to Know Me.' In the clip, the pop provocateur cycles through a plethora of personas while serving nonstop choreography flanked by two of her dancer pals. “You used to know me, now you don’t/ You used to hypnotize me, did it so easy,” Charli coos as she becomes a dominatrix, cheerleader, ’80s-style aerobics instructor, club kid, and more. “I’m finally free from your control/ I don’t need a kiss goodbye/ I’m on my own tonight, oh.” The singer also can’t resist taking a shot at her record label, flashing the camera with the Atlantic Records logo hiding under her cheer skirt while singing about breaking free of unspecified “control.” (She’s made it no secret that CRASH is the fifth and final album under her record deal with the major label, which began with 2013’s True Romance.) [via Consequence]
Tomberlin releases a video for 'sunstruck,' an unconventional love song and the charming new single from her highly anticipated new album i don’t know who needs to hear this…, out April 29 via Saddle Creek. The video was directed by Ryan Schnackenberg. “This is an aerial view love song that is also not a love song. It is more a love song to forced distance, time alone with yourself, letting go, searching for yourself and the healing that takes place when you make those things an active focus in your life,” says Sarah Beth Tomberlin. “These things are choices, they don’t just happen on their own. You can choose to practice them or you can choose stagnancy. This is a love song to the growth that often can take place if you choose to tend to your own life’s garden.”
Ubiquitous across Instagram and TikTok right now, Caity Baser’s single ‘Friendly Sex’ is now available in the form of the official video. Starring Caity herself playing out the song’s story in real time, it sees her in a bedroom, with her Friend With Benefits, as she wrestles with her feelings for him. The video was directed by Callaway Breeze, a longtime collaborator of Caity’s who directed her previous videos Haters and S.T.D. Of the video, Caity says: “WHAAAAT!!?? My first proper music video! I am quite literally bouncing off the walls. I’m so gassed for you to see this! I had the best day ever getting makeuped and things. The storyline is great, the shots are great, the clothes are great - it’s all just GREAT! I love u and hope you love it xx”
Hotly-tipped Manchester punk quartet Loose Articles have revealed the video for their latest single, 'Chaos'. The video highlights the current climate crisis as the band explain: “We wanted to express that this freak weather isn’t about giving us northerners a well deserved break from the cold and rain, but due to the effects of man made climate change”. The single is the title track from their forthcoming second EP that is set for release on July 1 via Alcopop! Records. [via The Punk Site]
London songwriter Matilda Mann shares a new single and video ‘Nice’. ‘Nice’ saw Matilda team up again with producer Rich Cooper (Rina Sawayama, Josef Salvat, Billie Marten), and on the track she explains; “‘Nice’ is my dating rule. If I go on a date and the only word I can think to describe it is “nice”, it’s not worth another date. You’d never describe your best friends or your family as just “nice”. There needs to be a better first word that comes straight to mind.” The track is accompanied by a Camila Noriega-directed video which perfectly captures the track’s thematic essence. Shot during a recent visit to the LA hills, it sees Matilda navigate a series of unsatisfying and all-too-recognisable dates, from the cringeworthy to the ill-mannered, perfectly capturing the track’s thematic essence. On the shoot, she comments; “The music video was so fun to make, up in the desert in LA. We came up with all these date ideas where it’s going terribly, and it ends with me having had enough and walking off to play ‘Nice’ with my band.”
Alt-pop singer KiNG MALA has graced fans with her new single 'cult leader.' The song, accompanied by an alluring visual effort, sees the songwriter overly confident and a bit narcissistic to try and boost her self-esteem. Directed by Conner Landers Sorensen, the three-minute gives fans a glimpse into this new chapter of her artistry. “I’m a cult leader, mind reader, heart eater / Fear feeder, say I’m your favorite preacher,” she sings. Reverberating with a distorted driving beat produced by Rob Auerbach and haunting vocals, the track oozes bold and daring energy. “I want this song to be two minutes of pure unabashed confidence. I want people to let themselves get lost in the fantasy of the most confident version of themselves—even if it’s a bit toxic,” MALA shares. “I want this to be a song people turn to when they want to feel like a badass!” [via Raydar]
