Category Archives: Influential Women In Music.

L.A. WITCH: DOGGOD.

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There are a handful of bands that I’ve written about over the past (18) few years that have really stuck with me, and I can remember listening to their music for the first time. I can probably remember what I was wearing and where I was. Can I remember what I did last week? Not a chance. I’ve been writing about L.A. Witch since 2012, and every release feels like I’m discovering them for the first time all over again. That’s when you know a band is truly out of this world.

L.A. Witch are releasing their 3rd full length record on Friday, and I’ve been listening to my copy since January. Every listen is better than the last, and this feels like the record they were always going to make. It’s a masterpiece, but that’s to be expected from them. They’re one of the best bands of our generation. They remind me of all the old bands I love from The Gun Club to The Cramps, but also remind me of something we’ve not heard yet. Something undiscovered and nameless. The new record, DOGGOD was recorded in Paris and you can hear the influence of the city on this record. If you’ve listened to their previous work you’ll have picked up on an L.A. feel to their sound but there’s something heavier and darker here. That’s probably why I love it so much. It’s a beautifully intense record right from the start. It’s the band at their very best.

The record opens with the new single, Icicle. If you’re after dark and romantic lyrics- this is the record for you. The words are poetry and really heavy, but don’t let that deter you in any way. What the band musically add to these dark lyrics is something beyond words and anything I could ever write down. I’ve written about them so much over the past 10 years, and every single time I am in awe of how brilliant they are. Sade is one of the best guitarists ever, Irita makes the bass look easy and Ellie just destroys the drums. Put this together, and you’ve truly got one of the best bands around.

There are many gentle moments on the record but for me it’s the 6-minute delight that’s I Hunt You Prey that’s captured my heart the most. Songs over 6 minutes are my weakness sometimes, and they’ve done something truly magical here. There’s a haunting vulnerability to Sade’s voice on this one, and you can really feel the weight of it all. The bass on this is one of the best moments, and is honestly one of the best songs they’ve ever written. It’s unlike anything else they’ve ever done, and even Sade’s vocals sound different here. If I was played this and without knowing it was L.A. Witch, I honestly wouldn’t have been able to tell it was them. It’s so different in the best way possible. I now want them to do a record of 6-minute masterpieces like this. I can’t drive, but it makes me want to take a long drive. It’s got that urgency to it, and that’s their sound all over. I think I’ve mentioned it about their music before, but L.A. Witch make the kind of music that makes you feel you are riding a motorbike on the open road and out into the unknown. It makes you feel untouchable and rebellious.

The whole record oozes devotion, love and romanticism- but it’s not done in a sickly way that makes you feel utterly nauseas. They do it in a way that’s relatable; and it’s the intenseness that keeps you doing back and causing you to relate to so much on the record. Eyes Of Love has this slick and hypnotic groove to it that makes you hit the repeat button several times. There are no fillers on this record, everything is where it deserves to be. I firmly advise listening to this record through headphones and letting every tiny detail on the songs gently trickle into your ears. Let the record consume you; it’s the only way. DOGGOD at times feels like a spiritual record, and I think that’s what makes it so easy to love and see yourself in. Like I said earlier, this is the record they were destined to make.

DOGGOD is one of those records that in a few years’ time, you’ll go back to and there’ll be certain songs you head for first instead of playing it in order. For me, I think the song I’d go for would be The Lines or Kiss Me Deep. The Lines sounds like it would fit perfectly on Play With Fire, but there’s this really big sound to it and honestly? This would be one of the songs I’d play to someone if I wanted to convince them that L.A. Witch are one of the best bands around. If this wouldn’t win someone over, what hope do we have?! I love how the tender moments on the record (Lost At Sea) go right into that loud sound of theirs I love so much (DOGGOD.) It just shows how super talented they are, and how unafraid they are to play with different sounds and to make something really phenomenal.

L.A. Witch have pushed themselves with this record, and that’s evident right from the start until the end. This is a band that have taken the time to make a record that they can yet again be so proud of. For me they are like bands such as The Cure and The Cramps- every record is better than the last. Everything they do is just beautiful and perfect. Their last release was 5 years ago (Play With Fire still feels so new to me!) and you can really hear the growth on DOGGOD. They’ll never make a bad record, ever. That I’m so sure of.

The devotion on the songs is the epitome of love and loving someone so unapologetically hard (as someone who is very aware of their feelings, this may only be the way I feel to love someone and it can be a pain!) Of course, there’s an unhealthy amount of submission in the songs but there’s so much to really treasure on this record. The honesty and openness in the lyrics for me, is what stands out. Everything else just follows perfectly after. I feel that DOGGOD is one of those records that if I came back to it in a few years, I’d write differently about it because over time the songs would take on different meaning and carry a different kind of weight. In short, it’s a powerful record and if I made lists- it’d be my record of the year. No questions.

DOGGOD is out this Friday (4th April) via Suicide Squeeze Records.

L.A. WITCH : 777.

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photo credit: Marco Hernandez

One of my favourite bands are back! A band I will write about until they call it a day, and even then, I’d continue. I just love them. Little secret- I’ve heard the new L.A. Witch record, and the new single 777 is just a small, small hint at how great the record is. It’s the band at their very best and is just a dream of a record. But for now, we have the lead single- 777.

The new song doesn’t even hit the 3 minute mark, so the rightful thing is to just have it on repeat for as long as you can. I recommend letting it take over your life (or ears at the very least.) L.A. Witch are one of the coolest bands around, and the new song is effortlessly that. So slick, so cool. I adore everything about this one- it’s the guitar and how it makes you feel like you’re being chased. Not sure where you are or who is after you, but there’s a calming fix to it all. And that comes from Irita being an absolute menace on the bass and Ellie keeping pace on the drums. Sade’s vocals have never sounded so good! She has one of the most distinctive vocals I’ve ever heard. You can easily liken other singers to each other, but there’s something about her vocals that just towers over anything else you’ve heard. And will hear.

The new record, DOGGOD (“The album title is a palindrome fusing together DOG and GOD—an exaltation of the submissive and a subversion of the divine. It’s a nod to the purity of dogs and an acknowledgement of their unconditional love and protective nature that’s at odds with the various pejoratives associated with the species.”) is almost a love record- it touches on every aspect of love and the devotion of it. 777 is a prime example of this, as it’s a song about devotion to the point of death. It just oozes sheer passion and the acceptance of the obvious fate that will occur. The layers of this song in under 3 minutes is just divine. It’s a proper romantic record from start to finish- and 777 is a strong introduction to the new record, and to show us what L.A. Witch are made of (but you know that already!)

DOGGOD was recorded in Paris, and I don’t know if it’s me reading way too much into something again- but the new record feels heavier in the best way possible. There’s something about that city that brings out the best in musicians/bands, and I think it’s definitely done it here with L.A. Witch. There are parts of 777 that remind me of two records by The Cure- Faith and Seventeen Seconds (which are essentially, two of the greatest records of all time) and I think you really get that from the new record in general. What they’ve done with 777 is give us a beautiful introduction into their new record and the direction of it. At times, it’s the band with their faithful sound but as wonderfully demonstrated on 777, it shows that the band are unafraid to push themselves and create something totally unexpected.

The devotion and love on 777 is prominent throughout, but it is the last line that does it; “Don’t forget I too fight by your side. First in line I am ready to die.” I would probably sing this to my cat to be honest. But in all seriousness (I would die for that little angel though!) that line is so powerful and just sums up the passion and devotion. The new record is a proper romantic record- like going to the end of the universe and back again for the person you adore, and it being no trouble. The kind of love most want and deserve, and the band just sum it up perfectly and effortlessly.

DOGGOD is out on the 4th April via the always wonderful, Suicide Squeeze.

jasmine.4.t : You Are The Morning.

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On Friday, one of the most pure and honest records will be released. This is a record that holds so much weight in the most divine way possible. It is vulnerable and vital. It’s a record I wish I had growing up so I could navigate being queer better than I did. I think most of us wish for that and thank god this record exists because it gives so much hope. The hope is in the title of the record. The hope is in all the songs, even the sad songs. I hope anyone who is LGBTQ+ that listens to this record finds a home in it and feels safe and loved. Because you are. You absolutely fucking are- don’t let anyone ever make you feel different.

Passionate rant over. Well, maybe not.

A few months ago, I heard Elephant by jasmine.4.t and my god the way I cried when I heard it. I sobbed. I wasn’t an adult listening to the song. I was a little queer teen who didn’t know what was going on listening to it, and every emotion possible came flying at me. Now, I listen to it with a lot less tears. The tears are reserved for the rest of Jasmine’s debut record. I think if the songs don’t make you cry, then you’ve not given it the attention the record deserves. If the title track (You Are The Morning) doesn’t break you or if Breaking In Reverse don’t make you sob, then god knows what you’ve been listening to!

I’ve played You Are The Morning a number of times, and every listen just gives you so much reassurance and hope. There is so much love on this record, and it represents queer friendship in the most delicate way possible. Jasmine has dedicated the record to queer friendships, and they saved her life. There are moments of love, joy and hope on this record- and given how brutal the world is at the moment, our community need this record more than ever. There’s so much innocence but hints of hurt on the record. Best Friend’s House will ruin you. It defines finding safety and acceptance and just being able to be. That’s all we want- we just want us to be. It’s not even a minute and a half long, but the song is SO powerful. The whole record is powerful, and I hope Jasmine knows just how much of a powerful record she’s made here.

Before I touch on other songs, I want to highlight the importance of the closer, Woman. On this song, Jasmine is backed by the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, and much like our Jasmine, they use their voice to elevate the trans community. The song defines knowing who you are and being secure, and happy in that. That’s all any of us can hope for. It’s what we all deserve. It’s the perfect way to close the record, and it’s the perfect ending to make you play the record all over again. And again.

I thought I could find words to sum up just how wonderful this record is, but honestly? I don’t think anything anyone writes about this record will do it justice. No words are good enough. You just need to sit and listen to it. I absolutely LOVE Jasmine’s vocals on Guy Fawkes Tesco Dissociation. Her vocals on this are raw. The whole record has a DIY/lo-fi feel to it. And sure, snobs out there will say “THIS ISN’T PUNK!” But they’re idiots. Punk is more than a Ramones record, and they probably would have said the same. It’s going against what’s expected. It’s about not being a sheep or being how everyone wants you to be. It’s about being secure in who you are and being unapologetically yourself amongst other things. At the heart of it, this is a Punk record for the queer community. We need it. My god we need it.

There are so many tender moments on the record, and it really comes alive on New Shoes, which is the oldest song on the record. The song was originally made for Jasmine’s ex-spouse. It touches on problems early on in a relationship but has optimism to it. It’s such a beautiful song, and when the guitar hits with the piano? My god. The goosebumps! Another tender moment is Roan. It’s such a gorgeous song. The whole record is beautiful in every single way.

I’d be utterly foolish to even try tell you what the best song on this record is, I couldn’t do it. I don’t see how anyone could. It’s just an open book, and it’s the purest record I’ve heard in a long time. I honestly don’t think we’ll get anything as fragile as this record again- it’s such a rare record. It’s the kind of honesty that stops you. I’ve tried to listen to the record whilst at work and do whatever I need to do, but my attention goes straight to every word that Jasmine sings. What I’m trying to say is- this isn’t a record you stick on and go about your day. For the first few listens, let the record just totally take over you. Don’t do anything. Just sit and listen to it. Play it to someone who means something to you. Make them listen, and maybe they’ll understand. I’ve got so many thoughts about the record, and I don’t want to be too personal because no one needs to hear my thoughts ha! Not even I want to hear my thoughts most of the time! Elephant and Breaking In Reverse are the ones that really hit me in the gut. They’re the ones I know I’ll lean into the most. God help my cat when the record arrives this week and I blast it out- she’s going to want to leave. Sorry little Mary, you’re getting You Are The Morning on repeat!

I love how the tone of the record is set with the soft opener, Kitchen and that softness stays throughout the whole record right up to the closer, Woman. I feel this is the type of record that, when I listen to it again in say, 6 months time, I’ll still feel this way about it but something new will hit me. I can only liken it to the record by NoSo (Stay Proud Of Me) with how sensitive and joyful it is. There are sad moment, there are joyful moments. It is a masterpiece. A tender masterpiece that gives you so much hope. Skin On Skin is up there with being the most paper-thin songs I’ve ever heard; it’s gorgeous. I love everything this song represents. And it goes right into the hauntingly sensitive Highfield- truly one of the most beautifully created songs we will ever hear.

When Jasmine came out as trans to those close to her, some accepted her. Some didn’t. I will never understand how you cannot accept someone for being who they are, but maybe that’s because I don’t believe in loving someone with conditions. And maybe it’s because I’m lucky to have a very accepting mum. But I’ll never understand how you can turn your back on someone just because they are being themselves. Anyway- it’s THEIR loss. Always.

The record may have stemmed from dark moments in Jasmine’s life, but my goodness she has created something so full of love, full of hope, full of joy and full of light.

I feel I have so much more to say about the record, but I think it’s best to wrap it and mention that Jasmine is a huge supporter of Trans Mutual Aid Manchester. They do amazing work here, and if you want to support them to, please go here. They do brilliant work in our community, and they are a joy to support. Thank you.

*(I think Breaking In Reverse may be song that owns my heart because I’m too sensitive for my own good!)

AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS: Manchester Academy, 9th November 2024.

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Last night I saw again, the best band of my generation, live. I’ve been thinking about what makes Amyl and The Sniffers so great and it’s down to the live shows. It’s the energy, it’s the band, it’s the fans. From seeing them at the Deaf Institute in 2019 to last night at the Academy; I can safely say that every time I’ve seen them, it’s made you feel like it won’t be long before they become a band that play stadiums. Their sound is THAT big. Their energy is even bigger.

From the second the band step on stage to Mobb Deep’s CLASSIC Shook Ones Part II (any band that walk on stage to that are excellent!) you know that you are seconds away from greatness. Amy steps to the mic and tells the crowd to pick anyone up who falls, don’t touch anyone who doesn’t want to be touched and to get rowdy. I think we can apply those rules to daily life. The setlist consists of 22 songs, and you feel it isn’t enough. You want more and more (I’ll ALWAYS want Stole My Pushbike back on the set along with 70s Street Munchies!) but the new record live is insane. They start with Doing In Me Head which is one of the best moments of Cartoon Darkness. They absolutely rip through the new record, and it’s that energy that is so rare, is what makes the night.

One of the things you spot at an Amyl and The Sniffers show is that there are no age limits- the crowd is so diverse and I think the older people in the crowd lasted longer in the pit than the younger ones. It was so beautiful to see. Amyl and The Sniffers are beyond being a Pub Rock/Punk band; there’s something else there, and it honestly above any words I or anyone could write down. You know what was the seller for me? Having the show projected on a screen behind the band because this short-arse can’t see anything! But I saw it all. I got the tickets as a birthday present to myself, and I think, even though I dislike my birthday, celebrating it like this was alright. Mainly because it wasn’t ON my birthday, but you get my point.

There are tender moments in the set such as Knifey and every female person sang that song as if their life depended on it. I remember hearing it for the first time, and I bawled. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been moved by that song. Bailing On Me nearly had me crying, but I remembered being told that no one is worth crying over so I stopped myself. It felt good. For me, hearing Motorbike Song live was all I wanted. That was the new song I was looking forward to the most. It’s so loud, it’s fast and it’s just a dream of a song. Of course, songs like Hertz, Guided By Angels and Security are belted out by everyone- how could they not be? They all created beautiful moments, and show why Comfort To Me is one of the greatest records ever made. However, I reckon every record they ever make will be the greatest so we’re fine. This is a band to put all your faith, love, and energy into. Pretty sure I had goosebumps from the second they stepped on stage to the very end of the set. The encore was Balaclava Lover Boogie and GFY- excellent way to end the show! There are SO many moments during the show that just blow your mind. Me And The Girls live absolutely dicks over the album version. The song rips anyway, but live? My god!! U Should Not Be Doing That holds a very special place in my heart as does Chewing Gum. Oh man having Maggot and Some Mutts in the setlist is a dream too! Every song deserves its place!

I adored how everyone was having the time of their lives last night. Sure, drinks were being lobbed across the room and being dropped, but that’s because everyone was busy dancing and screaming along to the words. A personal highlight for me was someone coming up to me to tell me something but I had no idea what they were saying, so they then said “Don’t listen to me, I’ve just got me tits out!” And that pretty much sums up the night. Freedom for all. Fun for everyone. It was a blast, and I hope they come back soon because their live shows really do give you a kick up the arse.

The new record hasn’t been out long, but everyone knew every single word and shouted along with Amy. Her voice has become so much stronger over the years, and I think you really hear it on songs like Chewing Gum and Big Dreams. As for Dec- show me a better guitarist right now, because you absolutely won’t find one. He’s something else. Gus is THE coolest bassist. Bryce is just exceptional. Together they show exactly why Amyl and The Sniffers are the best band around. This band are for us underdogs, the weirdos and the ones who do not want what you’re selling.

I’d like to end this by saying a very personal highlight of the night was me turning to my best mate during Jerkin’ to try tell him something important and he stopped me because he HAD to shout “WANK WANK WANK” during the song. I’d have been disappointed if he didn’t. The joy on his face was heavenly!

If you’ve never been to an Amyl and The Sniffers show, you are missing out. It’s as simple as that. I adore everything they stand for and how they treat their fans, and also- how the fans treat them. Amy Taylor has that Patti Smith quality about her, and I hope when Amy gets to 75, she’s still shouting the words to Jerkin’ every night in a different city. We need bands like this so badly- especially at the moment. At the start of the show, Amy gave a little speech about the state of the world and how shit it is, and the words hit. The world is absolutely terrible but there is more of us that want to do good and help, and we just have to be a lot louder now.

So, in short, this was an amazing show and the atmosphere was beautiful. If I could go to an Amyl and The Sniffers show every night, I bloody well would.

PS- This is one of the lamest reviews I’ve done but I hope you take away from this that Amyl and The Sniffers are the best live band around. Thanks!

AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS: Cartoon Darkness.

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Some bands make the world better by making music that you truly feel in your gut. Their music becomes the voice in your head that you need when things feel a little too much. That’s the thing with music- it’s always there. People aren’t. They come with conditions and at times, demands you cannot meet. Music doesn’t do this. So, what does this have to do with the new Amyl and The Sniffers record? Absolutely everything, and more.

Cartoon Darkness is THEIR record. The record they were always destined to make. It could have been immediately, or it could have been in 15 years’ time- but it’s now and thank god it’s now.

The record opens with the latest release, Jerkin’. It feels like it’s a much-needed dig at male journalists who objectify Amy. We’ve all seen it- not just with Amy, but countless of other female musicians. They seem to think talking about what someone is wearing is far more important than the words coming out of their mouth. That isn’t journalism, that’s being a total prick. But what do I know!

We then go smack into Chewing Gum, which is lyrically, one of my favourite Amyl and The Sniffers songs. They’ve come a long, long way from being a little pub rock band, but it was so obvious that this was going to happen. Some bands are destined to make it, and this band are one of them. I won’t focus too much on the songs that have already been released, but I do want to mention that hearing Big Dreams in between Tiny Bikini and Its Mine is so beautiful. Big Dreams is THAT song you go to when you feel awful, and it just makes everything alright again. Then, you go back and play Chewing Gum. That’s when it all clicks, and you feel alright.

Over the past 8 years or so, they’ve been making their own noise and on their own terms. I remember hearing the Giddy Up EP and it blew my mind. I felt like a kid in the 70s hearing Punk for the very first time. I found the band I was always was meant to find, and it’s been a wild ride since. Everything they’ve released has been magical; how can a band be this good? HOW? For them, it’s easy. Each of them has this glorious style and sound that just has you hooked. Bryce is an insane drummer; Gus is THE coolest bassist, and Dec is just a monster on the guitar. Amy is one of the best frontwomen around. Actually, fuck gender. Irrespective of gender- Amy is one of the most charismatic and divine singers I’ve ever seen. The way she holds a crowd, how she can control them and just have everyone hooked on the band? Effortless. If you’ve seen them live, you’ll know exactly what I mean. This band have it all, and then some!

Cartoon Darkness is a treat for us Punk fans. It’s 13 songs and just over half an hour long. As someone with awful attention span and cannot sit still for too long- this record feels like every single thought bouncing in my head. Like a pinball machine in the corners of my mind- back and forth, then a bit chaotic in the middle. It’s a fucking great record. Right now, my favourite song on the record is Doing in Me Head closely followed by Pigs and maybe Motorbike Song. I think Doing in Me Head may be my solid favourite; I don’t think I can change my mind on that (this isn’t counting Chewing Gum or Big Dreams.) The record is fun, and sure some of the topics are heavy, and Amy has said the record is about a range of things such as war and climate crisis- but there’s fun on this record. It’s got an innocence to it, and you find that in everything this band do. There’s this beautiful gentleness and fragility on Bailing on Me- it’s heartbreaking, and hearing her voice so delicate on this will cut through it. It’s such an easy song to relate to. We’ve all had someone who constantly lets us down, and when you get to the point of realisation of it and let it go- that’s the biggest relief. Trust me. Letting things and people go that just let you down may feel tough, but when you do it- everything feels lighter. It’s one of the quieter moments on the record, and it then goes right into U Should Not Be Doing That (the bass reminds me of Psycho Killer, and it’s SO good!) Me and the Girls wraps up the record- it’s a chaotic night out with a description of the morning after; the perfect way to close a phenomenal record. Also, don’t overlook the power of the song Tiny Bikini- that song will also be incredible live. The whole record is a fervent work of art.

I guess in short, we can say that this is their best record so far. Their finest release. I’ll always, always have space in my heart reserved for Giddy Up- it started everything for me, and to hear the band go from songs like Stole My Pushbike to all they’ve created on Cartoon Darkness is a joy to see and hear. There’s no other band quite like them, and I honestly don’t think we’ll ever get another band like them. Bands like this are so rare, and we’ve got to treasure them whilst we have them. The band will ALWAYS have that rowdy and raw sound, and it’s so clear on It’s Mine. That song is going to be WILD live. The whole record is going to be insane live; I cannot wait. Imagine witnessing It’s Mine and Motorbike Song live! It’s going to be unreal.

Their debut self-titled record to Comfort to Me, then to Cartoon Darkness- you can definitely hear the growth. The production, the way the band play, the writing and the strength in Amy’s voice is unreal. This record is their first on a massive label, but it’s not changed their sound at all. They’ll always have that beautiful raw sound we all fell in love with many years ago.

The energy on this record will set you up right for the day. I think I’m on my fourth or fifth listen now, and I just keep picking up on more things to love about the record. There’s so much to love and appreciate on this record. The second part of the record shows a more vulnerable side to the band lyrically, and I think Going Somewhere may be their biggest sounding song to date. This live is going to rip. I cannot wait to hear these new songs live; their songs are all made to be heard live-that’s the kind of band they are.

Every song on this record deserves its place and needs to be played so loud. It’s one of those records that makes you so proud to be a fan of the band.

JASMINE.4.T: Elephant.

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For the past few months or so, I’ve been obsessing over a singer that is based in the city the city that I too, call home. I should have written this months ago, and now I’ve got a list of records I want to write about that’s longer than I intended to have. I’m not one for prioritising things (life is too short for order and structure) but this should have been done months ago. I guess the best time to do it is now. On a Tuesday afternoon as my cat has another nap next to me, occasionally moving when she thinks a bird is flying past.

Jasmine.4.t is everything you could want from a singer/songwriter. She’s honest, relatable and has a beautiful way with words. For the most part, I listen to music that could be loud enough to wake the dead but we all need balance. Jasmine is that balance, and she does it in the purest way possible. She recently supported the equally stunning Tom Rasmussen at their Manchester show last week (I couldn’t go and I feel I will regret this forever) and you can only imagine how beautiful that would have been. Jasmine’s voice is there to comfort anyone, but there’s something else to her beautiful sound that feels like home. Her voice is so delicate, so gentle; you cannot help but feel connected to the words she sings and how she sings. How can someone so wonderful create such beauty? Turns out, pretty easily. Her voice feels like the comfort you need when everything is really heavy. It’s like a protective cloak.

Jasmine’s new song, Elephant was released today and if you listen to it in passing, you’ll just think it’s a really good song. That’s absolutely fine, but if you want the meaning, here you go: “I wrote ‘Elephant’ very early in my transition about my first t4t love. It’s about when it hurts because you’re trying to be friends but you both want to be more. My life in Bristol fell apart when I came out and, having no safe place to live, I was staying on queers’ sofas in Manchester, traumatised and in no place to start a relationship.” When you read that, it changes how you hear the song in the best way. It shows this vulnerability that we may not get often, and I guess that’s why you really feel every word, right? No one should ever feel unsafe, and I think as Queer people, we do find it hard to feel safe and when you find a safe space- you cling onto it. I think that’s why I stay home a lot- my safe space is wherever my cat is. I cried when I played Elephant earlier because it is such a beautiful and honest song. I keep using those two words to describe Jasmine’s music, but I don’t think there are any other words right now I can think of. Initially I was going to write about their music in general, but Elephant is too an important song to not give attention to. There’s light and heaviness on this song, and in Jasmine’s sound in general. The tender moments are to be treasured and the louder moments are there to be truly felt and be turned up. You get a real sense of community in her music, and that feeling doesn’t come around often. It is to be treasured and to be kept close.

The video shows Manchester in all its glory, and why it’s such a beautiful city. Even when it’s pissing it down (all the time, we get it. We hear it all the time!) it’s still the best place, and it’s still home. I’m so happy that Jasmine calls this city home and feels safe here.  It’s important to mention that Jasmine’s band are also trans, and having that support on tour for each of them must be such a relief to know you always have someone there who understands and again, keeps you safe.

Jasmine’s debut record, You Are The Morning will be out 17th January. The last song on the record, Woman sees Jasmine backed by the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles. I reckon that’ll be the song that makes me cry like an absolute baby. If Elephant is anything to go by, I’ll probably weep listening to the whole record anyway! I am SO excited to hear the record and to see what’s next for Jasmine and her band (Phoenix Rousiamanis and Eden O’Brien.) They deserve the world and more.

I also want to mention that Jasmine does a lot of work for/with Trans Mutual Aid Manchester. They’re a grassroots organisation based here, and they do amazing work in the community. If you have a few minutes to spare (which you do, because you’ve read this! Please read up about the work they do and how you can help here: https://linktr.ee/tmamcr )

AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS: Chewing Gum.

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I guess to some degree everything I will every write about Amyl and the Sniffers will just be a repeat of anything I’ve said before. However, the love I have for this band just grows and grows. How could it not? They are easily one of the best bands. Ever. Not just now, but ever. There is something about them that captures every tiny and massive detail about music that I love. I feel they always seem to put something out when you just need it. There’s a handful of bands that I feel this way about, and that feeling is unlike anything else.

Chewing Gum gives fans of the band everything they could want and more. It will give new fans/first time listeners something to cling to and believe in, and to fall in love with. I’ve had it on repeat since yesterday, and the video? Oh man alive! That video is just top tier. The song is a gentler pace than a typical Amly and the Sniffers song but the lyrics? It’s the band at their best. There are parts of the song that just hit you in the gut, and for me it’s: “I’m the voice of my young self when I was just a childs,she sings ‘Hey hey girl, you are doing fine.’ “ You know when you just need something that can only be found in a piece of music? That’s it. This is it. Maybe it isn’t so bad? Who knows.

What I love about Amyl and the Sniffers is the innocence in their songs (some not all) and the way of seeing the world. It is so precious. If I was a teenager and I was listening to this band for the first time, I’d definitely feel like I had found a home. There’s something so beautifully safe about the band, and maybe it’s the words. Maybe it’s always the words, but the words mean everything. It doesn’t always have to be so tough and brutal, y’know? They’re more than a Punk band, they’re more than a band. And songs like this just reinforce that.  I love how they always stay honest to who they are as a band, and how hard they have worked to get where they are and I think it truly shines in the line, “I was dreaming of a dinner that would fill up my plate. I was doing the dishes, cleaning, but I never ate.” I love this. The power this line has is just divine.

Amyl and the Sniffers do not have any bad songs at all. You’d be stuck trying to find a less than average song by them. They just make it seem so easy, but there’s years and years of hard work in this. I remember hearing Stole My Pushbike years ago, and the song I think is no more than a minute long? I heard it and was hooked. That one minute turned me into a fan for life. I think it came out in 2016/17, and I wasn’t having the best time and I just solidly listened to them every day and I remember it feeling like a weighted blanket around me. I still get that same feeling with every time I listen to them. It’s in Guided by Angels, Balaclava Lover Boogie, Chewing Gum and beyond. Every single song.

I love so much that they aren’t afraid to be vulnerable with their songs too. The ending of Chewing Gum hit me right in the gut again: “I used to be oh so tough, but for love I’ll be dumb. Stuck on you, stuck like glue, stuck like chewing gum.” Write this on my forehead. Inject this lyric into my blood. Put it everywhere. I feel it more than I want to. It’s easy to be tough isn’t it, but keeping it up is exhausting (I say this as someone who can probably cry at anything!) It’s such a perfect line. It’s a perfect song.

I don’t really like writing about songs in general, but this one is special. Really special. The whole song feels like a letter to maybe Amy’s younger self? I don’t know, but when you have lines like “Don’t you get caught up in stuff you never had” you can’t help but think it’s maybe reassurance for younger Amy turning into an adult and teaching her all she needs to know about getting to where she needs to. Hard work always pays off. It takes time, always. Bands like Amyl and the Sniffers are a proper example of this.

Their 3rd (full length) record, Cartoon Darkness will be out on 25th October.

LOST ANGELS: Away We Go.

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A number of years ago I wrote about a band called The Creeping Ivies. I think I wrote about them a hell of a lot, and they’re a band that I loved so much and I was gutted when they ended. However, Becca is back and her new band is equally as great so I’ll evidently become equally as obsessed.

Lost Angels only formed last year, and have FINALLY put out 3 brand new songs which I’ve fallen in love with. Becca has SUCH a distinctive voice, and her guitar playing is something else. Massively underrated but maybe Lost Angels will change that. In just 3 songs, they’ve created something that I cannot wait to hear more of. There’s comfort in hearing Becca’s voice again and I cannot wait to hear what else the band put out but for now- these 3 songs are what I’ll play on repeat.

The 3 track EP opens with the title track, Away We Go which is a beautiful way to get us hooked on such a great band. The EP is currently available on Bandcamp only but I think it’ll be up on Spotify etc. on the 14th so there’s no excuse for anyone to not get hold of the record in any way. The hook on Away We Go is a simple Punk-esque chant, and you cannot get enough of it. Imagine seeing the band live, and just yelling this back at them and as you leave the gig-you’re probably still yelling it.

And we get right into Midnight In The Graveyard which reminds me so much of one of the best songs ever written- I Just Wanna Have Something To Do by the Ramones; it sounds like it but there’s something beautifully creepy about this song and it’s easily my favourite. It feels like a Vincent Price film in the form of a song- perfect in every single way. I could listen to this on repeat and find more things to love about it. Obsessed? Always. It has such an eerie feel to it, and I just want to have it on repeat. I LOVE Becca’s vocals on this and in some ways, it does remind me of The Creeping Ivies and that will always be a good thing. I love the loudness on this song, but I love how the EP ends on a gentler note too.

The Only One closes the EP, and if you love Johnny Thunders- this is the one you’ll fall in love with. I love how you can pick up on the influences on this record, and it makes you feel like you’re hearing the Ramones or New York Dolls for the first time. Imagine never knowing such perfection, then it just hits you. You accidentally listen to the Ramones or NYD for the first time. Is that what sheer joy is? It’s up there. The Only One is a beautiful Punk love song, and they are the best love songs. These 3 songs are a perfect introduction to what Lost Angels are about, and they are clearly one of the best bands around from Glasgow right now. I really hope that more music comes from this and a tour too because these are the types of songs that you need to see live, right? They were made to be witnessed in sweaty dive bar.

I love this EP a hell of a lot and I love that I can hear parts of bands I love in every song. It’s a glorious EP and again, makes me wish I had even a fraction of musical talent. There’s nothing pretentious or over the top here- just beautiful Rock ‘N’ Roll from the heart and gut. I can’t wait to hear more from them because I know it’s going to be insanely brilliant and just effortlessly slick.

SPRINTS: Letter To Self.

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Since its release, I have been quietly obsessing over the debut record by SPRINTS. It is easily one of the most beautiful records of the year, and honestly- I’ve not connected with a record like this in a long time. If I could personally thank them for making such a phenomenal record that has made my dumb brain feel less strange, I would. But alas, I’ll just rant about the record here.

SPRINTS have made a record that HAS to be played loud. But you have to play it loud whilst on your own so you can take it all in. Like really really ignore the world around you, turn your phone off or throw it in the bin- and play this record so loud. I plan on playing it a little bit louder when I go home later. I want to crawl inside this record and make it my home. The more I listen to Cathedral, the more I hear the absolute genius of this band. There is nothing else out there like them. Nothing before them and nothing after them- they are it. I liken it to falling in love with the person you’ve been waiting for and finally feeling at home. This record is a safe space and also, beautifully terrifying because you cannot help but click with every single word.

Letter To Self is one of those songs that make you feel like you’ve reached the point of self-acceptance and understanding. I reckon if someone ripped my insides open this song would start playing. But the whole record feels like the purest and biggest cathartic experience you can imagine. It’s just as if you’re hearing something life-changing for the first time, and my god this is so clear within seconds of listening to the record. It opens with Ticking which feels like a punch right in the kisser, but you go back for more because you actually feel something. The way Heavy is effortlessly next after Ticking- give this band every award, everything good in the world. I don’t care- fucking give them it. This record is IT. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow and this is the last record I hear- then I will die happy. It is perfect. My words don’t do this record justice; I hope anyone who listens to it feels the way I do because my god it is the most perfect record I’ve heard in a long time. Maybe years. I don’t know. I feel like I’ve never heard music before playing this.

There are records you will hear in your lifetime, and you know that they will change you. Or change parts of you. Maybe they’ll get to parts of you that a person couldn’t. They’ll say the things you couldn’t pull out- and SPRINTS have beautifully done this with the record especially on the song Cathedral. My god that song is lyrically a work of art. It’s just divine.

SPRINTS have everything I want from a band in their sound; the lyrics, the heaviness, the way you feel as if you’re having your head bashed into a wall whilst Karla screams out the words that just speak to you more than anything else ever has. Her vocals on Up And Comer are INSANE- you can hear every raw emotion on this song, and you just want it to take over your life. This record will. It’s absolutely done that with me, and I’m happy if I never hear anything new again because everything I’d want is in SPRINTS. They unleash hell in the most perfect and beautiful way- the chaotic sounds are a delight for the ears and good for the soul. I want it injected into my veins- would that even be possible?! It’s a record (well, band to be honest) that you cannot help but become obsessed with in the best way imaginable. I couldn’t imagine going a day without listening to them, and I’ve got a handful of bands that I love as much as this. Part of me wants to lock myself in a room by myself for the rest of time playing their music and the other wants every single person in the world to listen and love them as much as I do. In short, everyone should love this band. How could you not?

The record ends with the album title track, and it’s the most perfect way to end the record.  Again, lyrically it’s genius. There is not a bad song on this record. There’s not a bad lyric. Everything is so vital and delivered with such urgency that is so infectious. You want it around you all the time. 11 songs aren’t enough but it’s just the start- they are going to be one of the best bands we’ve ever been lucky to have. Let’s treasure them in the way they deserve.

I LOVE how SPRINTS have this energy that just makes you want to shut everything out and play their music as loud as possible. I love how their sound reminds me of a band I miss so much- Savages. Karla’s vocals has the same power as Jehnny Beth- that energy and raw emotion is nothing short of perfect. If I had even a touch of musical talent, this is the band I’d probably want to sound like. They’ve got this glorious way of giving you something positive when everything seems utterly hopeless, y’know?

I’ve just bought a ticket to finally see them in November; I’ve not been to a gig this year yet and I have no idea why, so if this show ends up being the only one I go to this year- so be it. It’ll be the best anyway.

CREEPCAVE: The Greatest Form Of Resistance.

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I’ve decided to use my lunch break at work wisely for once and write about a new record from a band who quite frankly- should take over the world.

If like me you have a soft spot for bands like Hole, Bratmobile, Babes In Toyland- then you will fall madly in love with CreepCave. Their EP, The Greatest Form Of Resistance is the kind of record you hope kids hear and go on to start their own band. We need more bands like this- pointing out the wrong in the world, offering self-acceptance and just a brutal take on how fucked up the world is. In the midst of this, they’ve created a safe space with their music. It’s beautifully loud and a divinely raw record. I don’t feel like I’m in 2024 listening to this record- I feel like it’s the early 90s and Riot Grrrl is taking over. I feel like it’s 2003/4 and I’m discovering it for the first time myself and adjusting internally to who I am.

Alex’s vocals on this record are something else- if they sound this perfect as a recording, then my god you can only imagine how powerful they are live. Bessie plays the guitar in this captivating haunting way giving off this fuzzy sound that lures you in. Then you have Amy doing some otherworldly shit on the bass that grips you in ways you probably didn’t think the bass could. Shivi’s drumming brings it all together in the most euphoric way; everything comes together in the most perfect way, and I think this really shines on the (just under 6 minute mark) song Educate. A song that evokes the urgency of educating how boys see girls and how they treat them and starting young to educate them on respect and listening is so vital. We all need to be like that.

The sheer heaviness of this record really gets you in the gut, and you can hear this beautiful and infectious confidence in the band on every single song. You just want to be part of their gang. That addictive Doom/Sludge sound mixed with something we’ve yet to name is just so pure and just everything I want from music. I want the loudness. I want the lyrics that could make someone feel uncomfortable. Speaking of feeling uncomfortable- if you’re not left feeling uneasy when you hear You Took It, then listen again. And again. Until it clicks. That song needs to be heard from everyone and anyone.

I want to touch on the song Float which may be my favourite (at the moment) and I love the subtle temp change for the last minute and a half of the song. It reminds me of A Senile Animal record by the Melvins- especially the drums. The lyrics are peaceful, but the sounds are the opposite, and this is exactly why this record is so easy to fall in love with. The clash of sounds works so well, and you just can’t help going back to listen again and again. Only a fool would find fault in this record.

CreepCave make such important music; the lyrics are vital and deserve to be heard and they deserve the world. They are one of the most exciting bands around, and I just love that they combine everything I love about music and have made their own sound accessible for all. They touch on topics many shy away from and make it so easy to relate to. From the second the record opens with Bucket Season; you just know you’re about to listen to something truly magical.

The record ends on Fairytale- the shortest song on the EP, and the second it stops all you can do is go back and play the EP all over again. This record oozes some serious raw and real power that will speak to so many who are forced to be quiet. Sometimes, even the quiet ones speak up and the way CreepCave take these subjects and make it so you can easily connect with is so beautiful. There is so much heart on this record and it’s so refreshing to find a band who TRULY mean what they say and live it.