MUSIC WE LOVE : NAALA

Lie back, pop some headphones on … click on the link HERE and let your mind float …. CHECK HER OUT !!!

NAALA announces debut single:

Splintered Window – November 17th 2017

Supported by a single release launch event

at Archspace E8 – November 27th 2017

 

A hybrid between electronica and elemental RnB; NAALA’s sound is a rich multi-layered landscape, built from sounds that have been self recorded, processed and produced. Coupled with beautiful punchy melodies NAALA’s songs overflow with the delicate complexities of modern British and African storytelling.

Growing up in London with a myriad of colourful Ghanaian traditions, NAALA learnt that the function of music and dance meant much more than just a means to celebration, they were also used to impart knowledge; to share stories and life lessons. NAALA likes to think of her work as music for sharpening the mind and blurring the senses. Into this mix come French horns, traditional African drums and a collection of found sounds.

Recent shows include Little Tokyo presents at Omeara. Supporting Hot Chip at Amnesty International’s Give a Home event and a sold out show at Servant Jazz Quarters.

Splintered Window is a song to remind people that even when you feel broken and unworthy, there is a profound beauty in all of those small broken pieces

Splintered Window Ltd Ed 7inch vinyl.

300 x pressing (only). Signed. Clear vinyl.

Available at the launch event.

 

Buy tickets for NAALA here: https://www.metropolismusic.com/artists/naala/

Listen to Splintered Window:https://soundcloud.com/warrior-music-mgmt/sets/naala-splintered-window/s-q2QCq

 

Instagram:@naalaconsistagram | Facebook:@thisisnaala| Twitter:@thisisnaala

 

Main portraits by : Ophella Wynne

GET TO KNOW: BECKY BLOMFIELD

Check out Becky from the punk band “Milk Teeth”

Age – 26

Zodiac sign – Aquarius

Lives – Stroud

Loves – Playing in a band

Hates – Injustice

How you doing Becky?
I’m ok, I haven’t been well so I’m writing this from the radiology department. Been a bit of an eventful day but I’m ok! Another story to tell!

What you got planed for the weekend?
This weekend is my friends birthday we are going bowling like when we were kids.

So, when did you start playing music?
There’s pictures of me sat at my gran?s piano from as young as two or three. Since then I’ve had a go at various different instruments and music groups in school and it never really left me.

How does music help you?
It’s everything. It’s the only thing I feel like I’m genuinely ok at or that I really give a shit about. Nothing I’ve done in my life have I put so much energy into as writing songs and writing how I feel. It’s become such a tool in me getting over things in my life and moving forward. It’s given me a voice, I’m a very introverted person I’m a deep thinker and I analyse everything. It’s given me the platform to speak out when I’ve at times felt insignificant.

How does the music industry need to change towards women?
A lot of the industry is still stuck thinking we are in the 60s and 70s era of Rock n roll when men had the power and women’s roles in music were more geared towards being objects of musicians desire than musicians themselves. That can still be prevalent today and I’ve seen my share over the four years of being in a band. All you can do is preach positivity, call out anyone who’s treating you like shit and explain why and wait for them to catch up to the year 2017.

How do you feel about the word girl?
Positive. I love being female, I love the female figure, the way women talk and build relationships. I come from a predominantly female family with lots of sisters and I love being able to share things with them and have that support. I love the complexity of our brains and how much fight women have and relentless determination because we can be seen as the inferior sex. The first women role models I had in music were the Spice Girls. They were the band I fell in love with when I was 5 and most of the bands I listen to know are made up of at least one female member, I love hearing what women have to say as much as men. I have a lot of time for women.

What?s it like, being you?
Turbulent. Complicated. Fun. A chaotic swing of stability to the unknown on a weekly basis but it keeps me on my toes.

How could HEY GIRL be a better magazine?
Bring Nirvana back from the dead for one last time

What would be your best day?
Sleeping in til like 9am. Not too late but not having to wake up too early! Making a coffee and having some breakie. Writing and playing music. Workout and shower. Go meet friends for lunch. Travel to play a show. Grab dinner with the boys at ?Spoons or some kind of Italian food. Play a show, jump back in the van have a few drinks. That’s when I’m most happy.

Where do you want to be in 10 years?
I want to be five albums deep and say that I’m proud of everything I’ve put out. I want to have more time for the things I enjoy and less worries for the things that don’t motivate me. I hope I’m happy.

What?s going on in the world?
A lot of good mixed with a lot of bad. In all the darkness that is taking place it’s an exciting time to be a part of because I really feel we are on the cusp of something starting to change / some kind of revolution.

What does the word feminism mean to you?
An even playing field for all

Can a guy be a feminism?
Of course, I encourage it! It just means you think we should have equal rights. Everyone should be a feminist.

10 words that describe you?

Sweet
Creative
(Too) honest
Determined
Warrior
Introverted
Listener
Thinker
Enraged
Tough
Hurricane

Are you a punk? or what is a punk? do you care?
I’m just B

Who’s your idol?
The underdog

Next issue is about scent …. what smell has the most power, to you?
I love the smell of smoke from a bonfire, I associate bonfire both with bringing people together and also something dangerous that we are told to stay away from. I like that juxtaposition.

How do you help your friends to be positive?
Communication. It’s the thing I feel our generation and future generations are fucking up the most a lack of reality a lack of honesty a lack of sincerity and picking up a phone. And fun and self-care. When you’re struggling to be positive both those often go out the window. I want to make them feel good about themselves and give them even an hour of relief from whatever is going on. We all need that.

What?s your dream?
To continue to make music for as long as I can and not have to worry about anything else. I just want to be happy and be outdoors a lot surrounded by my friends. That’s all I need.

What?s your fav thing about making music?
Travelling the world from something that I write in my bedroom. I love meeting people I love seeing new things. I love that this has allowed me to do all of those things for however long it lasts I’m grateful.

If you had to make up an emoji for yourself what would it be?
A high kick, it’s my signature

You got any questions for HEY GIRL?
What’s your hot beverage of choice?
mmm got to be a?Cappuccino.. but should only drink it in the mornings the proper Italian way :)?
(but we drink it in the afternoons too #naughty) … that frothy coffee buzz … pow !!
Who inspires you to get out of bed?
Anyone that makes music to make you move.. too many to say… lets get up and create … got to have amazing tunes on all day !!!!

 

thanks Becky
xx

MUSIC WE LOVE: YONAKA

CHECK THEM OUT

Brighton firestarters, YONAKA, have today unveiled their debut, five-track EP Heavy, available now through all streaming partners (listen here).

Formed after meeting at university, YONAKA have released just a handful of tracks thus far – most recently Wouldn’t Wanna Be Ya. Produced by Ross Orton (Arctic Monkeys) and their first output since signing with Asylum/Atlantic earlier this year [the band released a couple of tracks prior on Phil Taggart’s label, Hometown Records], the track was unveiled in May and received specialist support from the likes of Huw Stephens, Daniel P Carter, Annie Mac and MistaJam, in turn, accumulating over 60 plays on Radio 1 alongside a plethora of editorial support.

Quickly making a name for themselves on the live scene with their frenzied, adrenaline-charged performances and having been shortlisted for Live Act of the Year at the Independent Festival Awards, which take place on 30 October (previous winners include Catfish and the Bottlemen and Slaves), YONAKA became a staple billing on this summer’s UK festival circuit with appearances at Reading & Leeds, Download, Bestival, Dot to Dot, The Great Escape + many more. Selling-out London’s Borderline last month and having played their biggest home show to date this week supporting The Libertines at the 4,500 capacity Brighton Centre, YONAKA have already tripled their live capacity since March! This autumn/winter, the band will be heading out on the road for a nationwide UK tour including a show at The Camden Assembly on 31 October – extra dates have been added due to overwhelming demand.

Currently working towards their debut album, watch YONAKA cement their name as frontrunners in the burgeoning UK guitar scene.

Check them out! … they are going in our HEY GIRL RADIO spotify playlist :)

MUSIC WE LOVE : JAGWAR MA

Words by Coral Brown – https://coral-brown.co.uk

ARTWORK BY SIMON CLEMENGER

Aussie psychodelic pop folk band Jagwar Ma have just dropped their second album of sequin-embellished nostalgic ear candy, and it’s all we can think about. Formed in 2011 in Sydney, their recipe for sugary vintage sound stirs up synths, manipulated radio frequencies, beats, bass and dreamlike vocals into one delicious batch of melodic treats.

Their first album Howlin released in 2013 is heavily decorated with thick bass and lashings of lo-fi texture and a number of nods to other eras of music. The drum beat that starts Come Save Me feels like the start to an early sixties American pop song, whilst the heart-heavy vocals in Did You Have To remind me of mid-nineties British rock. But at the same time, it feels totally minty fresh. Oh, and if you listen to The Throw on headphones, be warned: there is a drop that might make you dance involuntarily in a public place.

When writing their new album Every Now & Then, vocalist Gabriel Winterfield and producer and synth-player Jono Ma tucked themselves away in the wild of a national park north of Sydney, but not without interruption. Their digs were reportedly bombarded with infestations of flying ants, cheeky bees and massive rats, oh my. Winterfield and Ma are clearly a hit across species boundaries.

Their second album is fizzing with yet more sweet beats and honest lyrics, executed with real warmth. Plus, word on the grapevine is these guys are mind-blowing to see live.

Fancy a nibble for yourself?

Tuck in Yum Yum

http://www.jagwarma.com

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GET TO KNOW : LAUREN LANE

New york house DJ Lauren lane, who cut her teeth under the wing of legendary club promoter Rob Fernandez. She?s now travels the globe playing at BPM, Coachella and this year a mammoth 6 sets at Burning Man. She’s also had three releases so far which have gone out on Nic Fanciulli’s saved, Seth Troxlers Visionquest and Eats Everything’s Edible.

check out her music here – https://soundcloud.com/laurenlane

Music we Love : Cherry Glazerr

With their glitter eyes and beards?here’s the cool sound of CHERRY GLAZERR

Cherry Glazerr was dreamt up by Clementine Creevy at age 15 in her LA bedroom. Having released their debut, Haxel Princess, on much-loved Cali imprint Burger Records?and the scorching Had Ten Dollaz 7″ on Suicide Squeeze, the band has now evolved into a wildly complex, hugely guitar heavy, and unapologetically loud machine. The catchy hooks in Cherry Glazerr’s songs offer a counterpoint to the purposeful social commentary and incisive humor which has been ever-present since the band’s formation. Bolstering Clem’s vision is the loud-in-every-way-possible drummer Tabor Allen and the level-headed, nevertheless bad-ass, multi-instrumentalist Sasami Ashworth.

Their new single, “Told You I’d Be With The Guys” documents Clem’s realization that she needed to establish solidarity with other women and stop being a “lone wolf.” “Sexism is so ingrained in me, I can often feel that men are the only ones who can help me socially, economically. The most important thing in my life is that I’ve realized I need to work for solidarity. That song’s both hopeful and dismal!” she laughs. Clem still feels like she constantly need to prove herself. “Women work from behind their oppression. In order to make good art you need to be emotionally free and sadly,?not a lot of women are able to do that. That always puts a fire under my ass.”

Yes!! ….we love – HG

xx

WATCH: "Told You I'd Be With The Guys" -