Our weekly fix of the best new music as Julia Mason (aka The Decibel Decoder) brings us her reviews of new music with singles from Du Blonde feat. Skin Next Big Thing and Hot Face 17 Day Migraine
Artist: Du Blonde feat. Skin
Track: Next Big Thing
Du Blonde has released new single Next Big Thing (feat. Skunk Anansie’s Skin), the third from the artist's album Sniff More Gritty LP which is set for release on 15 November via Daemon T.V.
The track is a collage of misogynistic "words of advice" impressed on Du Blonde throughout her career. Much of the inspiration for the song comes from shared experiences Du Blonde, Skin, and many other femme-presenting artists have had to deal with in such a male-dominated industry. Rather than anger and fury, the track is expressive in a smarter more articulate manner, thus taking control of the situation.
It is a statement of independence, exposing those who use coercive behaviour to belittle and denigrate others. Listen to the post chorus refrain: “Sometimes you’ve got to give yourself to God / I don’t want to kneel for no man”. Such clever use of lyrics, providing a number of layers of meaning.
Having self-produced her third album Homecoming in 2021, after years of working relationships with record labels and industry producers, Du Blonde found herself able to finally express herself musically in a way that her previous situation would not allow. The freedom that came with her move to production and engineering opened up a new sonic world for Du Blonde.
Aside from live drums, played by Chris McManus, Sniff More Gritty is entirely performed, engineered and produced by Du Blonde, and also features unique collaborations with the aforementioned Skunk Anansie’s Skin, as well as Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace, Maximo Park’s Paul Smith and The Futureheads’ Ross Millard. It therefore is an intriguing prospect.
Speaking ahead of the new singles release, Du Blonde revealed: “Next Big Thing is the result of my first 15 years in the music industry, from audience members shouting “Take your top off!” during my first shows at 15, to label executives telling me to be less ‘sensitive’ about being sexually harassed. Every line in the song is something that has been personally said to me by folks in the industry, but speak to almost any woman or femme-presenting musician and they will have stories to match. Having Skin join me on this song is an honour, not just because of the impact she had on kids like me in the 90s, but because she has always been outspoken about her experiences as a frontwoman of a rock band in a male-dominated field. It’s pioneers like her who paved the way for a lot of young girls and queer kids who didn’t necessarily see themselves on TV or global stages, and I’m so grateful to have her join me on this track.”
Du Blonde Tour Dates
January
22 - The Mash House, Edinburgh
23 - Broadcast, Glasgow
24 - The Cluny, Newcastle
26 - YES (Pink Room), Manchester
28 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
29 - Yellow Arch, Sheffield
31 - Bodega, Nottingham
February
1 - The Flapper, Birmingham
2 - Thekla, Bristol
4 - DUST, Brighton
6 - Scala, London
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Artist: Hot Face
Track: 17 Day Migraine
South London’s Hot Face return with new single 17 Day Migraine ahead of dates in London and Europe. It combines psychedelic fury with 60s British garage. The track skiffles it way through crunching chords and cantering choruses.
What a blast this, full of exuberant energy with echoey vocals and those guitars and drums which are raw and provide a rollicking rhythm. Recorded with Alexis Smith (Speedy Wunderground) and Tom Wilson Kellet (of Moreish Idols), the track’s lyric recounts a second-hand story packed with all the weird macabre surrealism that you might expect from a band that often feature ghoulish French monster masks in their live performance.
Offering more on the track, the band share: “Inspired by a story recited on a rainy night in Soho, 17 Day Migraine is a manifestation of anarchic scenes and surreal nihilism, sonically channelling the likes of The 13th Floor Elevators, Wire and CTMF”
Forming out of an impromptu jam in a Croydon pub basement, before emerging as Hot Face in 2022, the band were headhunted/moshed to by producer Dan Carey upon seeing one of their typically ferocious live shows. They went on to record their debut single dura dura for the esteemed Speedy Wunderground series and appeared on their Summer Volume 6 compilation. Surely there is more to come from Hot Face. I for one will keeping an eye out.
Hot Face Live Dates
October
15 - London, The Shacklewell Arms, supporting Wax Head
17 - Rotterdam, Left Of The Dial Festival
18 - Rotterdam, Left Of The Dial Festival
November
8 - Bristol, The Lanes
15 - London, The Social
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