Rachel Chinouriri – ‘It Is What It Is’
Indie darling Rachel Chinouriri is back with a kick in the teeth to all fuckboys. Spliced in-between a whistle refrain reminiscent of ‘Pumped Up Kicks’, she nonchalantly lists all of the bad qualities about her partner – “hot and cold / up and down / and a bit of a prick really” – as she finds the confidence to speak up for herself because she knows she deserves better. Backed up by a voice note from a friend who express that she’s “more than that”, the track is sure to be a summer anthem to help the girlies out of their situationships.
Phoebe Green – ‘I Think That I’m Getting Boring’
Following the queer joy of last weekend’s Coachella, Phoebe Green is adding to the conversation with her brand new coming-of-age track which is about succumbing to the safety and comfort of being in love, and revelling in the consistency which others may find ‘boring’. After a delicate breakdown where Phoebe Green comes to terms with this newfound feeling, euphoria comes in the form of a huge final chorus where she sings about the joy of wasting time in bed with somebody special.
Willow Kayne – ‘Robot Lovers’
Returning with her first release as an independent artist, Willow Kayne examines how the internet has warped our view on realistic romantic expectations, and how people have been programmed to want something that doesn’t exist. Moody synth bass sets the foundations for her silky vocals to pose the question: “If your cell phone died would the love die too?” because once you “Build a world online / nobody knows the real you”.
Lava La Rue – ‘Humanity’
Born out of the experience of losing a close friend to addiction, the crystalline vocals of Lava La Rue are pleading for a little light in moments of darkness. As overwhelming as the world can be, they’re asking the listener to cherish the small moments with the ones they love, and to try and have compassion for others. “The most radical thing we can do right now is to keep giving a fuck,” they say.
Pillow Queens – ‘Heavy Pour’
Starting out with a simple string section, before gradually implementing more instruments, ‘Heavy Pour’ is a slow burner. Building up anticipation whilst playing with a tension and release system; soft underground grunge grows into stadium-sized rock as the four-piece explore feelings of doubt and uncertainty in the midst of experiencing moments of joy. They speak to the idea that all genders can be courageous and scared at the same time in contrast to the misconception that manliness equates to strength – “I want more but I’m not man enough”.