The flames of punk wrath begin as a flicker between two burning twigs before becoming a forest fire.
Fakers
Fakers encompass this inferno, their guitar riffs ablaze, drumbeats petrol to the flames. Their track Toxic city speaks of destruction, a city buried under itself due to the disrespect and damage of its people. The weight of neglect, an internal rupture, it’s life in an environmental dystopia. The soul sliced into by the systems that sets boundaries, the loss of self, a wasteland of individualism. These cynical observations, the rhythm of rebellion, remind us that not all systems serve us, sometimes to scream is to survive, never surrender and never do so silently.
The essence of punk is the anthem of the individual, championing authenticity and self-expression. The desire for change, the defiance that leads to its birth is all brandished into the punk legacy. Denial of conformity, down with he established society, you become a ruler of anarchy. A contradiction of the force you are fighting, surely any structure is one that should be defied. You cannot disapprove of systems because this in itself is a system.
“Ain’t no jobs to pay your way Can’t get the hours to slave away Sit and think, it’s a fucking bore Start to stink, stewing in your sores”
Toxic City
Fakers keep the flames of punk burning, a booming beacon, a promise of better times prevailing.If you want to shake a bit of that system off, fight for your right to be who you are then head to their next gig supporting Republica at The Hairy Dog in Derby on the 25th of February. Get tickets here
The solipsism of punk, the world only exists if I am here to perceive it, may be refreshing to sip from if you are feeling anti-establishment. Protests, petitions, campaigns, a need for people to listen are all evidence of rage being redesigned for good. Wrath with no direction is madness, if you’re mad don’t throw a fit, take action, make change.
Heart Shaped boxes are back in store, personalised gift cards and chocolate galore.February 14th, the marmite of the holidays. Either you’re frantically scrolling titktok for that perfect last minute gift idea or you’re in your local buying booze and chocolate for yourself before tipsly crying to Love Island.
I could recomend some love songs but I feel quite cynical, lets have a collective cry together to the tune of these break up ballads.
RAYE- Escapism
RAYE Escapism
What doesn’t this tune have? RAYE encaspulates the washing machine of emotions you rinse though in the few weeks after a break up. The drunken denial, depressive episodes flung out in bed, nights spent out with neglected friend’s, dressing up and doing it all over again. Pouring drinks, taking shots, spilling yourself over blurred men. The weight of what RAYE has been through serves to her strength in this song as she learns to have fun with her feelings, she may be broken hearted but she’s still that bitch ;
“At least it’s the Prada two-piece that I’m trippin’ in And I’m already actin’ like a dick, know what I mean? So you might as well stick it in”
The inability to acknowledge the loss of a lover, the need to feel numb and the escape that comes with this denile and its distractions are all rife in this song. For a heavy topic the beat of the song still sends you in to your own groove when that wine hits or the tears flow. When you’re feeling a certain way escapsim,featuring 070 Shake,becomes a dance party in your ears. You feel RAYE’s rage and channel it through dance.
Escapism has been released as part of RAYE’s new album; My 21ST Century Blues which she has described as,
” A mosaic of different fragmented pieces from the last seven years of my life
with no sonic consistency, and no holding back.”
RAYE ,born Rachel Agatha Keen, went viral on titktok with this song landing her a number one on the UK offcials single charts.Not to steal her spotlight but we jumped on the Raye Tiktok wagon with our own creation;
Can’t have a morning routine without music. Head over to EVOLVE MUSIC to discover so many talented people and revisit a few familiar faces! @raye #music#podcast#spotify#makeup#fyp
Raye is a household name in the music industry relasing songs such as Confidence, Tequila and You don’t know me ,to name a few, but after parting ways with Polydor records last year her new album echoes promises of a powerful era for the singer.
Maisie Peter’s – Body Better
Another break up ballad you may want to retreat into comes from Maisie Peters.
Body Better has been described by Peters as a song about;
“Insecurity and vulnerability, about giving a lot of yourself away to someone who decides they don’t want it anymore and knowing where to go from there.”
Writing it in the aftermath of a break up, the song is indepth as we all are when we reflect on every minor detail of a premature departure. The tone of a text message, regretting getting annoyed the bin hadn’t been emptied, being proud you had defended your decisions all become our focus, forgetting who we are. This disorientation in the face of reflection resonates throughout this song. Were we enough? Were we too much? was it you, was it them? What happened? This internal interogation has one destination; Tears. You can text them, you can call, you can relive it all in your head but what sort of freedom is that?
Peter’s remains self assured in this song, her soul bearing lyrics serving as a reminder that we did our best, we were enough, they just didn’t appreciate that. Sometmes it is not what has been done, or even what has been said, sometimes you’re just sleeping in the wrong bed.
“Cause it was nothing I did and nothing I said And I know I gave you all of myself, one hundred percent”
Whilst this song may not warrent a dance party you can still have a bedroom rave to it, or a power walk round your neigbourhood, strutting past all those entwined together.The track itself is very joyous, with an encouraging drumbeat. The bouncy nature of the tune detracts from the weight of the lyrics which are littered with negative comparisons, critising yourself, fearing that your love is not enough when it is your only weapon agaisnt someone you believe has been chosen for their ‘better body’.
Body Better has been released to tease Peters upcoming album- title still to be announced. She’s also touring with a few tickets left! Find out more here.
I have loved her music since Psycho, Blonde and then (more recently) Not another rockstar which again I just had to do a TikTok too, as well as writing a blog piece about.
Finally, we’ve all been inspecting our jam jars recently, analysing its levels with a side eye to our signifcant other. If you have no clue what I am talking about, how have you not seen the TikTok dances to Shakira’s, now iconic,disstrack. Aimed at her cheating ex boyfriend Gerard Pique, Shakira holds nothing back remaining confident and cut throat throughout.
It is full blown Shakira, empowered, independent and fierce sick of disapointments and betrayed by the missing jam she leaves the situation.
Her now ex boyfriend Pique was a professioanl centre back, a champion in his league but Shakira was way out of his and he gave her “the worst version of himself”. Claiming herslef back as the ‘She wolf’ she is Shakira seems unphased by his lack of remorse, she is over his actions and empowered by her new found singlehood. The beat before the chorus has very quickly become inconic with its wide use on tiktok dance trends- no this time I haven’t made one but there is still time-
A lose translation of her lyrics shows how strong Shakria is, monetizing the opportunity and moving on’
“Women no longer cry, women get paid”
Alongside Miley Cyrus’s Flowers (which I did create a TikTok about) Shakira’s disstrack has been dubbed one of the most iconic songs in break up history.
Shakira met Pique way back in 2010 when he starred in her music video for Waka Waka, the offical song for the world cup that year. They went public with their relationship in 2011, sharing a kiss on stage at Shakira’s show in Barcelona. The broke up back in 2022 , after 11 years together. Initally Shakira wanted to stay silent about the reasons for the split but it wasn’t long before Picque was seen with another woman. The betrayal became clear.
Shakira has described the disstrack as “cathartic” dedicating it to the “millions of owmen who rise up against those who make us feel insigniciant, women who stand up for what they feel, think and raise their hand when they disagree. They are my inspiration”
However you spend Valentines day whether it be wrath, lust or love look after yourself, each other and remain respectful and true to yourself. Whether you’re searching for love or searching for youself, stay strong and stick some tunes on.
Ever been so in love that your subconscious falls too?
Jordon, Robert,Adam,Nikki and Nathan.
A gentle piano, played in the distance lulls a listener closer to the sound before an effervescent guitar tears the peace up. A dream disrupted by the waves of reality. Emerging from the Manchester music scene Drian are breaking through the indie narrative with unconventional guitar ballads and beats that demand a mosh pit.
Their latest track, Dreaming, talks of an idyllic vision of love, a figure that follows your thoughts before consuming them entirely, they sit at your desk, follow you to your bed, where you drift off just to see them again. With the jolt of the guitar and a consistent drum beat, like the heart after the first glimpse of a potential new love, the song accelerates from ballad to an impassioned indie anthem.
Consciousness becomes servitude, an unjustified sacrifice tearing you away from your fictitious lover and your fairytale. You only open your eyes, try to work but are constantly distracted by rushed shadows and quick silhouettes, is that them by the water cooler or running to the loo? Will they disrupt your afternoon? A flicker of eyes and your held in their view, looking at them but they stare on through. That is the darkness of dreaming, reality becomes a disappointing nightmare when those you love do not see you. Frontman Jordan’s angelic vocals add to the surreal nature of the music, a listener feels both haunted by this presence yet hopeful for what may happen.
Jordon, Robert,Adam,Nikki and Nathan.
Your slumber becomes an escapism, when the love you have for this person controls your soul. Behind closed eyes they linger, candlelit roses at dinner. Dreaming is the only way to make them stay and this persistent presence is embodied by the distorted vocals at the end of the song. This ethereal nature is echoed throughout the track with hauntingly beautiful backing vocals, delivered by Nikki on bass and Robert on guitar, which embolden the spirit of this song.
Initially this track was rushed together as a set list filler, something to prolong the 5 pieces’ stage presence, however after it was used as an opener to their live debut Dreaming was met with enthusiasm that would see crowds chanting for an encore.
Drian’s debut single, released earlier this year on the 26th August, Keep Us Alive is distinctivley different to this track in the sense it is more upbeat, it is exhilarating to listen to, forcing you awake to face whatever reality you have built for yourself. A product of post pandemic pent up energy this song is about vowing for better, for repairing what is irreplaceable. It demands a crowd to jump.
Jordon, Robert,Adam,Nikki and Nathan.
Formed in November 2021 Drian’s energetic reputation was cemented after a slew of live gigs, establishing them as true indie pioneers. The quintet is made up of Jordon, frontman and vocalist, Robert on guitar, Adam on lead guitar, Nikki on bass and Nathan on drums. With their debut single already reaching over 6k streams it is clear that this band are one for the playlists.
Evolve Music 