Brighton Tempo
Brighton’s new seasonal culture magazine, by and for students.
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ABOUT US ABOUT US ABOUT US B
righton Tempo is a student run magazine all about music. We focus on Brighton based bands and gigs at iconic Brighton venues such as Brighton Centre, Concorde 2 and Prince Albert.
Our mission is to give other students and young adults in Brighton free and easy access to news, reviews, interviews and events in Brighton and the surrounding areas. The magazine aims to make the Brighton music scene more accessible to people new to the city. Editor: Charley Murfitt Sub-Editors: Teddy Webb, Tonicha Gilbert Writers: Tonicha Gilbert, Cerys Hubbard, Ridwan Islam, Tamuka Mafunga, Charley Murfitt, Moe Noble, Teddy Webb Photographs provided by: Rae Garvey, Tonicha Gilbert, Cerys Hubbard, Green Door Store, Ashley Laurence, Chris Watkins, Nick Suchak, Joshua Elphic, Thomas Drain, The Great Escape Team Designer: Myrtle Goldsmith
Credit: Rae Garvey
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CONT NME Awards | Page 6 Our run down of the NME Awards including the highlights from Sam Fender’s performance and the most notable music awards of the night. Kid Kapichi: New England | Page 8 A look at up and coming punk band, Kid Kapichi’s, new single ‘New England’. Loud, angry, and savagely unapologetic. RE-E-WIND | PAGE 10 A look at the big birthdays for classic favourites this year. On the Up: The Stealers | Page 12 Composed of four spunky, young men, The Stealers boast an up and coming Punk Rock sound akin to SNAYX and Beach Riot. Credit: Rae Garvey
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TENTS Brighton’s Best Places for LGBTQ+ Folks | Page 14 Have you ever wondered what THE place to be is in the LGBT+ scene in Brighton? Look no furtheryour prayers have been answered in this rundown of venus from Revenge to Legends. Zeeteah Massiah ‘Wat A Ting’, Oddity ‘Glide’, Eva Seven ‘In My Head’ and Alcie Bela ‘Mystery’ | Page 18 A round up of the best new singles from the last three months in music. SNAYX | Page 20 Ones to watch at Great Escape | Page 22 What our contributors at Tempo are most looking forward to at Brighton’s festival ‘The Great Escape’.
What are we listening to | Page 24 From Florence and the Machine’s new music to a revisit of Car Seat Headrest’s 2016 album ‘Teens of Denial’, what have we been listening to this new year? Yonaka at Chalk | Page 25 Behind the Mask | Page 26 The subtle inaccessibilities of nightlife from clubs to bars for people with invisible disabilities. How do you run a grassroots venue? The inside scoop on the Green Door Store | Page 28 A deep dive behind the scenes of Brighton’s beloved Green Door Store with Programming and Production manager, Megan Thompson. What’s on in Brighton | Page 33 Gig highlights for the next three months.
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NME NME NME NME
AWARDS AWARDS AWARDS AWARDS
A review of the long awaited, iconic NME Awards. With highlights from Sam Fender and Bring Me the Horizon’s Oli Sykes. Words By Tonicha Gilbert
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n Wednesday 2nd March, the NME Awards returned to O2 Academy Brixton. The venue looked unrecognisable, with the iconic raised floor made redundant to accommodate for the hundred-odd tables reserved for nominees, performers, and guests to sit at. As they began to fill, the selection of people sitting at them was unpredictable. From RuPaul’s Drag Race UK legend Bimini Bon-Boulash and Adam Lambert to Oli Sykes and train spotting fanatic, Francis Bourgeois, the room was full of famous faces making unlikely connections. Like any big event post-pandemic, there was an electric buzz in the room - probably from the free beer provided by Grolsch - as we waited for our opening act, Sam Fender. Fender opened the show with ‘Seventeen Going Under’, messing up the lyrics but styling it out and warming the crowd up effectively. The Geordie Golden Boy later went on to win the award for ‘Best Album In The World’, bringing his drunken entourage up to the podium with him - it wouldn’t really be a UK award show if Sam Fender wasn’t smashed by the end, would it? The night continued with stunning performances from Griff and Sigrid, Rina Sawayama, and this year’s ‘Godlike Genius Award’ winner FKA Twigs. Being the youngest person to ever win the award, following in the footsteps of icons Robert Smith and Debbie Harry, it was a beautiful moment to witness made even more special by the lovely words given by Soul II Soul’s Jazzie B as he presented FKA Twigs with the award. One of the most memorable performances of the evening was Robert Smith and CHVRCHES. Finishing their new song ‘How To Not Drown’, frontwoman Lauren Mayberry announced “this is about to get really cool” before the band and Robert Smith unexpectedly played The Cure’s ‘Just Like Heaven’. Closing the show with six songs were ‘Best Band In The UK’ winners, Bring Me The Horizon. There was no doubt that this performance would cause the evening’s liveliest reaction from the audience as a good portion of the crowd in the front standing pit were wearing either the band’s merchandise or clothing from frontman, Oli Sykes’, clothing label ‘Drop Dead’. The last time Bring Me The Horizon performed at the NME Awards was in 2016. Sykes gracefully jumped on and trashed Coldplay’s table. Thankfully, there was none of that behaviour this year. The band opened with ‘Can You Feel My Heart’ from their 2013 album ‘Sempiternal’ and the rest of the set consisted of fan favourites from almost every album they’ve released since. ‘Mantra’ saw the first mosh pit of the night, although not a very good one. Before leaving the stage the frontman dedicated their final song ‘Throne’ to Ukraine, asking the influential people in the room to use their platforms to do the right thing in these circumstances. Making up for lost time after 2021’s ceremony could not go ahead, 2022’s NME Awards was far from boring. Roll on 2023!
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT… Godlike Genius Award- FKA Twigs Innovation Award- Halsey Icon Award- Neneh Cherry NME Radar Award- Griff Songwriter Award- Jack Antonoff Music Moment Of The Year Award- Liam Gallagher’s Free Concert for NHS Workers Best Album in the World- Sam Fender‘Seventeen Going Under’
Best Band in the World- Fontaines D.C Best Solo Act in the World- Burna Boy Best New Act In The World- Olivia Rodrigo
Credit: Tonicha Gilbert
Best Song in the World- Lorde ‘Solar Power’
Best Live Act Supported- Rina Sawayama Best Festival In The World- Life Is Beautiful Best Small Festival- Wide Awake Best Festival Headliner- Wolf Alice Best Producer- Nia Archives Best Mixtape- Holly Humberstone ‘The Walls Are Way Too Thin’ Best Collaboration- Griff x Sigrid – ‘Head On Fire’ Best Music Video- Foals ‘Wake Me Up’
Best Band From The UK- Bring Me The Horizon Best Solo Act From The UK- Little Simz Best New Act From The UK- Berwyn Best Festival In The UK- Reading and Leeds
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Credit: Tonicha Gilbert
Best Song By A UK Artist- Chvrches – ‘How Not To Drown’
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KID KAPICHI
Credit: Nick Suchak
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A look at up and coming punk band, Kid Kapichi’s, new single ‘New England’. Loud, angry, and savagely unapologetic. BRIGHTON TEMPO
NEW ENGLAND NEW ENGLAND NEW ENGLAND NEW ENGLAND Words By Ben Left
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elcome to the new world, the New England/ Come witness the greatness of Britain” spits Kid Kapichi vocalist/guitarist Jack Wilson on the band’s latest single New England, featuring fellow punk Bob Vylan. You’d have to be living under a rock to take these lyrics without a bucket load of salt, Wilson’s sarcastic snarl saying the exact opposite of ‘Britain is great’. And no wonder. At the time of writing the controversial Nationality and Borders Bill. The country feels more divided than ever. But, what about Kid Kapichi’s story so far? The Hasting heavyweights, comprised of Jack Wilson & Ben Beetham (joint lead guitar/vocals) and George Macdonald & Eddie Lewis (drums & bass respectively), burst onto the scene in 2019 with their fiercely defiant single named after that year. The song’s rousing refrain of “If they don’t wanna give it then we’ll take it, we’re gonna take it” sets them apart from the rest of the alternative crowd; you could tell that when they sing, they really meant it. Fast forward three years and the band have released their exceptional debut album ‘This Time Next Year’ completely independently, got to number six in the official UK independent charts, and enjoyed great critical acclaim, as well as an all-but sold out UK tour. In short, Kid Kapichi are on the way up, and with New England they deliver their best-and most importantsong yet, one which will surely take them to their next step. The song’s sound is classic Kapichi: loud, angry, and savagely unapologetic. ‘New England’ is earth-shattering, yes, but it’s also a complete earworm, the “You’re such a fool Britannia” hook from the chorus one of their most ingenious yet. But more importantly than the outrageously huge sound the band have deployed on this standout single is the lyrics within it: urgent, scathing.
“Social change no I don’t want that/ Just sitting eating crisps in my one bed apartment/ Politics that’s not my department/ But I cast my vote regardless”. This is what makes the song work; it’s about recognising the problems with yes, the people in power but also the British public, who have the power to change things. Then, switching from character to personal, Wilson and co ask “Is it you can’t change? / Or that you won’t change?” in the songs thought-provoking yet effortlessly catchy pre-chorus, holding up placards outside London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace in the fantastic music video, expertly shot by Nick Suchak. The band then launches into the chorus- and what an extraordinarily powerful chorus it is. “You’re such a fool Britannia” rages Wilson, the fury swelling up inside him as the rest of the band cascade around him, everyone venting their frustration at a nation obsessed with doing things simply because they always have done.
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id Kapichi are a band who have stood out from the start, their mix of Specials-esque skinhead style, Slaves’ foot-stomping sound, and the cultural resistance of the Clash marking them out as ones to watch from the beginning. But even for a band like Kapichi, ‘New England’ is a song that should, and hopefully will, send them into a different sphere entirely. With the band’s biggest headline show to date at Camden’s iconic Electric Ballroom, scheduled for early May, it certainly looks as though Kid Kapichi are on their way to punk rock history. People will look back on this song as a defining musical marking point for when the people of this country did- or didn’t- do something about the deeprooted issues holding Britain back from being truly great. Kid Kapichi, though, are truly, truly, great. The swagger is searing, the lyrics spot-on. This is social commentary at its most ferocious, and it’s exactly what is needed right now.
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RE-E-WIND RE-E-WIND RE-E-WIND RE-E-WIND
Words by Cerys Hubbard
All of these songs are celebrating big birthdays this year, and to celebrate the occasion (and to make you, dear reader, feel absolutely ancient) we’ve grabbed a handful of bops from 10 to 30 years ago that will make you go “Aah life before Covid, wasn’t it fab?” 10 YEARS (2012) Gangnam Style by PSY Every decade has its dance craze. The 80s had us ‘Agadoo-ing’, the 90s ‘Macarena-ing’, and the 00s ‘Cha Cha Slide-ing’ our way across primary school disco dance floors. The 2010s were no different. ‘Gangnam Style’ was the track that had us all popping, bopping and opp-opp-opping back in 2012 and brought Kpop into mainstream attention. Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye Yes that’s right, it really has been 10 years since Gotye became the ultimate one hit wonder and then dipped. He literally became ‘Somebody That We Used To Know’. He’s still out there making music though, for anyone convinced he just disappeared off the face of the earth, he is releasing a live album in 2020 and a 4th studio album is currently in the works. We Are Never Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift Recently refurbished as part of Red (Taylor’s Version), this pop rock bop peaked at no.4 in the UK Charts back in Summer 2012 and went on to become an anthem for people with toxic exes everywhere.
at the cinema, the first instalment in Dystopian teen drama franchise ‘The Hunger Games’ was released, going on to become one of the year’s highest grossing films, behind The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers. 20 YEARS (2002): Sound Of The Underground by Girls Aloud If there was one girl group that could sum up the 2000s in a nutshell, it would be Girls Aloud. The group were put together on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 alongside boyband One True Voice and subsequently went on to dominate the UK charts for the next 10 years. Their first single ‘Sound Of The Underground’ was the Christmas No.1 back in 2002 and set them off on a path of genre bending, edgy and exciting pop tunes. Complicated by Avril Lavigne Pop punk Princess, Avril Lavigne, also made her debut with her first album ‘Let Go’. A genre-defining album, she led the way for other female-fronted pop punk acts to come. The album’s first single ‘Complicated’ had girls all over the world donning their school ties outside of the classroom. Girl Power was well and truly back in full swing on Planet Pop.
Also happening this year… Lose Yourself by Eminem The Union Jack was inescapable as London hosted the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games and the Queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee with a massive gig outside Buckingham Palace. Meanwhile
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Eminem was already well established in the music industry by 2002, but his popularity grew with the release of his film ‘8 Mile’ and its soundtrack
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featuring the track ‘Lose Yourself’. Arguably one of his greatest works (no one had ever rhymed “sweaty” with “Mom’s spaghetti” before). It won several awards including an Academy Award for Best Original Song and was ranked 166th in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time list in 2004. Also happening this year: 2002 was, once again, a jubilee year as the Queen celebrated 50 years on the throne and Brian May played ‘God Save The Queen’ on the roof of Buckingham Palace. Despite this, it wasn’t exactly the best year for the Royal Family as both The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret bit the dust within weeks of each other. Meanwhile, on the telly box Channel 4 were met with controversy as they aired a public autopsy, prompting hundreds of complaints from squeamish viewers.
top spot of the UK charts for 10 weeks and went on to be the best selling single of 1992. Ebeneezer Goode by The Shamen Perhaps the most controversial song on this list, Ebeneezer Goode caused a bit of a stir when it was released back in 1992. With references to hard drug use (Eezer-goode…e’s are good…), this 90s rave hit by The Shamen was banned by the BBC - but that didn’t stop it hitting the no.1 spot back in September ‘92. Friday I’m In Love by The Cure Described as a “throw your hands in the air, let’s get happy kind of record” by frontman Robert Smith, the goth trailblazers go all soppy and poppy with this lovey dovey track from 1992’s ‘Wish’. Also happening this year…
30 YEARS (1992) : I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston This big power ballad was first written in 1973 by none other than the queen of country, Dolly Parton (who also happened to write ‘Jolene’ on the same day). Nearly 20 years later, Whitney Houston lent her powerhouse vocals to the soundtrack for The Bodyguard - and the rest is history. It dominated the
The old Wembley Stadium played host to The Freddie Mercury Tribute concert, featuring guest performances from George Michael, Elton John and David Bowie amongst others, with all proceeds going to AIDS research. Across the pond (or the English Channel to be exact), Mickey and Co landed in Europe as Disneyland Paris opened its doors for the first time and the 1992 Olympic Games were held in Barcelona.
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Credit: Josh Elphick
ON THE UP:
Composed of four spunky, young men, The Stealers boast an up and coming Punk Rock sound akin to SNAYX and Beach Riot. In this interview the band chat through their thoughts on the Brighton music scene, their favourite gigs and their love for the creative and diverse city of Brighton. Words By Charley Murfitt
What draws you to the Brighton music scene? We all love the music scene in Brighton because it is so diverse. For example, one night you could go to a jazz gig, the next you could be at a sweaty rave and then the next night you could find yourself at a punk rock show. It can also be really inspiring when talking to other people in the scene.
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THE STEALERS What is your favourite venue to play?
Any exciting new releases on the horizon?
Our favourite venue to play at has to be The Green Door Store. Every gig at Green Door is always a wicked night.
Our new tune ‘’Ultra Violent’’ is out everywhere now so go and stream it! We might have some more music instore for you soon so make sure you keep your ears and your eyes peeled!
What’s your favourite gig you’ve played? One of our favourite gigs that we have played has to be the first gig back after all the lockdowns. It was amazing, the room was packed and the crowd was amazing! Our other favourite show was the gig we did for Sonic Wave festival in Birmingham. It was so cool to go to another city and play our tunes in front of a new audience. How was playing at the Green Door Store earlier this month? Our most recent show was great. We played a load of new tunes and they went down really well which was good Do you have an all time favorite song to play live? We all have our own favourite songs to play live for different reasons. Alex’s is ‘Scream’ because of its catchiness and because of how much the audience love it. Junior’s is a new one we have called ‘Ultra Violent’ because of the breakdown that draws influence from Drum and Bass. Noah’s favourite song to play live is whatever the song that we put last in the set. We always have a massive jam at the end and he gets to go crazy on the drums. George’s is another new one called ‘Crying Shame’ because the riff is fun to play as well as all the different sections What’s your plan for the next year? Our plans for this year are to write, record and release loads of music. Hopefully play some festivals this summer. Keep on gigging and growing our fan base!
Do you think the Brighton music scene is on the up? The Brighton music scene is 100% on the up, it’s never really on the down. There are always brilliant new bands and artists coming out of Brighton. Everyone in this city is so creative. I think this will always be the case What bands do you love playing alongside or any bands you’re excited to play with? We are really excited to play our sold out show with The Skinner Brothers in March. Some of our favourite bands that we have played with so far are Baby Strange, Play Dead and Mindframe Who do you think is the most exciting band in Brighton right now? This is such a hard question! There are so many great bands coming out of Brighton at the moment. You have bands like Snayx, ARXX, DITZ, Lime Garden and Egyptian Blue who are starting to get more exposure, which is amazing, and then you have the bigger bands from Brighton that are doing well such as Squid, Black Honey and Tiger Cub. The Stealers are definitely a band to add to your ‘ones to watch list’. The band have been dubbed as the underdogs of a newly forming Punk Rock scene in Brighton. The boys are showing much promise at shows in Green Door Store and they are looking to the future of the next generation of Punk and Roc scenes in the South. You can find the band on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @thestealersband
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BRIGHTON’S BEST PLACES FOR LGBTQ+ FOLKS
Brighton. The gay capital of the UK, with a huge LGBTQ+ scene across the town. The city is filled with entertainment and huge drag queen and king culture. It’s a small town packed with a lot of LGBTQ+ pubs, clubs, bars and entertainment located around St. James’ street in Kemptown. This is your guide for the best spots around Brighton. Words By Ridwan Islam
CLUB AND BAR REVENGE
CHALK
The infamous seafront LGBTQ+ bar and club has a lot of events to offer throughout the year. It attracts a huge crowd within Brighton and across the UK. The bar offers events such as ‘Gaymers’ night, karaoke, and ‘Lip Sync For Your Life’, as well as viewing parties of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race UK’. These events attract such an array of people and are a great way to socialise with other people from around the city with similar interests. Bar Revenge is a safe space for Queer people and drag artists to showcase their art. Even though Club Revenge has the potential at times to be a mainly straight crowd, on nights such as ‘FOMO’ on Thursdays, it is very clear that the club will not tolerate any kind of homophobia which makes the club such a beloved safe space. The club has a variety of nights that include various genres of music which opens their audience up to a lot of different people.
Chalk is a student-based club that has a lot of different nights throughout the week and the month. Even though as a club they don’t tolerate any homophobia, racism or misogyny, on certain nights the club has the potential to attract a less than amicable crowd. However, the club does hold events such as ‘Polyglamorous’- an LGBTQ+ event that attracts a huge crowd within East Sussex and Brighton. The club also holds ‘Cherry Bomb’ social club, which is the ultimate girls night out - a femaleonly event. On a weekly basis, the club holds live events with musicians, indie and alternative artists and music nights like Decades of Pop and Let’s Kill Disco are a main attraction to the venue.
QUEEN’S ARMS LGBTQ+ bar based off St. James’ street features the best drag, cabaret and camp shows. The Queen’s Arms is one of the only places that is open 365 days a year. Queen’s Arms showcase talented, brilliant and hilarious acts. It is one of the best spots in the UK for a good night out and great entertainment, especially when coming down to Brighton. The Queen’s Arms showcases talented acts from across the UK such as Kara Van Park, Miss Jason, Son of a Tutu and Alfie Ordinary, to name a few.
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LEGENDS Known as the café, bar, club, and cabaret venue in a gay hotel. Legends offers people to stay on the seafront on a visit down to Brighton, a casual cafe and a subterranean club. The venue attracts a huge range of people as it has quite a lot to offer, it is a great place to stay when visiting Brighton due to its location, near Kemptown, and locality to all of your favourite LGBTQ+ coffee shops, bars, pubs and clubs. The venue offers amazing cabaret performers including international artists, singers and drag queens taking to its infamous stage.
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Credit: Rae Garvey
Rae’s Comments: I think this art piece sums up Brighton really well. Everybody has a lot of love to share here, and everyone’s just extremely kind. I’ve lived here since 2019 and I’ve only ever had positive interactions with people; this artwork really captures that kindness. Also, being one of the queerest cities I’ve ever witnessed, I found it fitting that this artwork was placed in this city.
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Rae’s Comments: Brighton can be a very busy place for such a small city, but the beach can actually be a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the streets and The Lanes. Every picture I’ve seen of this pier has been perfect, but the scaffolding just makes the photo a bit more visually interesting from a photographer’s standpoint.
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Credit: Rae Garvey
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ZEETEAH MASSIAH: ‘WAT A TING’
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hat a ting that we are coming off a pandemic and straight to a world war. What a ting, what a ting! This summer we shall have no mention of Covid, or any other impending doom we are inevitably going to face. This shall be a sweet summer of grilling meats, or whatever your grill item of choice is. There is going to be sweet aromas oozing the Brighton air and Zeeteah Massiah’s anthem ‘Wat a Ting’ on repeat, the epilogue of a tragic 2021. The first single of her forthcoming album ‘Zeets Beats’ is a clunky funk infused motto of how crazy the last 18 months have been. The chorus rings out like an infusion of reggaeton and something from a musical. “We’ve all gone crazy, what a ting, what a ting’’, which shall be 2022’s response to, “ it is what it is”. It feels as if each verse is a concession of conspiracy theories being debunked. The lyrics feel tongue in cheek and concise. If the rest of the new album is like this new joint, then the vibes this summer are going to be laced with Zeeteahs charismatic delivery and funk production. Stylistically, this new record is a massive step into a commercial single in comparison with her jazz infused previous project ‘Maybe Tomorrow’. It’s unpredictable which sound Zeeteah will drop next but the summer playlists are marinating, there will be room for more. Words By Tamuka Mafunga
ODDITY: ‘GLIDE’
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born and raised Mancunian artist, Oddity, is soon to emerge on the scene with her debut single ‘Glide’, sure to make an entrance.
Manny’s very own Oddity is a name you need to get familiar with. Her first single ‘Glide’ is a smooth mix of R&B and UK rap. It makes sense hearing Oddity’s ‘Glide’ and staying in the pocket of the beat (produced by V1 Cente). The track feels like Oddity is an introverted person who’s allowing the listener to hear her plans to take over the game all the way from south of Manchester. Smooth lyrics and beat makes you want to grab a push bike and join her on a glide 0161. This track sets pace for what should be the emergence of another raw talent with more artists from up north starting to get the respect and separating their sound from the mainstream UK rap that’s dominated by London; this should be a fun ride seeing what’s on the come up next. Words By Tamuka Mafunga
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EVA SEVEN: ‘IN MY HEAD’
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va Seven is a self-made singer-songwriter with the mission of adding thoughtfulness to the trippy world of dream-pop. Her music focuses on female empowerment, social justice and inspiration for future generations. With Euphoria’s ‘aesthetic sadness’ ruling the internet right now, Eva Seven’s latest single ‘In my Head’ feeds back into the loop of sad but sexy. If you have the privilege of listening to this song, it can feel like a pleasant drug trip. The chorus has this lilt to it that, while comforting, portrays the struggle within Seven’s mind. Her inner turmoil is highlighted in this catchy but ultimately distressing chorus. The repetition of “in my head” quite literally will be in my head for days. That being said, the chorus is all that truly sticks out after several listens. The verses haven’t stuck with me at all. However, with nearly 20,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Eva Seven is definitely someone to keep your eye on in the next few years. To me the song reminds me so much of something Ava Max would release - an instant favourite with a wider pop audience with a similar fanbase to Bebe Rexha. ‘In My Head’ boasts a catchy chorus and aesthetics to rival Florence and the Machine. It certainly will be in your head for weeks on end, and despite imperfections, shows real potential. Words By Charley Murfitt
ALCIE BELA: ‘MYSTERY’
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hat would you do if a fire turned everything you know into flames? In singer-songwriter Alcie Bela’s case, it meant shutting up shop in her homeland of South Wales and relocating to the tranquility of the French Wilderness. The latest contribution to her growing discography is “Mystery”. An absolute thumper of a track (if that’s the right way to describe it). It’s trauma-tainted indie folk with lyrics sang straight from the soul and “aah-woahs” and “aah-woos” aplenty. Perfect for fans of Florence And The Machine, it’s the sort of track that makes you want to go out when the sun’s out and prance about a field of wheat- Theresa May style. Bela has also produced a 5 track EP alongside life partner and fellow musician Jack Ellis, entitled “Botanical Imaginations.” The EP is yet to be released, but promises to encapsulate everything from “recovering from traumatic times” to “embracing lockdown, losing everything to the flames”. If the atmosphere is the same as on this track, then people are definitely going to catch feelings. Definitely one to be on the lookout for! Words By Cerys Hubbard
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FAVOURITE DANCE MOVES AND THEIR PURE CHAOS: A Q&A WITH SNAYX
Credit: Leila Rummery
While on a busy tour around the UK, Brighton Punk band ‘SNAYX’ sat down with Brighton Tempo to chat about inspiration, their favourite shows and nerves. Words By Moe Noble Introduce yourselves! How did you all meet? We (Charlie and Ollie) formed SNAYX over a Chinese lunch at the Golden Palace restaurant in Seaford. We just became tired of being in bands that weren’t playing enough gigs so we just decided to do our own thing. What inspires your lyrics? It really depends on the song. ‘Body Language’ & ‘False Friends’ focus more on personal experiences, interpersonal relationships & nights out in Brighton. However, for the likes of ‘Work’ & ‘Weaponized’, the
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focus is on the themes of the past five or so years. Brexit Britain, austerity, fake news and Covid are all really prominent subject matter. These songs express our resentment and anger and it’s an incredible release for us and our audience when we perform. What makes you the most nervous? Soundcheck. It’s a strange balance. When the sound isn’t perfect prior to the show, it makes you nervous… But on the other hand, sometimes if the soundcheck is too good, it can make you more nervous that something is bound to go wrong!
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“OVER A DECADE OF CONSERVATIVE RULE HAS ONLY ALIENATED YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOU NOW SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT IN THE PUNK SCENE AND THE SONGS BEING WRITTEN” Favourite dance move to wack out mid performance? The ‘Sneyk’ finger point. We’re bringing back the classic point to the ceiling. Works great mid-song right before a big drop. I recently caught you at your headline show at The Green Door Store on the 29th. How do you choose support acts and who is on your list of ones to watch? Thanks for coming to the show! It was pure joy and chaos all wrapped up into one. There’s a video of the finale on YouTube from that night - I can’t believe it was real! Both Monakis and Gnarlah are headline bands in their own right too, so we were thrilled when they said they’d support us. The scene is the best it’s been in a long time and there are so many bands we want to play with. Off the top of our head, Congratulations & The Famous People are definitely ones to keep an eye on! How are you preparing for Snayx in the city P.2? We prepared by accidentally going to three or four gigs in a row leading up to the night before we set off to get us in the gig mindset. We’re passionate about live music and the Brighton music scene. It’s where we’re most inspired and it gets us mentally in the zone. For anyone that hasn’t yet attended your shows, could you explain your fan base and the sweaty chaos you bring. And what do you think has been your favourite show? It might look like chaos but everyone is really respectful at our shows. We have a diverse crowd
too so it’s great to see everyone having a good time. It’s a toss up between Scala supporting Kid Kapichi and our Green Door Store headline. Both incredibly memorable gigs that absolutely defied all our expectations. There’s a massive resurgence of the punk scene sprouting across Brighton venues at the moment. Where do you think that comes from? Passion or maybe fury? I think it’s a bit of both. The discontent with Tory Britain has a big part to play and politics is where the punk scene flourishes. Over a decade of conservative rule has only alienated young people and you now see the results of that in the punk scene and the songs being written. Elsewhere in the punk scene we have amazing bands such as Muff and Lambrini Girls calling out abusers, homophobia, misogyny and the patriarchy. Especially culprits that exist in music. Their voices are more important than ever in reshaping this new punk scene to ensure it has a place for everyone. And lastly, When is your next show in Brighton - go on plug ya selves! Our next scheduled Brighton show will be as part of Washed Out festival in September but don’t be surprised to see us in Brighton at some point before that. The line up for Washed Out festival is absolutely mega this year. Featuring local legends Genn, Snake Eyes & Gaffa Tape Sandy to name a few. So grab your tickets ASAP! You can catch SNAYX at various venues around Brighton. As well as their social media: Instagram @snayx_uk Twitter @SNAYX_UK Listen to their newest release ‘Cigarette’ on Spotify.
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THE GREAT ESCAPE: ONES TO WATCH With Brighton’s The Great Escape Festival on the way, we’re rounding up what our contributors are most excited to see. Words By Teddy Webb
CAT BURNS: BRIT-school-educated songwriter creating some of indie-pop’s most arresting harmonies WHY YOU SHOULD CARE: Cat Burns is a woman of many talents, but her greatest strength is in her songwriting. She’s confessional, using her stunning compositions as diary entries you can’t look away from. Spare yet atmospheric instrumentals make the perfect background for a voice filled with pathos.
LIME GARDEN: Tongue-in-cheek providers of seaside surf rock WHY YOU SHOULD CARE: Despite their undeniable talent, Lime Garden aren’t the kind of band to take themselves too seriously. Instead, these BIMM graduates sing about losing their marbles and fancying gig-goers from across the barriers, all while offering up swirling psychedelic riffs as if it’s the most natural thing on earth.
REBECCA BLACK: Anti-celebrity of the early 2010s turned charismatic hyperpop star WHY YOU SHOULD CARE: Emerging from the ruins of misogyny-tinged backlash after her viral song ‘Friday’ turned her into the internet’s laughable main character, Rebecca
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Black has spent the last few years winning over fans as pop’s ultimate underdog. She now carves her own path as a proponent of left-field, genre-fluid pop for the girls, gays and theys.
WITCH FEVER: Feminist dooom-punk targeting abuse and patriarchy with righteous rage WHY YOU SHOULD CARE: For anyone who’s been affected by sexist harassment or mistreatment, seeing Witch Fever may well be one of the most cathartic live music experiences you’ll have. From righteous headbangers like ‘Reincarnate’ to the jawdropping middle finger to religious sexual shame that is ‘In Birth’, the punk witches give their audience permission to shed their delicacy and scream.
CRAWLERS: Alt-rock newcomers with box dyed hair and real heart WHY YOU SHOULD CARE: Self-described silly little eyeliner band Crawlers have a huge groundswell of support behind them right now, so this might be your last chance to see them live before they’re household names. While they’re capable of stirring a crowd with heavier tracks like ‘Monroe’, their most well-known song ‘Come Over (Again)’, made viral on TikTok, showcases a band with both passion and pipes.
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WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO... ALBUMS:
ARTISTS:
The Tipping Point- Tears For Fears
SNAYX
Love Sux- Avril Lavigne
The Stealers
Fix Yourself Not The World- The Wombats
Kim Petras
Brightside- The Lumineers
Kid Kapichi
Visions of Bodies Being Burned - clipping.
Big Image
Teens of Denial - Car Seat Headrest
Emmy Meli
SINGLES: Boyfriend- Dove Cameron Night Call- Years and Years Ribbon Around The Bomb- Blossoms My Love- Florence and the Machine Icon- Jaden God is a Freak- Peach I am Not a Woman I’m a God- Halsey War- Arrdee, Aitch
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Credit: Tonicha Gilbert
YONAKA
A review of YONAKA’s full circle gig at Chalk in Brighton. A contagious energy and well crafted set list ravages a well loved Brighton venue.
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ne of the most underrated bands on the scene at the moment, YONAKA, have been keeping themselves busy. After spending 2021 releasing the EP ‘Seize The Power’ and smashing the festival circuit, the band also supported Nothing But Thieves on their UK arena tour with The Hunna at the end of the year. YONAKA are finally back where they belong - kicking off their UK tour in their hometown. Having previously played Green Door Store and Concorde 2, tonight the band are taking over Chalk. As a venue, Chalk is a bit of a weird one. The further from the stage you get, the standing area becomes slightly diagonal and difficult to see the stage. Regardless of this, Chalk is packed from front to back. The support acts could not have been a better fit for YONAKA and their audience. Kicking off the evening was July Jones, captivating the crowd with her powerful energy. With her electro-pop songs matched with her edgy, effortlessly cool demeanour there is no doubt that July Jones is one to watch. Next up is King No-One with their setlist bursting with classic feel-good indie tunes, including their most popular track ‘Alcatraz’ from 2019, it was difficult to refrain from having a little dance. With both support acts ticked off, the energy in the room is electric.
Bang on 8:30pm, YONAKA take to the stage. The four-piece do not hang about as they jump straight into ‘Seize The Power’ tracks ‘Ordinary’ followed by ‘Greedy’. The setlist is a well crafted combination of newly released songs the crowd haven’t heard live before and tracks from YONAKA’s 2019 debut album ‘Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow’. There is a united sense of nostalgia in the room when lead singer, Theresa Jarvis, asks the crowd “do we have any creatures here tonight?” before the recognisable intro to 2018’s single ‘Creature’ begins.
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he undeniable chemistry and energy between the band is contagious. The crowd match this and only slow down when the set takes an acoustic turn for a relaxed rendition of ‘Guilty’ and later for ‘Anthem’ during the show’s encore. YONAKA closed the show with another fan favourite from their debut album, ‘Rockstar’; this song stood out amongst the rest as it was delivered with such passion from the band as the crowd screamed “I just wanna be a rockstar, baby!” at each other, knowing the band is well on their way to becoming just that. Any homecoming show is bound to be emotional, but this felt like a real full circle moment for YONAKA. Words by Tonicha Gilbert
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BEHIND THE MASK BEHIND THE MASK BEHIND THE MASK BEHIND THE MASK The subtle inaccessibilities of nightlife for people with invisible disabilities. Words by Teddy Webb
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t is, to put it mildly, very knackering to be a chronically ill young person. You’re out there just trying to live your little student life, watching your peers do the same, while the back of your mind is constantly whirring with the subconscious task of managing your illness. Regardless of the developments technology makes, there’s an additional weight on your shoulders: the knowledge that, alongside assessments and making rent and all the dramas of new adulthood, you’re responsible for keeping yourself alive. I want to make it clear that it’s not always the fault of my disabilities, either, but the fault of the world around me failing to accommodate me and my disabled siblings in the slightest. I have the privilege of being white and middle-class, and therefore at less risk of falling into poverty or having to choose between food and insulin. Diabetes is invisible too, meaning I don’t “look disabled” to a lot of people - unless they catch me injecting in the middle of Taco Bell, they’re unlikely to make snap judgements about me because of my chronic illness. Nevertheless, invisible disabilities pose their own challenges. It’s never fun to have untrained nightclub bouncers argue amongst themselves about whether you’re allowed to bring your life-or-death medication into the club, or to be told you’re acting too drunk to be served when, in reality, your blood sugar has hit a devastating low and you’re just after a full-sugar coke. Put simply, having your experience or identity doubted is a disturbingly common facet of the chronically ill experience.
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Disabled people aren’t a monolith, of course, and we face our own needs. For instance, wheelchair users are ridiculously uncatered for in nightlife; it’s as though if someone’s seen as unable to dance about in five inch heels, they’re not worth considering. I had a wonderful experience recently at Poly Glamorous, enhanced by the fact that I saw a large group of wheelchair users seemingly having the bloody good time they deserve, but it’s upsetting that I only have one memory like this in my three years in Brighton. Invisible access needs are often different, but they’re still access needs. I get that venues want to make money, and that people bringing in food isn’t exactly conducive to their snack sales, but if I’m told off one more time for trying to bring my, really quite important, hypo treatments in. I’m going to abandon civilisation and become one with the moss.
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’m not saying accessibility is always easy in terms of logistics, but planning events with us in mind isn’t a burden – and neither are we. Believing us when we say what we need is the best place to start. Once again, our needs aren’t all the same, so you might get some conflicting reports, but intent is the route to impact. Allow disabled clientele to make informed decisions. Accessibility information should be published on a venue’s websites and updated regularly. If a space may or may not be a feasible setting for your night out, as Alanis Morrissette says, ‘you oughta know’. Fundamentally, accessibility feels like a dialogue. The people it serves should be kept in the loop on how they are being cared for and included in our nightlife spaces.
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Credit: Rae Garvey
Rae’s Comments: Komedia is genuinely just a weird building. I don’t know what the legs are there for, but you can’t really ignore them. I just think they’re neat honestly.
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Credit: The Green Door Store
HOW DO YOU RUN A GRASSROOTS VENUE?
THE INSIDE SCOOP ON THE GREEN DOOR STORE
A deep dive behind the scenes of Brighton’s beloved Green Door Store with Programming and Production manager, Megan Words by Charley Murfitt Thompson. 28
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As we discussed her passion for the venue, Thompson highlighted the importance of Brighton’s creative scene. “It’s so important when you look at Brighton in terms of a city. You’re always so close to a venue and they’re all so compact.” She continues; “[There’s] so many wonderful local bands and local promoters. A genuinely amazing creative scene. It’s so important to be able to have these venues here who help our local bands get to the point where they are touring outside of the city. It’s really nice to be able to nurture our creative scene. We’re so lucky to be able to create such a safe space for music in Brighton”
Thompson started her career in journalism specifically, she used to run an hour long radio show consisting of curating new music and new bands, as well as interviewing and doing a little TV presenting on the side. “The challenge that I’d set myself is I’d never play the same song twice.” Megan moves on to how this led to Green Door Store; “I think I got the job because, first of all, I made this ridiculous CV because I thought ‘I’ve got no experience in events,
utside the Green Door Store, one of Brighton’s most beloved venues, in the warm winter sun, I sat down with Megan Thompson. As the programming and production manager of both the Green Door Store and the Rossi Bar, Megan boasts the power to change and evolve Brighton’s music scene. Exjournalist Thompson is accustomed to interviewing bands - not being interviewed herself - but was a natural, as a chatty and warm personality graces this feature. Working in-house at Green Door Store, Thompson helps to curate all the shows, spending her daytime working with promoters to book local bands and looking after the artists who frequent her venues. By night, she spends her time amongst the artists at venues like the Hope and Ruin.
e moved onto logistics - how do you even book Green Door Store? “Either a promoter of a band will contact me. Most of the in-house shows that we put on tend to be free entry shows for local bands to give them the opportunity, especially bands who are just starting out. Otherwise, what tends to happen is that a new promoter or a current promoter that we work with will contact me about booking a date and then it’s just the case of looking at the calendar and seeing what we have available.” Thompson not only gave tips, but offered her reasoning behind Green Door Store’s line up. “It’s also a similar process at Rossi Bar. We like to support promoters who are just starting out and maybe don’t want to take the risk of booking Green Door Store - the Rossi bar is perfect for that. They can put on an event and learn from the process on a smaller, safer scale instead of throwing themselves in at the deep end.”
Credit: The Green Door Store
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“THERE’S NO FORMULA TO WHAT SUCCESS IS. FOR EVERY BAND IT’S PROBABLY DIFFERENT... IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE IT AS A COLLECTIVE, CREATIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE” how am I going to get them to notice me?’ It was just so ridiculous and obnoxious that they couldn’t not notice me. I edited a picture of myself and made it like a 90s club night poster; and put all the bands I’d worked with.” Thompson speculates: “From that I think they could see how much I cared and that’s how I got my foot in the door.”
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e went on to discuss the breadth of variety of the bands that visit Green Door Store. “There are so many different varied genres and so many talented people who are playing loads of different genres. I think it’s important to be inclusive with that. I think people tie us a lot to punk which we love but we also have quite a few Hip Hop shows which are always fun.” Thompson pondered her past favourites and how much she feels a part of the eclectic scene. “It’s always great to see bands come up. The first band I ever booked was SNAYX’s headline shows at the Rossi Bar and now they are headlining Green Door Store, playing shows with Destroy Boys and doing really great things. It’s nice to feel like you’re a part of that.” Community’s always a big part of grassroots music scenes, something highlighted by both the hardships and the new levels of support these spaces experienced during the pandemic. “This is what’s important,” Meg tells me. “This is what Brighton is. We’re lucky that we’ve created such a good pool of local bands that we work with. They were all so supportive and understanding. I think it’s fostered a good attitude and level of support.” As a local tastemaker, Meg’s views on the best bands she’s seen during her time at Green Door Store had
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to be asked after. “The CLT DRP show last week - oh my god they are one of the most amazing bands I’ve seen, they’re incredible. They just blew my mind.” She also mentions “the Lambrini Girls at 234 Festival. The bar set was just iconic. I could sit here forever and talk about all the amazing bands in Brighton.” This discussion of Thompson’s favourite acts concluded with these words of wisdom: “There’s no formula to what success is. For every band it’s probably different. Most bands might see success as being able to live comfortably off tour money and others might see success as being a local hero so I think success is personal. And I don’t want to pigeonhole bands like this band because of XYZ. It is important to see it as a collective, creative group of people.”
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s the interview concluded, Thompson offered advice to those coming up: just get out there. “Go to the venues: you’d be surprised about the amount of people who come to the Green Door Store regularly and get to know all the staff. All of a sudden it’s like ‘Oh! I’m in a band’ and, because of the already good relationship they have with us, everyone is so up for it and get them to contact me. Be a part of the scene as well. It’s so important. As people see you supporting them it works vice versa. I think the people who are the most supportive in the scene tend to be very popular like bands like SNAYX. They’re always at gigs supporting the local punk scene. You can see that in the way that they are now selling out because they’re putting the effort in nurturing the scene.” For more information, please visit: https://thegreendoorstore.co.uk/ @ greendoorstore on instagram
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WHATS ON IN BRIGHTON WEAKENED FRIENDS AT THE PRINCE ALBERT, 14TH APRIL TEENAGE FANCLUB AT CHALK, 16TH APRIL BASTILLE AT THE BRIGHTON CENTRE, 18TH APRIL LARKINS AT CHALK, 19TH APRIL BOWLING FOR SOUP AT DE LA WARR PAVILION, 21ST APRIL FOALS AT THE BRIGHTON CENTRE, 27TH APRIL BLONDIE AT THE BRIGHTON CENTRE, 28TH APRIL THE DIVINE COMEDY AT BRIGHTON DOME, 29TH APRIL STONE BROKEN AT CHALK, 4TH MAY THE GREAT ESCAPE, 11TH-15TH MAY BYRAN ADAMS AT THE BRIGHTON CENTRE, 13TH MAY PEACH PIT AT CONCORDE 2, 17TH MAY YEARS AND YEARS AT THE BRIGHTON CENTRE, 19TH MAY KATE NASH AT CHALK, 23RD MAY THE SCRIPT AT THE BRIGHTON CENTRE, 30TH MAY SKYND AT CONCORDE 2, 8TH JUNE
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CHECK OUT THE MUSIC FEATURED IN THIS EDITION ON OUR SPOTIFY!
@BRIGHTONTEMPO
