FOR FANS OF: ENGLISH TEACHER, YARD ACT, BLONDSHELL, BOY GENIUS, POM POM SQUAD
Honeyglaze, a south-London based trio are making waves with their genre-defying EP Pretty Girls – the follow up to their debut self-titled album. Previously discovered by the local tastemaker Speedy Wunderground label, Honeyglaze, comprised of guitarist and vocalist Anouska Sokolow, bassist Tim Curtis, and drummer Yuri Shibuichi, have recently signed with the critically acclaimed Fat Possum Records who have produced their forthcoming album Real Deal.
The EP, which contains songs from Real Deal, starts with ‘Pretty Girls,’ a catchy indie rock song with fuzzy guitar riffs, a hi-hat heavy drum beat, and soft, sometimes playful, vocals that would feel welcome on any coming-of-age indie movie soundtrack. ‘Pretty Girls’ is deceptively uplifting in sound, despite being quite anxious and melancholy lyrically. The guitar tone feels nostalgic, reminiscent of the grungy tones of 90s bands like Smashing Pumpkins—a feature that works in the songs favour, as this only adds to the melancholy feeling.
‘Pretty Girls’ leads naturally and effortlessly into ‘Cold Caller,’ a much slower, softer song but with very familiar melodic riffs. Though it begins with a cheery, catchy riff and honeyed vocals, ‘Cold Caller’ evolves into a more wistful song. The lyrics “I can hear your voice at night, bathed in warmth from my phone light” are a tender, pleasant sentiment, which turns suddenly into the pleading “Stay with me…I’ll do anything I’m told just to know I’m not alone.” The name of the song itself suggests an interesting connection between the concept of cold-calling and the disconnection and desperation felt by the yearning narrator. It’s another song that could easily sit as the backing track to a coming-of-age romance.
The tone of the EP then shifts significantly with the comparatively darker, moodier ‘Don’t.’ The song starts with an angsty drum beat and soft, commanding vocals “Don’t ignore me when I’m asking you a question.” It immediately evokes the image of white knuckles and gritted teeth. The song alternates between soft-spoken (but still angry) verses and louder, aggressive interludes – and finally erupts into a cacophonous breakdown, so that both musically, and thematically, the rage grows in intensity and results in a ‘snap’. Annouska barks “I’m a person too you know, I have things to say, I have fucking feelings.” This song especially highlights Honeyglaze’s artistic potential.
While all three songs are good, well produced songs, they’re almost different enough from each other to be jarring to listen to back-to-back. I wouldn’t necessarily sit them on the same playlist or even the same album, however, they do illustrate Honeyglaze’s variety in sound and genre, and their ability to take their music in whichever direction they like.
WRITTEN BY BRIA ORTEGA
NOBODY MAGAZINE 