Blonde Diamond: 'Red Flags', dark sides...

“We’re really excited to dust off the pandemic cobwebs and really hit the new year in a big way.” (Blonde Diamond)

Today we speak to Alexis Young (lead vocalist) from Blonde Diamond who have released 'Red Flags', a sparkly, tuneful earworm of a track about the darker side of relationships.

We asked Alexis some pressing (!) questions:

Image by bwfletcher

Let’s start at the beginning, how long have you been making music?

“We’ve all been creating music in various forms since we were young, but Blonde Diamond (which started as Youngblood) begin in 2015 with myself, Alexis, writing demos.

When it came time to translate the songs to stage, I was lucky enough to convince my best friends to add their own spin to it and we’ve been together since.”

What’s been some of the highlights, so far, on your musical journey?

“We stayed at a punk squat in Hamburg, walked the red carpet (twice!) at the Junos and had a 42 hour flight to India to play their version of Coachella - to name just a few. We feel really fortunate that this project has taken us around the world, and that we’ve met some really incredible people along the way.”

Tell us more about the single. Is there a meaning or story behind the song?

“The initial inception of ‘Red Flags’ was a way for me to process an abusive relationship that I had just escaped from. It was cathartic for me to write, but I also really wanted to have it be a sort of anthem to give others the courage to walk away from toxic situations.”

What albums do you never get tired of listening to?

“I’m a big fan of the French band Air and I pretty much rotate their whole catalogue all the time. The Strokes - Is This It, The Mars Volta - Deloused in the Comatorium, and Broken Social Scene’s You Forgot it in People are classic go-to’s as well because they were the teenage staples. I think nostalgia makes it so you’ll never tire of listening to them.”

What can we expect from you in the near future?

“We’ve got a big year planned for 2022! A handful of singles will be released in the Spring, followed by our debut full-length album! We’re really excited to dust off the pandemic cobwebs and really hit the new year in a big way.”

Taken from the debut album expected mid 2022, Red Flags is out now. Stream/Download: https://ffm.to/blondediamondredflags

http://www.blondediamondmusic.com/

Interview by Kelly Munro

Boris Johnson is Still a F****** C*** - A Warming Christmas No. 1?

Kunt (the minor internet hit singer, and Dylan-esque lyrical genius of songs such as Fucksticks and the beautiful love ballad Fred & Rose) is back with his band uh.. The Kunts with “Boris Johnson is STILL a Fucking Cunt.”

Those paying attention would know that Kunt & The Gang made number 5 in the Xmas charts with the precursor to this single: “Boris Johnson is a Fucking Kunt”.

Not that you’d have found it easily if you were looking for it, as like they did with the Sex Pistols, the No.5 slot was left blank as not to offend those who - for some odd reason - disagree with the sentiment.

However, I’m sure you don’t have to be proud lefties like us at The ZineUK to get what The Kunts are saying here. I have set myself a word count - so won’t name ALL of the reasons Boris Johnson is indeed still a fucking cunt - but you’d have to have been living under a rock to not have taken note of all the cover-ups, sleaze, illegal Christmas parties, the bills to take away the right to protest, the obvious mocking hatred to the working class, the criminalisation of the way of life for people in the GRT communities, the cronyism…. Ahem, anyway it’s Christmas.

On top of that, do we really want to tolerate LadBaby going to Number 1 for a fourth time? I can forgive the inclusion of Elton John, since 70’s John is somewhat of a style icon for me, but the cynical inclusion of Ed Sheeran? A man who is (in this ed.’s opinion) the musical equivalent of the herpes virus and manages to appear everywhere like rising damp, yet somehow, I suspect worse for your health.*

Is this how we want history to judge us?

“But it’s for charity!” The more astute of you may cry, yes but as Kunt himself points out :

“Go and buy the LadBaby single. After their recording, marketing and promotion costs have been taken out a fraction from every sale goes towards foodbanks. Or better still, if you feel they are cynically hawking their YouTube, books and sponsorship deals off the back of starving children and depravation, buy this single as a protest against them, and the fact that our so-called civilised country needs foodbanks. Then donate actual money and food to support foodbanks like we do without slimy music industry PR twats taking a cut.”

Anyway, you can buy all TEN versions of the single here and here.

You can also stream all versions below (100 streams = 1 sale, so put it on low and leave it playing for maximum impact.)

A handy playlist below:

*Not medically proven. (Yet.)

HANNAH DORMAN - Fake Heartache

We spoke to Hannah Dorman who has released a great slice of pop-esqe goodness in her new single 'Fake Heartache'.

It’s a definite pop banger with more than a nod to the 80's. She's currently killing it with her follower numbers on Tik Tok, Spotify and YouTube. We asked Hannah some pressing (!) questions below:

Tell us please, how long have you been making music?

I wrote my first song when I was eight! I used to write songs all the time at school but started really writing and performing when I was fifteen.

I played all the local open mic nights, entered various talent competitions and that’s when it all began! I then went to study music from the ages of sixteen to twenty at The Academy of Contemporary Music and went full time music in 2019.

What’s been some of your highlights so far on your musical journey?

I played an event called Scoutabout back in 2017 which was in front of thousands of Scouts and Guides. I performed on the Friday and Saturday night with my band who backed me, it was the best experience and I still have people supporting me today who were there in the crowd. It was meant to be on again in 2020 but with covid it’s been moved to 2022 and I can’t wait to be back! And of course this year building my TikTok following, I started the year with 1,000 followers and I’m now just over 285K, I’ve got new management who take care of my brand deals as I also do makeup and lifestyle videos on YouTube / TikTok. So this year has been really special for me

Your single is called 'Fake Heartache'. What is the fake thing you hate most?

I think fake people, I really pride myself on being genuine and what you see is what you get, so when people aren’t their true selves it doesn’t sit well with me.

Tell us more about the single. Is there a meaning behind the song or a story attached to it?.

I wrote this song about that feeling you get when you stop talking to someone or stop dating someone when it wasn’t that serious. You might feel a bit sad or lost but it’s not really heartache, it’s a fake heartache! I wanted this to focus on self love and finding your worth when you’re single. The lyrics in the verse say “but oh what can I say, I’ve taken your place” saying I’m now putting my time and energy into me, not into you. I wanted to put a fun twist on all the different feelings you go through when dating as it’s such an emotional time with so many ups and downs, but is so healing at the same time.

What albums do you never get tired of listening to?

McFly - radio:ACTIVE is one of my all time favourites, I don’t skip any songs and I think that’s the tell tell sign it’s a good’un!

What can we expect from you in 2022?

Next year I’m focusing on music! I really put my time and energy into building my TikTok following this year which has been so fun but now I’m ready to write and release loads of music. I’ve been co-writing with my good friend Ivon Roberts (who’s an incredible artist and songwriter, you should definitely check him out), we went to a songwriting camp together in the summer and we’re off to another in the spring so expect bops in 2022!

Interview by Kelly Munro

Fake Heartache is out now.

http://instagram.com/hannah_dorman/

http://facebook.com/hannahdormanuk

http://twitter.com/hannahdorman

https://www.tiktok.com/@hannah_dorman