CloseUp // Track Of The Month #13 - Viji - ‘Down’
The countdown clock is running, the klaxons are going, it’s less than a month until this year's CloseUp Festival!! Always in North London, we takeover Colours, Hoxton on May 20th & 21st in what people (we’re) calling a musical jamboree for the ages.
Our second focus artist from CUF is eccentric soloist Viji, and her latest single ‘Down’. Dawning a new era with a debut release on much coveted LDN label Speedy Wunderground, earlier this month. The Austrian raised, LA/LDN honed artist has been rising through the capital’s underground scene with her experimental DIY bedroom-pop, continuing to excel on ‘Down’.
Speaking on the track, Viji recalls “‘Down’ is a song about tapping into your creative potential. I have this thing where the happier I am the less I create. I think a lot of artists can relate to that. There is also a short story by Murakami that follows this female protagonist who is happily living her family life, until one day she stops sleeping. She then spends all of these extra hours in the day to read, and do whatever SHE wants. Realizing that you only really claim your individualism in these moments is a big theme in my songwriting… Do you have to suffer to create?.”
Don’t miss Viji on the Saturday of CloseUp Festival 2023 at London’s Colours, May 20th. Tickets available now.
Listen now, and see you next month! CloseUp HQ x
Thrash-heavy and seismic, Hatebreed’s newest addition to their vast and rich history continues their lineage of gritted teeth and vicious pacing through yet another sharp and concise eleven tracks on ‘Fatal Paradox’.
Metamorphosis through sound. Citizen’s ability to mould and redefine themselves continually has proved yet again wildly successful through both studio and stage, delivering an unforgettable show on their current UK tour.
Emilie Reid takes us on an eighties synth driven journey on new single 'Prince of the Groove'.
Lo-fi London rockers heavy wild have just released their sophomore EP 'Paradise Forever' via Submarine Cat Records.
On a single released a couple of week before Halloween, the horror-movie style sound collage at the beginning of HOWDYPARTNER, coupled with the undoubtedly weird cover artwork, seems to offer an unsettling piece of spooky-season black magic.
Through perspiration and perseverance, Guilt Trip have hand-crafted not only the perfect tour lineup but the perfect encapsulation of everything it means to exist within the hardcore ecosystem on their recent run of shows.
“You’ll never be alone again”, sings Mancunian’s finest wordsmith Antony Szmierek, and it’s hard to argue with him after a joyous night filled with dancing in a sold-out Kentish Town Forum to his garage beats and spoken-word. Nobody felt alone that night, that’s for sure.
Back to the drawing board or serrated riffs and verbose effect compilations, Cleopatrick have returned to form with new single ’WHAAT’
There’s no venue quite like The Cluny, with its history and reputation as well as its programme of incredible bands trotting through its doors every day of the week. On Sunday it was Quiet Houses’ turn, with support from May Payne they won over the hearts of their fans, existing and new.