Album Review: Prima Queen - 'The Prize'
Prima Queen’s new album is a resounding success from the indie rockers on the rise; proving why they’re ready for the headline act as they look set to follow in the path of bands like The Big Moon and Wet Leg.
Prima Queen are a band on the rise. Having just got off an Everything Everything supporting tour they have been electric in the past supporting The Big Moon; bursting out of London’s New Cross scene. A new single, a new album – the title track ‘The Prize’ debuts in fascinating fashion including a headlining tour at Islington Assembly Hall to come.
Louise Macphail and Kristin McFadden highlight their emotional chemistry and connection that develops in a magical way – highlighting self-worth in-between relationships, confirming very much that you’re the prize and you deserve to believe in who you are. It feels like it ties the whole album together – emotional and uplifting it comes after ‘Click Bait’ and ‘Mexico’ (about a past relationship coming to the main characters’ funeral) you’re thrust straight into an all-indie belter that sets the tone for the album to come. ‘Mexico’ in particular marks a significant shift from the live version as it’s been around for what feels like an age for fans, with the band offering something new that still captures the spirit of the original track.
Modern relationships have changed and evolved in so many ways and Prima Queen’s debut album does a good job at charging right headlong into that sphere. Eleven tracks follows on from their creative origins into one of Britain’s most exciting new bands – unashamedly old school indie with the similarities to The Big Moon and The Last Dinner Party. The whole album shines on self-worth – Ugly tackles the wake of a situationship and an uneven power-dynamic – “after being let down repeatedly, coming to the painful acceptance that it will never be what you hoped for,” and this really does a good job at highlighting that.
Full of cheeky breakup songs and good humour to resonate with just about everyone; Prima Queen’s ‘Oats (Ain’t Gonna Beg)’ is a catchy, emotive single that feels incredibly rocky and is upbeat with its chorus. The relationship on the edge, the warm glow of its start and then its implosion is incredible songwriting from Louise Macphail and Kristin McFadden; finding a way to make it feel relatable regardless of the situation that you’ve been in.
It’s no surprise that they’ve supported artists like Wet Leg in the past, there’s a similar buzz to them and they even know how to have fun – a catchy Meryl Streep named song about not wanting a person anymore wondering if they’re still a vegetarian now that the ex is no longer their boyfriend, or if they changed just for her. It’s all about moving on and the difficulty of that – post-relationship dynamic is ever present. It’s a kaleidoscope of emotions on your everyday life – “it affects everything, relationships, friendships, your relationships with yourself”, it’s about moving on just as much as it is living in the moment. Songs about relationships are easy to write about as everyone has experienced them and the heartbreak but that doesn’t change how unique the song writing is here – woven together across different perspectives and sides that aren’t all the same.
Their influence on this album extends to Laura Marling and Nilufer Yanya, both artists have the same honesty that makes Prima Queen resonate so much. It’s a musical voice that arrives fully formed from the get-go and in an age where there is just so much music out there, it’s hard to get the balance right. Eleven tracks feels like the perfect span for this album – and for those worried about expanding beyond the singles It keeps up its consistency beyond the that; Woman and Child is a belter. All these worlds combine with a candid single – as every bit as powerful and earnest as their live shows. Invest in your stocks now – I saw a super-early show from them and happy to report they’ve only grown from strength to strength since.
Words by Miles Milton-Jefferies
