Bristol-based band DAMEFRISØR have announced their debut EP ‘Island of Light’, due for release 24th February 2023 via Permanent Creeps Records. The EP follows previous singles “Do You Think I’m Special?” and the BBC 6 Music-playlisted “2-HEH-V”.
The ‘Island of Light’ EP was recorded with Alex Greaves (Working Men’s Club, bdrmm, Lice) at The Nave Studios, Leeds.
The EP’s first taster is the epic, widescreen “Horizon” which builds on the texturally rich soundscape the band have already laid. “Horizon” sees the band fuse club and dance influences with the industrial and post-rock heard in their earlier work, as they venture on the next step of their musical evolution – led by frontman Kazhi Jahfar’s assertive vocals and lyrics.
Speaking on the themes of the new single, Jahfar says:
“Horizon focuses on my observations and experiences of the people who the city relies on to function, and yet they are constantly made to feel expendable… My partner, mum, sister, myself and a lot of friends around me were working hard during the pandemic and this was definitely a big subconscious inspiration for the record, and this song in particular. We’ve never written anything intentionally political, but I think as an artist it would be practically impossible to create anything that didn’t in some way relate to what we’ve all been going through these past 3 years.”
The new single ‘Horizon’ has already become a main-stay in the band’s captivating live set, one that has seen them support such names as; Squid, Katy J Pearson, Walt Disco and Folly Group as well as sets on the main stage of this year’s Bristol Dot to Dot Festival, Cardiff’s Sŵn Festival and Dark Arts in Leeds.
Behind the recording of the EP was the emphasis to expand upon the band’s sound and Jahfar states how their choice of producer (Alex Greaves) was key in this:
“The EP really feels like a natural progression since the last two singles came out. We set out to write these songs with the intention of creating more space in our music, and to further explore the mix of natural and industrial sounds. Before getting to the studio to record, the songs were in a basic stage; the ideas were there but far from formed.”
“Working with Alex really brought these songs together, he had some great ideas and techniques that strongly contributed to making our ideas become a reality. Beingable to spend time working on each individual element in great depths has resulted in a record that were all really proud of, and equally grateful to Alex for helping to bring our ideas to life.”
The lyrics on the EP were written as a collaborative effort between singer Kazhi Jahfar and drummer Nyle Dowd; drawing inspiration from observations and their own experiences. They follow themes of; different types of characters that you come across in everyday life, perceptions of the general public, and how we as people can imagine the public viewing themselves.
Meanwhile, the band sought the help of London based artist, Greg Orrom Swan to help conceive the visuals to accompany the music. “We instantly fell in love with Greg’s work, and his ability to create images that combine the organic with the digital which we felt fitted perfectly with the sonic themes across the record”. Cyanotype; the process used for the EP’s cover uses sunlight and iron salt solutions, a process which produces varying and unique results something that is reflected in the band’s music, as Kazhi notes “…this process resonated with us because we tend to use a lot of modular synth in our music writing, and we love how the randomised nature of the artwork relates to elements of the music on the EP.”
DAMEFRISØR’s debut EP ‘Island Of Light’ is out 24th February ’23 and available to preorder on exclusive “cyano blue” vinyl from Rough Trade here (limited to 100). Also available from your favourite indie shop on “ulexite white” vinyl here. New single “Horizon” is out now via Permanent Creeps Records.
