Such influences and ideas are explored in a ‘The Same Water’, a short documentary based around Katie Spencer’s work. The film, which originally premiered at Kardomah94 in Hull, began as a series of recordings taken from a live session for local charity, The Warren. Intrigued by the atmosphere and inherent flow of the songs, director Patrick Mateer decided to expand the videos into a short film centering on Spencer’s creative process and personality. As Mateer explains:

“I was inspired by Katie’s music – and at first, the song “Drinking The Same Water” in particular – I wanted to look at how I could visually reflect the themes and emotions of the songs. The heartbeat of the film is Katie’s storytelling through her lyrics and I used these, along with the interview footage we filmed, to weave a narrative amongst the songs that tells us who Katie is and why she makes the music she does.”

We’re delighted to share the film for the first time online. With songs interspersed with intimate and insightful interview sequences, as well as lovely scenic shots of Hull and East Yorkshire, it makes for a pretty inspiring listen. In a world where so called millennials are labelled vapid and superficial, young artists don’t often get the opportunity to reflect on their ideas and aims, and it’s a testament to Mateer and Spencer herself that ‘The Same Water’ allows the latter and disproves the former.

The film was commissioned by Warren Records who are a PRS For Music Foundation Talent Development Parter, and the music is being released as an EP, aptly titled Live Soundtrack to a Short Film, which you can get on CD/digital via the Katie Spencer Bandcamp page. In addition, Spencer is currently working on her debut album alongside Brian Young, featuring Ted McKenna, Foss Paterson and Danny Thompson, so be sure to keep an eye on her website for further news, and be sure to listen to more of her music via Soundcloud. You can find out more about Patrick Mateer via his website.

Photograph by Patrick Mateer

The post Video Premiere: Katie Spencer – ‘The Same Water’ appeared first on Various Small Flames.

The single sees Serial Chiller kick against the false worlds people inhabit online (think carefully manicured Facebook profiles and Instagram point-scoring). As Sam from the band explains.

“I tried to put to paper the intertwining mind fuck that is internet culture… Its about the egotistical borderline obsessive creation of another world through the use of social media, there is no individuality only concepts of self. Its about those people who believe their tongue is a lost scroll of a beat poet, as it unravels you realise you’re wasting your time.”

The track is part fun and catchy, part fuzzy lo-fi rock song, the music exuding a reassuringly DIY vibe that extends right the way down to the pencil-scribbled artwork. The track combines some pretty lofty, complex thoughts with simple energy before eventually devolving into a blazing finale, all clattered drums and punky yelps.

“You spend too much time talking about yourself
and its all too intertextual
cross reference with the books on your shelf
hollow talk of an intellectual

That night, it was a waste of time”

B-side ‘Fuck Right Off’ sounds like Pavement’s slacker rock on a particularly bad day, bored and frustrated and generally misanthropic, only lurching forward because it has nothing better to do. That’s not to say the song isn’t a lot of fun though, the smidgen of irony ensuring these slackers still know how to chill.

You can get Life’s Rough on CD or digital download via the Warren Records Bandcamp page.

The post Serial Chiller – Life’s Rough appeared first on Various Small Flames.