Ryan's Gig Guide - October 2018

traits and 3D collages of childhood items adorn the artwork for her music, re- flecting the innocence of youth’s unbroken heart and her contrasting life as an ad- venturous musician.“After finding myself in a happy rela- tionship after a long period of sadness, this record enabled me to ruminate and find ways of creating beauty where there was once pain. I’m the strongest I’ve ever been be- cause of all I’ve been through,” she says. As the shows rolled on around the UK and Europe, the pain gradually eased.Tour dates with Carina Round (Puscifer), GingerWildheart, Amanda Palmer and Babybird ensued, plus invitations from Robin Ince, Professor Brian Cox and astronaut Chris Hadfield to perform at Lon- don’s Royal Albert Hall and Hammersmith Apollo on bills with Stewart Lee, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Public Service Broadcasting. Brace For Impact, however, came to life at home.“The album was written in a happy place, using the first real home I ever made to create and contain the music. It’s been a very productive space,” she beams. Creating the music in the solitary quiet of her home studio, she ar- ranged each part before en- listing engineer Dan Austin (Doves, Pixies) and select guest musicians to bring her vision to life in Bristol studios Joe’s Garage (run by Joe Gar- cia) and J&J (run by Jim Barr of Portishead). Catching the attention of punk peer John Robb, not to mention radio DJs on 6Music (Steve Lamacq, Marc Riley, Lauren Laverne,Tom Robin- son), XFM (John Kennedy), Kerrang (Alex Baker) and Amazing Radio (Shell Zenner and Jim Gellatly), She Makes War is powered by songwrit- ing that heals those who hear it.The new songs brim with the powerful personality of 90s Britpop babes Dubstar, Echobelly, Blur and Elastica via the gutsy riffage ofWeezer, Soundgarden and Sleater-Kin- ney.The grunge pop of ‘Weary Bird’ offers a brazen nod to Nirvana, sung with a wry smile “Dear Heart” is more sinister than initially meets the ear and, at the end of the album, Suede’s Neil Codling even makes a guest appearance. But it’s perhaps those closer to home who have had the most impact on She Makes War’s self-made indepen- dence; from being taught how to sing and play recorder aged 3 to playing bass for Viv Albertine and listening to the music of her great grand- mother, it has always been her destiny to make music with a human connection. “My great grandmother May played piano live over silent films and had her own band The Melodymakers. I’ll always be grateful to my music teacher June Banks who taught me how to read books, read music and let my voice flow out of my body. Most recently Tracey Thorn’s books have been a big inspira- tion. She has consistently made music and through that, learned so much about her- self. I feel like I’m on a similar journey of exploration.” Released on her own imprint My Big Sister recordings, Brace for Impact is the third SMW record to have been entirely funded through a PledgeMusic campaign. It shot into the top 10 albums trend- ing worldwide and saw fans coming out in the thousands to support her vision.“I’ve never wanted to wait around for the old guard to validate and endorse me – my whole career has been about making the art I want to and finding a way to get it to people.” It’s without doubt Brace for Im- pact will offer a hand and take care of business as any strong sibling should.“I’m here to share my stories and show my audience I hear and see them too. It’s human nature, to want to know you’re not alone.” Lisa Durrant / Just The Type  www.shemakeswar.com rgg Oct 2018 7 www.ryansgigguide.com