song & video premiere
Gemma Rogers
Death Knocked Up (DKU)
Out now.
You might remember Gemma Rogers from such cult summer hits as My Idea of Fun or from sitting in for Steve Lamacq a while back on 6-Music. She is back with a typically visceral yet philosophical track from her forthcoming ‘No Future’ EP on the newly-formed sister label to punk stable Holy Dotage. The song is great, the video is dark and the background fascinating, says Ged Babey.
There has never actually been any reason to assume that God is a man, he’s not in this song. Or the Devil for that matter – who was a female in (the admittedly terrible 2000 remake of the movie) Bedazzled. So it’s perfectly logical that Death – hooded individual, grim, with a scythe – could well be a woman. It’s a pretty fair bet I’d say.
‘DKU’ – or “Death knocked up” – was inspired by the novel ‘Mrs Death Misses Death’, written by Gemma Rogers’ friend, the poet and performer Salena Godden.
“I thought it was interesting to get under the skin of death as a being with a conscience,”
Rogers says, “but who had to get on with the job like so many of us. We wanted to explore
the idea that people are more than their jobs and that we need to consider there’s more to
people than meets the eye. We liked the idea of death giving birth as well, so Death became a woman and why not?”
With its central refrain of “life’s too short for being boring,” the track is a burst of instantly
infectious guitar pop energy with exquisite synth trimmings. (says the Press Release)
I like Gemma Rogers for her lyrics, delivery and the fact that she just seems as cool as fuck.
When she first emerged comparisons to Lily Allen (the fringe and glottal stops) were off-putting as Rogers is more literate & art school, than stage school nepo-brat. Gemma is more like a London pop equivalent to New Yorks Shilpa Ray – who is ‘God’ rather than Death according to the LTW review of her last album.
The DKU video, directed by Louis Norton Selzer is a great piece of work, gritty noir-ish, dark and cinematic. The lyric and cinematography nod knowingly to Trainspotting.
Since releasing her debut album ‘No Place Like Home’ in 2022, she’s picked up radio support from Steve Lamacq – who rated it as one of his top ten albums of that year – BBC 6 Music, a live Radio 4 performance, played at Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party and opened up for Paolo Nutini in Brighton’s Stanmer Park. ….Her snapshot lyrical styling delivers provocative personal and political convictions in an emotionally direct and often humorous way.
The first taster for the forthcoming EP came out two months back, and it’s a great piece of classy socio-political pop.
Gemma Rogers should be a fucking star by now. Wit, style, class, looks, brains and importantly, great songs with a depth which mean they are art as well as pop.
Tie all that up with ideas from modern literature and the best in new British film-making and Death Knocked Up is the full package.
‘No Future’ EP is out on 12” vinyl and digital platforms on September 20.
LIVE DATES 2024
Secret Garden Party – July 26th
Ramsgate Festival Of Sound – Aug 25th
Dash The Henge – In Store – Sept 19th
Bedford Esquires – Sept 20th
Bristol Plough – Sept 26th
Streaming Links for DKU
Official Website
Instagram
Facebook
All words Ged Babey with Press release content in italics
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