Bacchanalia Magazine

by Reb Jordin

On March 1st Mother Said, a Leeds based art-rock band, released their third single ‘Stigmata’ after much anticipation from fans. Fronted by two female lead singers, ‘Stigmata’ beautifully captures the heart of female rage and the soul of the riot grrrl movement, creating a wave of nostalgia throughout their music whilst remaining original to themselves and their own powerhouse sound.

The punchy song opens amongst a passionate march of relentless bass and a pounding drum beat soon joined by the evocative notes of an electric guitar. The enticing vocals of Katie Moy and Amber Johnson are mixed in next creating a sense of mystery with the haunting lyrics, ‘the stringless puppet cascades around town. Adorned in the style of a designer clown’ painting the picture of someone free of the world’s restraints and celebrating their individuality. This moment of eerie celebration is followed by the lyrics, ‘photos taken of lifeless eyes. Calls to attention the belligerent hives’ which are reminiscent of society praying on those who appear different and draining them of their eccentrics. In doing this, it weakens everyone to the point of unoriginality as society is deceitful and ignorant so fears the unknown until it can gain its power back. The theme of a corrupt society is called back soon after, within the gothic lyrics, ‘they crowd and swarm the festering corpse. Climb inside and steal its thoughts’ which weave a grotesque tapestry telling the brutal story of society targeting those they categorise as unique or too weak to defend themselves, so their small minds can then reestablish authority at the expense of others.

The music builds into the killer chorus provoking the listener into dancing in utter shock. We enter the chorus through the battle cry of ‘Stigmata’, followed by the wrathful vocals of Moy and Johnson mirroring the bloodshed of an ancient war. The title conveys being tainted by society whilst also reflecting on religious imagery, a theme previously explored in Mother Saids’s other work like their second single ‘Catholic Guilt’. This presents to the listener that the effects of religion can also scar someone if that power is abused, which could be a very cathartic experience as they reflect on their own lives and their own experiences surrounding religion and society.

‘Stigmata’ then goes on to explore the aftereffects of the cruel world through the lyrics, ‘the stringless puppet no longer cares’ which juxtapose the opening lyrics completely as any revelry has been banished and society has marked and drained another. This demonstrates to the listener the dishonourable nature of the society in which we live and that they must fight to protect their individuality as they swim through an ocean of power-hungry sharks.

It is safe to say that Mother Said will join the likes of the greats, with a sound reminiscent of Bikini Kill they cement themselves as a modern spin on the post-punk new wave of music. So go and give ‘Stigmata’ a listen now and join in with the feminine urge to resent a world which keeps failing us. Give Mother Said’s other two singles ‘Tallulah’ and ‘Catholic Guilt’ a listen now too as we anticipate what comes next for this already flourishing and extremely talented band.