Bacchanalia Magazine

Here at Bacchanalia, we’re always discovering beautiful tracks, old and new, so some of our contributors put their heads together to ever so generously present our readers with a few of their favourite songs. Have a read – let us know what you think, and which tracks you would add to the list!

Methamphetamines – Pearl

‘Surfer girl rockstar’ Pearl’s single, ‘Methamphetamines’ explores the vulnerable theme of substance abuse, pulling stories from her own life and her own experiences surrounding love and drugs. The single perfectly begs the question of if they really loved you would they quit and when do you draw the line and walk away to save yourself? The song turned out to be extremely relatable for some listeners who too have struggled in unhealthy relationships with users, providing them with an intimate outlet to reflect upon their memories so that they can he heal from the bad ones and appreciate any of the good. For listeners who don’t relate, they can still get a high from Pearl’s powerhouse voice reminiscent of the grittiness of Janis Joplin and Joan Jett accompanied by an iconic guitar riff straight from a 70’s stage. The standout lyrics, ‘he loved me though he never had me. He showed me what I deserve’ reflect the different shades of love, presenting beautifully how a love although short lived could be one of the most influential times of your life. So go and listen to ‘Methamphetamines’ and experience the raw but powerful song for yourself.

He’s My Man – Luvcat

‘He’s My Man’ is the latest single released by upcoming alt-rock band Luvcat, fronted by Sophie Morgan. This track is a beautifully crafted murder ballad, in which we are shown the obsessive extent of Morgan’s love through her melodic vocals and detailed lyricism. Her beloved is fated for a brutal ending – poisoned by Sophie herself to keep him eternally with her – but not to worry. This tragedy makes for a striking, flourishing climax of sound, Morgan’s desperate cry of ‘he’s my man, and I’ll love him like nobody else can’ ties everything together to make this wonderfully terrifying lovesong absolutely perfect.

Venus In Libra – Stella Scholaja

Upcoming pop singer songwriter Stella Scholaja’s single ‘Venus In Libra’ weaves the tale of a temptress ruled by astrology and the whimsical powers of Venus rather than just a man. Stella is quickly becoming the queen of 80’s synth which is sonically portrayed in this single laced with the nostalgia of Madonna and the campiness of Chappell Roan. With her siren-like vocals Stella enchants listeners to a point of obsession over her poetic lyrics and addictive sound. ‘Venus In Libra’ presents how this star is a ‘hopeful romantic’ as it celebrates the power of self-love and manifests a love that is great, accompanied by breathtaking harmonies and a satisfying drumbeat that listeners can’t help but dance too. So, bask in the sunlight of Stella’s magical lore whilst listening to the amazing ‘Venus In Libra’.

love, your “extrovert” – mayday mae!

mayday mae!, a queer indie pop artist, released their song ‘love, your “extrovert” as part of their debut EP. With a punchy bassline, reminiscent of the almost extinct garage bands that we still romanticise in a hope for their return, this song carefully navigates the feeling of being an outsider even when you work so hard to be at the centre of every friendship group. ‘A friend to all is a friend to none’ as you can only spread yourself so thin and give so much of yourself to each person. So, consequently you fade into the background of all the parties and all the inside jokes. Although the theme is quite sombre, many listeners relate to the concept as it is human nature to crave love and attention but so easy to forget that we can only be there for so many people. All the while rich vocal harmonies serenade the listener leaving them to long for more of the mysterious and marvellous mayday mae!

City on a Hill – Mon Rovîa

Folk artist Mon Rovîa’s song ‘City on a Hill’ is a stunning, mellow track with soothing guitar rhythms and layered harmonies. 

The song revolves around the feeling of peacefulness and quiet, and communicates this smoothly with flowing vocal melodies in heart-spoken lyrics; “Where you are is all that’s real.” Mon Rovîa fluently transmits the message that he wants to spread with the lyrical power he harnesses; a message of strength in turbulent times, a sign of intimacy and appreciation for living.

Mon Rovîa was rescued from war in West Africa as a child, and found a home in folk music with his new foster brothers in America. He takes inspiration from artists like Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes, and recently toured with Gregory Alan Isakov on their Appaloosa Bones Tour. He has recently been gaining well deserved popularity on social media and music platforms with his shining aura of authenticity and transparency.

City on a Hill is the fourth track from Mon Rovîa’s ‘Act 3: The Dying of Self’ EP, released earlier this year. We highly recommend that you give the entire EP a listen.

June Baby – Victoria Canal

Singer/songwriter Victoria Canal’s most recent release, June Baby, is a true blessing to the world of indie pop. Together with Ross MacDonald, the bassist from the 1975, she has managed to unironically create the ‘song of the summer.’ An energy-filled synthetic intro blending into a steady, danceable, drum rhythm (accompanied by persistent but gentle guitar strums) creates a joyful earworm of a beat that will have you dancing for weeks.

The lyrics follow a highly addictive melody which is emphasised thoroughly by the flowing chorus of harmonies that runs throughout. “Don’t hurt my feelings, unless you mean it” encompasses the humorous, liberating feeling that the song employs, joining a sense of yearning with playfulness and peace.

The build up to the bridge is exceptional in the change of melody, and strengthens the feeling of romantic tension. ‘June Baby’ truly replicates the excitement of a summer romance. If you listen to this song once, it’ll be with you for the rest of your life!

Spectre – Radiohead

Radiohead’s 2016 single Spectre, is and has been one of my all time favorite Radiohead tracks since my first listen. It was originally made for the movie Spectre 007, the James Bond film released in 2015, but was rejected. You can really hear the Bond style influences in the grand orchestral composition and chord progressions. My favorite lyric in the song is “I’m lost, I’m a ghost. Dispossessed, taken host. My hunger burns a bullet hole. Spectre of my mortal soul.” The song starts with dark and tense piano chords, but soon lightens up as the lyrics come in. The song itself is written to mirror the events taking place in the film it was originally made for, but takes a new meaning due to its lack of use. The spectre in the song is the version of ourselves that we strive to be, but is just out of reach. Things like anger, love, and self-loathing keep us from being that perfect self, no matter how hard we try.

I Want You To Love Me – Fiona Apple

This track from Fiona Apple’s fifth studio album Fetch The Bolt Cutters explores feeling comfortable with you past experiences and your current life, but still wanting love more than anything. Lines like “I’ve waited many years, every print I left upon the tracks has led me here,” and “I know when I go, all my particles disband and disperse and I’ll be back in the pulse,” describe how she knows everything happens for a reason whether she likes it or not, and how she almost finds a sense of comfort in the inevitability of death. But still, the craving of finding love overrides all. She knows that even if no one acknowledges her existence she still does in fact exist, but the insatiable craving of sharing a life with another soul is so important to her that she seemingly throws out all other ideologies. She knows this person loves her but just hasn’t said anything, and she acknowledges her bodily existence and wants to use it, not just delicately but to its full extent. 

The Rip – Portishead

This track from Portishead’s 2008 album Third is a beautiful, mostly instrumental/electronic look into mental illness, love, life, and how those three things connect. The first verse tells a story of a struggling relationship and how looking into one’s own feelings can help to save a relationship. “And as I take on myself, and the bitterness I felt, I realize that love flows.” A beautifully haunting chorus follows, and we are presented with a choice: follow the path of healing from grief, or submit to the darkness. “ Wild white horses, they will take me away. And the tenderness I feel will send the dark underneath. Will I follow?” In the final verse, an overview of the narrator’s life, we see that they have been through the trenches. “Through the glory of life, I scatter on the floor disappointed and sore.” In the following lines, we see that they are tired of this constant battle and the lies that they have been fed. “And in my thoughts I have bled for the riddles I’ve been fed. Another lie moves over.”

Words by:

Reb Jordin: Methamphetamines – Pearl, Venus In Libra – Stella Scholaja, love, your “extrovert – mayday mae!

Willow Marie: He’s My Man – Luvcat

Elsa Commander: City on a Hill – Mon Rovîa, June Baby – Victoria Canal

Clara Guillot: Spectre – Radiohead, I Want You To Love Me – Fiona Apple, The Rip – Portishead

Edited by: Willow Marie