- Words Notion Staff
October and the Eyes picks 10 songs that inspired her EP, 'Dogs and Gods'.
New Zealand-born, London-based singer and songwriter October and the Eyes may only be 23, but she’s been involved in the world of music since she was born. Coming from a very musical family, October was always destined to make her own music.
Describing her musical style as ‘collage-rock’ (not the be confused with college rock), October pulls inspiration from the greats, such as Bauhaus, Bowie, Siouxsie Sioux and Suicide, but giving it her own modern, electronic-infused sound, thus creating something wholly unique. The product is a range of dizzying, kaleidoscopic numbers indicative of her own sonic universe.
Now, October has released her EP, ‘Dogs and Gods’, which nods to acid rock, psychobilly and post-punk, exploring the complexities of love, lust and infidelity in the modern-day. Laced with humour, it’s both nostalgic and future-forward.
To celebrate the release of her EP, October picks 10Trax that inspired it. Dive in!
"Ghost Rider" by Suicide
"Discovering Suicide was a real revelation to me - it’s so rock and roll but features zero guitars! I still can’t believe this song is just a drum machine and an organ and yet still sounds so loud and raw and chaotic. The vocal delay on Alan Vega’s vocals is something I emulate all the time. Organ punk 4 ever."
"The Narcissist" by Dean Blunt & Inga Copeland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpeNwSAdhbk"I have never been able to track down the organ sample in this! Or is it a Rhodes? I’ve got a real thing for tremolo. I tend to put it on everything - guitar, keys, you name it. It’s got a throwback quality to it, but this song is incredibly modern too. Dean Blunt is hands down one of the most talented modern producers there is and this song is nothing short of genius."
"No One’s There" by Anika
"The best appropriation of dub there ever was. I love dub drums and delayed snares. Her tomboyish, monotonous vocals really hit the sweet spot for me. And the weird wobbly synth organs! A real spooky booky song with a sick groove."
"Human Fly" by The Cramps
"The guitar tone!! The scuzzy drums! The stupid lyrics! The outfits! Everything about this band is what I aim to embody. I basically try and emulate this guitar tone every time I play. So good."
"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" by Nancy Sinatra
"I am willing to say that this might be one of the best songs ever written. This song is hot and badass and we love a strong female protagonist at the centre of a song. Lee Hazlewood who wrote the song was really onto something during this era with the whole 60’s country-pop genre he created with Nancy."
"Mass Production" by Iggy Pop
"Bowie production under an Iggy track is really a match made in heaven. When I first heard the opening siren like synth of this track I thought it was the intro to some modern electronic song, and then the drums and guitar come it and re-contextualise the whole thing. This production sounds so modern to me despite being written in 77. Incredible."
"AK-47" by Weird War
"I’m basically a big fan of anything Ian Svenonious does, but Weird War is particularly good - mixing funk and punk to create something entirely new. Michelle May’s bass playing is hot hot hot. This is the kinda music I wanna dance to."
"Rock Lobster" by The B-52’s
"Another guitar tone that I try and emulate. I basically love anything that’s a dirty cross between surf n country. I also love the organ tone. This song is so silly and so catchy and stupid but I love it! Hope to wrote a song as good as this one day."
"Bela Lugosi Is Dead" by Bauhaus
"Another rock song that’s pretty dub inspired. Again I love the delay on the snare and guitar and how it creates counter rhythm. Bauhaus were one of the inventors of goth-rock and wrote about the actor most famous for playing Dracula - Bela Lugosi. Incredibly badass. This song is nearly 10 minutes but worth every second."
"Ha" by HTRK
"I love the amalgamation of electronic and post-punk this song so effortlessly intertwines. Jonine’s vocals are sexy and effortless and the lyric “Can I be out of line? Can we get back together?” gets me every time!!! Despite the song revolving around a repeated guitar motif, it never gets boring. So simple yet so so good. Wish I wrote it."