- Adrianne Lenker
- Aldous Harding
- Anjimile
- Atlas Sound
- Bartees Strange
- Becky and the Birds
- Big Thief
- Buck Meek
- cumgirl8
- Daughter
- Deerhunter
- Dry Cleaning
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- Kim Deal
- Lucinda Chua
- Maria Somerville
- Scott Walker
- The Breeders
- The National
- Tkay Maidza
- Tucker Zimmerman
- Tune-Yards
- U.S. Girls
- All Artists
U.S. Girls, the moniker of Illinois-born artist Meg Remy, today releases her debut material for 4AD ahead of an album later this year.
An intoxicating fusion of thick dub flavours and Wall of Sound dramatics, new single 'Damn That Valley' reveals the inner monologue of a war widow who can find no justification for her husband's death. The track finds U.S. Girls collaborating again with producer Onakabazien, and takes its inspiration and title from American author Sebastien Junger's War memoir. The accompanying video was shot by Meg in Washington D.C, and can be watched on Muzu here, or in the player below. The track is also available to stream on all digital services here, and to purchase on iTunes here.
U.S. Girls' music has evolved from a raw 4-track fidelity found on early Siltbreeze released work, to the approachable, unabashed pop-art of recent albums U.S. Girls on KRAAK (2011) and Gem (2012); this clarity helping to "widen and universalise her music without losing a drop of what previously made it so special and personal" (Pitchfork).
A multidisciplinary artist, Meg's fiercely independent and modern brand of feminism lies at the core of her work. Her explorations of themes relating to abuse and gender inequality coupled with her narrative use of an 'everywoman' perspective in her lyrics is particularly potent. Remy consistently emerges as an essential voice above the noise, music with something at stake.
The U.S. Girls live show has undergone a similarly circuitous evolution. Whether fronting the raucous live band version, or making use of analogue backing tracks (she's travelled with reel to reel player and tape deck based set ups in the past), her hugely distinctive voice remains a transcending constant. Meg has announced a small run of North American dates down the East Coast of the US along with select European dates at small bar venues, including London on 14th May. You can see the full run below, along with ticket links.
U.S Girls - Damn That Valley on MUZU.TV
May
14th - Courtyard Theatre, London, UK [Tickets]
16th - Pop Revo Festival, Aarhus, Denmark
17th - Balzaal Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium
18th - The Rest Is Noise @ Muziekbouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands
20th - Elvis Guesthouse, New York NY, US [Tickets]