Her's - Songs of Her's
Her’s were an indie-rock band consisting of Stephen Fitzpatrick and Audun Laading, they were based in Liverpool and held their meet cute at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (more commonly known as ‘LIPA’).
Her’s compilation album ‘Songs of Her’s’ was released in 2017, and in my humble opinion a definitive album of the indie genre. It opens with the track ‘Dorothy’, a song which instantly inundates its listener with its jangly dream-pop-esque riffs and a bass line which is so groovy that even the most notorious funk hater you know could be converted.
‘Cool with You’ is the song which introduced me to the world of Her’s – sixteen and studying for my GCSE’s, deep in a grunge phase with Nirvana plastered all over my wall, Her’s lured me from the dark pits of grunge into the heavenly realm of dreamy indie. ‘Cool with You’ emanates romance, both instrumentally and lyrically. It feels like a warm hug, a cosy blanket, the perfect soundtrack to watch a rainy day from your window.
‘Marcel’ has a wacky origin story – while in a vintage shop Fitzpatrick and Laading were searching for a new wallet and fell upon one which contained an old ID card of a man by the name of Marcel, they searched for the man and discovered that he had sadly passed away, and so like the gentlemen they were, dedicated a song to his memory. Her’s were not a band to stick to one sound, and ‘Marcel’ is no exception – the last minute of the song includes what one could only describe as scat, who needs words anyway?
‘Speed Racer’ is a tongue in cheek, hyper-active, number exploring the psyche of an egotist on the prowl for a one-night stand. Now, that doesn’t sound like a good time, but trust me – it is. Its fast-paced vocals, untamed bass lines (oozing with funk), and synchronised clapping result in a newfound respect for the speed racer, and a profound feeling to jump around.
‘What Once Was’ is my personal favourite – it is a song I connect with on many levels, and has many different meanings. Loss is one of the worst human experiences, and we all have dealt with it in some shape or form – it results in a tumultuous wave of emotions, and it can be hard to put into words how it feels. Somehow, Her’s encapsulated this tumultuous wave in ‘What Once Was’ – the yearning for the past, when nothing had changed. Not only do they manage to do this, but they do it in such a beautiful way – it is the definition of melancholic. Let yourself be sad, but also let yourself be happy.
Stephen Fitzpatrick and Audun Laading tragically lost their lives in a car accident while touring North America in 2019, they were two incredibly talented young musicians who were taken too soon. I am grateful we can celebrate their artistry, their lives, and the phenomenal work that they left. Stephen Fitzpatrick had such a distinct voice and Audun Laading was an insanely talented bassist – Her’s will continue to be missed and continue to be appreciated for their contribution to the indie genre and the Liverpool music scene.