Belfast Based Riot Grrl Band Rose Fatale Release ‘So Mature’ (Irish Riot Grrl)
Great art holds a mirror up to the world; exposing its many flaws, highlighting its beauty and screams back the question we are all too afraid to ask. It’s this dichotomy that Rose Fatale bring to their new single ‘So Mature’. A riotous three and a half minutes inspired by 90’s riot grrrl queens Bikini Kill, Hole and Babes In Toyland. Amidst the cranked guitars, vocalist Anna wraps her sardonic tongue around the normalisation of grooming by those in a position of influence in the music scene. A situation which, regrettably, happens all to often. The band aren’t afraid to cast their eye over the world around them and set their sights on its shortcomings. The beauty of self-expression through music juxtaposed with the rage that fuels it, means they leave the mirror fractured and broken.
The bands existence is an opposition to behaviours that no one should be forced to endure. Born in a bathroom stall as Anna furiously wrote lyrics following an unsolicited encounter in a club. This became the impetus for her writing debut single ‘Psycho Bitch’. The acoustic guitar she wrote the song on wasn’t able to express the attitude and emotion of the song, so she drafted in brother Liam(guitar), band mates from a previous band Cleo(bass) and Josh(drums) and finally Jenny(guitar). The additional instrumentation and volume lent itself to the intent behind the song and the band. With a strong socio-political message at their core Rose Fatale became the vehicle for the members to express their disdain.
The scream that begins new single ‘So Mature’ was captured during the recording process as a christening party raged below the recording studio. One of those happy magic accidents that you then can’t imagine the song without. It seems apt given the subject matter and sets the tone for the next 3 minutes. Punk rock overdriven guitars fill out the song, Josh’s drums propel things forward with machine gun fills over the snare and toms with some Stuart Copeland-esque bell and hi-hat work. Cleo’s bass is a melodic counter part for Anna’s vocals, adding some sea-sick slides to the pre-chorus along with the tension building guitars. The chorus hits and the band don’t hold back, Liams ascending lead part helps add energy along with Josh’s hi-hats. Lyrically, Anna adopts a Trojan Horse approach, wrapping a serious message up in sarcasm with a knowing elbow to the ribs. ‘He’ll give you the time of your life, he’s had plenty of practice, he’s a man of 29’ follows the hook of the song ‘You’re 17, you’re so mature for your age’. It’s a deft way to handle an emotive and sensitive subject. A screaming solo, and some dying distortion takes us into the middle of the song for a complete tone change as the band pull back and get dark, before they launch into the final charge.
To capture their raw emotion and energy, the band turned to Jonny Woods at his 1980 Something Studios, a studio now synonymous with the Norther Irish music scene. The band also employed James Foy of Wynona Bleach to help produce the song. With final touches added to the track by Jon Moorehead of Moosetronix as he mastered the track.
The band decided upon a performance video to help give a taste of the energy of a Rose Fatale live show. Shot and edited by Eoin Bannon with animations and lighting changes over the duration helping drive home the emotion and narrative of the song.
‘So Mature’ may only be the second release from the band, but it’s a band confident in their sound and message. Uncompromising in delivering what they believe cannot go unchecked and aiming to instigate change for the better. The bands sound may be based in riot grrrl but benefits from a wider range of influences helping give them their own singular voice and sound.