GIYA spins Father-Daughter memories in her EP ‘Odd Fish’
London-based alt-pop singer-songwriter GIYA releases her new single ‘Spin The Record’ out everywhere on 17 August. The track is the latest single from her new EP ‘ODD FISH’, also out on 17 August.
Born and raised in SW London, GIYA’s music has that unique ability of drawing you in and punching you straight in the gut. Off the back of supporting Hak Baker on tour, GIYA burst onto the scene with her debut 2020 EP ‘Almost Real’. Seamlessly merging folk with hip-hop, and pop sensibilities with hints of left-field indie, all wrapped up in her distinctively soulful vocals, GIYA has built something profound and honest – a sound that is intimately her own.
Naming artists like Jamie T and Amy Winehouse as her main influences, ‘Spin The Record’ is a powerful song about father-daughter relationships. GIYA’s most emotionally raw work to date, the lyrics describe the ups and downs of their bond and the frustrations that can arise when pride and anger cloud the love two people have for each other. It is a testament to the depth of emotion that GIYA brings to her music and her ability to connect with her audience on a disarming level.
Speaking of the track, she says, “Thankfully things between me and my father are much better now, and as difficult as it is to listen back to the track, it also shows how much we have healed from what was a difficult past. In the process of releasing this song, we have also had long overdue conversations, discussing what really happened and healing old wounds. I hope this song can start similar conversations for people in the same boat. With the perspective of time, listening to this song now really shows me that holding grudges is never worth it, and no matter how bad things might seem, it’s never too late.”
It’s a piece of work that cements GIYA’s reputation for no nonsense storytelling, and music which at its core, is intended to hit you where it hurts.
GIYA’s upcoming EP features the already released single ‘junk house’ which landed a coveted spot on Wonderland Magazine’s ‘Wonderlist’. A track about her time in the ‘junk house’ (her student house through COVID), GIYA provides a snapshot for what real youth culture is like, the stuff that the parents don’t see; she’s spilling the beans, and it sounds fantastic.
“I wanted to document the chaos, the video, the song, and the artwork are the truest snapshot of that time, being young wreckheads knowing that the fun had a big fat expiry date. It was pure carnage, but it was magic.”
‘4 once’ is GIYA’s love letter to London. In a city where the air is soaked with diversity, creativity and resilience, each corner of London has a different creative edge that can be found within her music. GIYA has mastered the art of having a gritty, urban and quintessential London sound that mixes and blends in with polished, pop sensibilities. ‘foggy hearts’ presents an emotional message and acts as an ode to lives not lived, and peers who have lost their way, and are struggling to find their place.
Part of the Lonesome Dog collective (Hak Baker, Royal 2000, Conor Henry and more), GIYA now plays bass in Hak Baker’s band, recently supporting Jamie T at Finsbury Park, and will be joining him on his upcoming UK and EU tours, plus his Little Simz support tour lined up in the autumn.
GIYA’s previously released EP singles were featured on Wonderland, Earmilk and The Unsigned Guide, and her London launch show was a sellout. With ‘junk house’ amassing 40,000 streams in under 3 months, GIYA’s reputation for “stunningly written songs for the people” (Hut Sound) certainly rings true.
With a Glastonbury 2022 performance under her belt, praise from BBC Introducing London and BBC Introducing South and the imminent arrival of her new EP ‘ODD FISH’, 2023 shows no signs of slowing down for the multifaceted artist. Watch this space.
