Manchester indie label Heist Or Hit very nearly packed it all in back in 2019 when one of their main bands, the Liverpool duo Her’s, were tragically killed in a head-on road traffic collision in Arizona.
“Their energy, vibrancy and talent came to define our label” read the statement from label boss and founder Mick Scholefield at the time.
After enduring some intensely dark periods, label activities were eventually re-ignited, with the memory and spirit of Her’s driving them on. In their continued pursuit of artists that show “extraordinary pop cut with indie sensibilities”, they have developed an eye for emerging talent, most recently backing the likes of Nature TV, Super Market and Westside Cowboy.
The latter are riding high, having just won Glastonbury’s rising stars comp, sold out two consecutive nights at The Castle and bagged precious slots at Green Man and End of the Road festivals.
Next in the frame could well be Georgian, an evocative Manchester five-piece led by the enchanting singer-songwriter Georgia McKiernan.
Recorded in Magenta Studios in Amsterdam, they have so far released two tracks through Heist Or Hit, the debut Big Lips In Leather, a moody, raunchy exploration of new romance, and Soleil, an aching-yet-sumptuous desert blues ballad. Both tracks plumb the octaval depths of Georgia’s extensive range.
“Psychedelic western” has become a popular description of the band’s sound and it’s certainly a good partial fit. There are big bouts of dark-edged, slow-bend, spacious blues guitar riffs, much like Cigarettes After Sex or early Portishead, creating a sense of looming eeriness. Meanwhile, Georgia’s vocals – luxurious, sunny and yet vaguely gothic – offer dimensions both light and dark.
In fact, there are numerous paradoxes at play in the Georgian palette: A sense of nostalgic 60s wooziness runs alongside 21st century sheen; there’s a lo-fi sparseness wrapped in velvet opulence; and lyrics that nod to both hope and despair.
Given all that, there feels like a strong spiritual lineage to Hope Sandoval and, in particular, her latter work with MBV’s Colm Ó Cíosóig as The Warm Inventions. Or perhaps Dean Wareham and his post-Galaxie 500 project, Luna. But Georgia’s first musical touch points reveal a very different back story.
Georgia: “Flicking through the binder of CDs in the car, Moby tended to be a popular choice. I would always be writing my own words and melodies on top of the song, or I would attempt drumming along on my knees or the dashboard. My dad also owned the VHS tape of Adam and the Ants’ Hits. I would watch it all the way through and sing and dance along. Kings of the Wild Frontier still remains as one of my favourite albums of all time.”
Wolf Alice and The Beatles are also afforded a mention in Georgia’s list of primary influences.
While her band has crafted a uniquely spellbinding sound, no doubt, you sense that it was Georgia’s voice that really caught the attentions of Heist Or Hit. In a city so packed with exciting new talent, it requires something pretty special to stand out from the crowd.
“Having played in the Manchester music scene for a few years now, I can confidently say that Manchester is home to some excellent upcoming artists, spreading across such varied genres. The fact that the city also offers so many grassroots venues, it is a great place to gig for the first time and establish yourself as a musician or band. It’s a very supportive crowd and everybody is willing to help each other out, whether it’s a new contact they should reach out to, or lending a guitar when a string has snapped.”
Quickfire Questions with… Georgia McKiernan
Sunrise or sunset?
“Sunset. I will never wake to see a sunrise, and if I’m still awake from the night before and see the sunrise, it makes me feel ill.”
Pick three words to describe the Georgian sound
“Moody, rich, lasting.”
Who would you most like to collaborate or duet with?
“Wolf Alice. Failing that, Sims 4.”
Your favourite album of all time?
“I hate this question. It changes all the time. Right now, though, it is probably Revolver by The Beatles.”
Do you believe in ghosts?
“I don’t like thinking about this too deeply otherwise I start stressing out. I enjoy a spooky film and have had ghostly things happen to people I know. That’s all I’ll say, otherwise I won’t sleep.”
Are you a realist or an idealist?
“Realistically I do think idealistically, but I don’t think that that’s unrealistic.”
Given unlimited super-powers, what three things would you do to change the world?
“Probably what everyone else would pick. Equality for all, end world hunger and end all war.”
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Follow Georgian on Insta – @georgianbackstage – for news of gigs and future releases.
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