Don’t Try to Comfort Me sees the three-piece group explore themes of uncertainty and alienation magnified through the lens of a post-pandemic Britain
Listen to the whole EP HERE
Glasgow rock-band Her Picture release their debut EP on 10th February 2023.
The Don’t Try to Comfort Me EPcomprises The Nature of It, I’m Still Here, My Way, and the brand-new single Don’t Try to Comfort Me, thus uniting three previously released tracks with the group’s newest composition.
The EP release follows a recent headline show at King Tut’s in Glasgow, where the intensity of the group’s expansive sound, Anny’s stunning vocal range and incisive lyrics led to a rapturous reception.
Her Picture are Anny Tahaney on lead vocals, Cat Reid on bass, and Finlay Smith on drums. The trio, along with former member Lewis Docherty, first met in Glasgow while attending the educational programme Behind the Noise, in 2017. Originally called Fauna, the group played a series of shows in their native Glasgow before evolving into Her Picture in July 2022, releasing their first single The Nature of It on 13th July.
Why Her Picture? Really, the new name was part of a renewed sense of purpose arising from a heightened urgency to create after a period of inactivity – in this case caused by the pandemic. The group’s new name alludes to one of their literary influences, relating to the Virginia Woolf novel To the Lighthouse in which the narrative follows a young artist, Lily, as she struggles through self-doubt, gendered prejudice, and other obstacles before arriving at a place where she can finally accept her craft. This happens when she finishes painting her picture at the end of the book. Her Picture.
Musically, Her Picture’s sound is big, broad, and cinematic; influenced by disparate artists including Kate Bush, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Ben Howard, Wolf Alice and Daughter, the group’s lyrics are sometimes informed by the works of writers including Audrey Lorde, Emily Dickenson and Virginia Woolf. As befits a group with wide aspirations, Her Picture also take inspiration from film scores, and how “music and visuals can work together in general,” explains Anny. “All of that bleeds into our aesthetic as a band.”
As Her Picture’s popularity rose gradually yet inexorably, their third single My Way received airplay on BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 1’s Introducing, as well as Amazing Radio in both the UK and the US. After recently supporting Swim School at their sell-out show in Glasgow, the group played their biggest headline show to date at Glasgow’s legendary King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. Next, Her Picture will be playing a sold out, stripped-back live show for Sofar Sounds Edinburgh on 15th February, to celebrate the release of the new EP (venue tba), as well as the Stag and Dagger Festival in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, on 29th & 30th April.
Don’t Try to Comfort Me was produced and mixed by Jamie Holmes and mastered by Robin Sutherland at Castle of Doom studios in Glasgow. Don’t Try to Comfort Me will be available digitally from today, 10th February.
The full track-listing is:
The Nature of It
I’m Still Here
My Way
Don’t Try to Comfort Me
