November 12, 2018 (Newmarket, UK)
On December the 14th, to coincide with the exact date that some women first voted 100 years ago, Flaming June release their 9th EP on their own label Anchoress Records. The EP follows previous releases, “In Pursuit of Happiness,” “Rumpelstiltskin & The Perils and Promises of Womanhood” and “Nerves of Steel” amongst others which gained the band BBC 6 Music airplay (Rumpelstiltskin), a FATEA award (Nerves of Steel) and praise from prestigious author of The Vagina Monologues – Eve Ensler (In Pursuit of Happiness). They have supported Big Country, Eliza Carthy, The Men They Couldn’t Hang and played Standon Calling, Ely Folk Festival amongst others. Much has happened in the world since Flaming June’s last release in 2014. Whereas in the past, Louise Eatock’s voice - singing songs of strong female protagonists and issues such as domestic abuse - may have seemed a lonely one, with the wave of unified strength shown through the #Metoo and #TimesUp campaigns and others, the themes of this EP – unequal opportunities (The Firework Maker’s Daughter) and the victory of the suffragettes (The Women’s Battalion) appear to have an audience ready to embrace it. “The Firework Maker’s Daughter” inspired by a book by Philip Pullman of the same title tells the tale of a girl who wants to be able to make fire like her father telling him, “I can burn too.” Whilst Oblivion tackles the general denial and apathy of our political leaders in the face of overwhelming austerity and inequalities on the ground. “Drunken Assassin” is a dark comedic take on the solitary nature of our existence and “The Women’s Battalion” is a song written to celebrate 100 years since some women won the vote, to honour the legacy of the Suffragettes and Suffragists and to support those still marching in 2018. 50:50 Parliament, SOLENT WASPI, Women’s Equality Party, Centenary Action Group and Not The Job Campaign all submitted #Stillmarching slogans for the video for the song which will be the first single taken from the EP.