Fluid – single cover
Don’t take your eyes off The Red Stains. Don`t even blink. Not because the band consists of Weeping Angels that will send you back to the past (though it is a nice idea, imagine we could teleport all local right-wing boomers back to the XII century where they belong…). It is because the second you look away; the quartet will achieve another milestone in their musical journey and you seriously may miss it.
We reviewed their last single “TV Static” in May and since then The Red Stains played a tour, filmed a video, were chosen by Dave Haslam to perform at Manchester International Festival and dropped a new song “Fluid”. And the works on their debut EP are in the advanced stages. If that was your average lad band from Manchester, they would be promptly featured on every Manc themed social page, would have articles in leading regional newspapers and everyone would be passing a word of mouth to see them.
Things are always awfully quiet around female artists on the local scene. It`s easier to meet an alien vicar in a tutu on Oldham Street than find a print with Rowetta at The Manchester Store. The buzz only happens when an industry plant pretends to be from Manchester. The authentic, fierce and absolutely brilliant Mancunian female and non-binary creatives have to fend for themselves. This is why you should pay close attention to what The Red Stains are doing.
The Red Stains by Robyn Skinner
The self-described “cyborg-housewife-glitch-kitsch-supermarketcore” four piece consists of Natalie Emslie on vocals, Sterling Rose Kelly on vocals/ bass, Grace Allport on guitar, and Robyn Elliott on drums. Together thy create a cacophony of distorted guitars, chaotic keys, pop chants and empowering noise in a best homage to The Slits and Fuzzbox! that the indie circuit seen in ages.
They are also unapologetically political, tackling serious issues that few modern artists dare to do. Just listen to “Fluid”. The song is brutal, honest and scary. And it paints a picture of reality better than a thousand pages. The band wrote it to be a scalpel to “dissect the feeling of being a genderfluid being in a binary world”.
“Fluid” asks some serious questions about what constitutes a person: it is paperwork, biology or self-determination. And what do you do if you don’t feel good in your own skin. How do you look at yourself in the mirror and deal with the pressure to assign yourself a label?
So much is being said about the importance of being kind, keeping an open mind and giving space to new ideas and unconventional approaches. Anyone who has ever been to a job interview has been told how important it was to “think outside the box” and “to question the status quo”. So those qualities are sought after in business. Yet we seem to apply restricting and oppressive standards when it comes to fellow human beings and how they identify. Due to horrendous hate campaign from media and government, the UK now ranks the last among world`s 30 most developed countries for trans inclusiveness. We live in a place where children’s authors are preaching transphobia and where teenagers are killed by their classmates for being trans.
Only fools and gammons will pretend that scaremongering and demonization of non-binary and trans people have no real consequences. In the meantime nine in ten young trans adults have suicide ideations.
“Fluid” is not just a scalpel to dissect feelings. It is a song that represents a razor blade taken to the bathroom to slit your wrists because you are fed up of being questioned, denied basic rights and fighting with your own body. That shriek in the middle of a song is quite suggestive. This is the first time an underground band takes such a bold approach to the topic of alienation and depression felt by disadvantaged youth since Mina Caputo on “River Runs Red”. And mentioning Mina should not be a coincidence here. She is one of the trailblazers in music who transitioned despite the testosterone fuelled metal scene that she calls home.
By releasing “Fluid”, The Red Stains take concrete action against injustices they see. This is a bold, outspoken and creative way of sounding an alarm. Don`t just concentrate on chirpy, Shampoo-esque vocals and gritty guitars – there`s more to the quartet than just music to mosh to. The Red Stains take their place in a long line of revolutionary and brave women and queer/non-binary people who made Manchester the brand it is today. There is more to the city than Emmeline Pankhurst.
But having said that, Manchester needs to start supporting and championing local acts that stand out, who don’t take an easy road to commercial success and those who truly support the local scene at home. And this is not just limited to The Red Stains.
In August the band will follow up “Fluid” with the release of a music video satirising transphobic journalism, 1970s infomercials and gender-reveal parties.
The single premiered on June 30th and was recorded at 6dB Studio by Simon Ding Archer (The Fall, PJ Harvey)
Natalie Emslie on the set of Fluid video – photo by Abi Black
You can follow The Red Stains on socials:
https://theredstains.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/theredstains
https://www.instagram.com/theredstains
https://www.tiktok.com/@theredstains
https://theredstains.bandcamp.com
https://twitter.com/theredstains
https://www.youtube.com/@theredstains6133
https://soundcloud.com/theredstains
More reading:
https://vanadianavenue.co.uk/2023/05/01/red-stains-tv-static-single-review/
https://www.punknews.org/article/79780/the-red-stains-tv-static
If you enjoy writings on Indieterria and have a spare quid, please consider to donate to Trans organisations such as Mermaids or UK Trans Info
You can also buy merchandise from The Red Stains directly to help them continue on their journey: https://store.theredstains.co.uk/products
Malicia Dabrowicz
Indieterria 