Second albums are meant to be difficult – but this is a triumph.
Wake Up, Shut Up, Work is the second album of Millie Manders and The Shutup. I experience this as a ska-adjacent, punk narrative on contemporary world problems. This album displays a vulnerable ache for a better world, whilst being a call to action.
Millie, a staunch vegan and advocate for trans rights and women’s rights, saw an opportunity to address the ongoing issue of gender inequality across all aspects of the music industry. She made it her mission to hire as many women as possible across the project: Claire Sutton, the lead singer and guitarist of pop-rock band, All Ears Avow, took on production, mixing, and mastering duties.
“Our next tour is going to have a woman photographer and sound engineer. In alternative music there isn’t enough space for non-cis male people. I want to give opportunity to women, trans women and people that aren’t cis male in a part of the industry that is very male dominated.”
Millie goes on to talk about the album.
“There are songs about feeling like you’re absolutely insane, literally sitting inside your brain and looking outside of your skull going, I don’t know if I can escape this. There’s some mental health and there’s a song about me being so shit poor that I can barely afford to eat.”
As an album, it builds beautifully, with a little rest in the middle for a heartbreak song before building in angst to a climax. Here are some of my fav songs.
‘Me Too‘
Powerful vulnerability is heard in Millie’s voice and the lyrics as she screams in allyship with victims of sexual violence, accompanied by heavy guitars. Despite the song’s titular global movement, in 2024, less than 2% of rape victims in the UK ever get justice in a court. Millie said, “For people who have been raped or abused, I want them to know that they’re not weak and it wasn’t their fault, and even if they didn’t get justice, they’ve been heard.”
‘Fun Sponge‘
An intro with guitar and drums leads into a big sax moment. Catchy hook. Upon initial listen it feels incongruously upbeat for a song about a fun sponge. Millie explains why: “I researched many different variants of the party pooper, but it was also a piss take of when women get enraged and we’re told we are the vacuum in the room, even if our feelings are valid.”
‘Halloween‘
A heartbreak song perfectly placed in the middle of the album for a bit of a light reprieve and an emotional sway. Millie really gets to show her vocal range in this song accompanied by gorgeous fiddles. ‘Halloween’ builds at a perfect pace to an all-encompassing emotional ache that fills your heart with memories of lost love. I’m imagining this is the bit where I shed a little tear at a live gig. It’s my favourite on the album.
‘Can I Get Off?‘
This catchy song covers a range of serious and brave issues, Millie speaks about the importance of having courage in your convictions, “I was desperately frightened putting that song in, but I didn’t have a choice,” says Millie. “I’ve had a lot of backlash for advocating for Palestine. I’ve lost friends, I’ve lost followers, I’ve lost fans, I lost a booking agent. But I want people to know that being confident in your political standing, and standing up for other people is right and brave. If you’re still not speaking about it, you’re a fucking coward.”
TOUR DATES:
AUGUST
Fri 23 LEEDS Handfest @ Brudenell Social Club
Sat 24 LEEDS Crash Records Instore
OCTOBER
Thu 24 BRIGHTON Patterns
Fri 25 SOUTHAMPTON 1865
Sat 26 HIGH WYCOMBE Arts Centre
Sun 27 BEDFORD Esquires
Thu 31 BIRMINGHAM Actress & Bishop
NOVEMBER
Fri 01 BRISTOL Thekla
Sat 02 EXETER Cavern
Sun 03 SHEFFIELD Yellow Arch Studios
Wed 06 HULL New Adelphi
Thu 07 NEWCASTLE Cluny 1
Fri 08 MANCHESTER Club Academy
Sat 09 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Room
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