Manchester-based artist Xenya Genovese, the creative force behind the band Freak Slug, has released her electrifying debut album, I Blow Out Big Candles.
The aesthetics of the record echo the zeitgeist’s current obsession with aughts-era DIY and indie sleaze, creating an addictive blend of alt-rock, new wave, trip-hop, and avant-pop that gives the likes of Stereolab and Santigold a run for their money. Above all, though, it’s Genovese’s cheeky, audacious persona as Freak Slug that shines the brightest throughout the album, with her talented four-piece band giving her the space she needs to properly showcase her “raw, authentic, sometimes weird but always totally true self-expression.”
This album keeps listeners on their toes from the get-go. Through expressive, theatrical vocal delivery and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, Freak Slug introduces herself on the opening track ‘Ya Ready’ as an unreliable narrator with a tendency to make a mess of things and a determination to do things her way.
I’m not a good thing for anyone / But it’s alright! It’s alright!
And yet, she is also quick to let her sensitive, earnest side take over. Emulating the synth-pop charm of early Phoenix, the song ‘Sexy Lemon’ is a plea for love from someone unreachable. The song, written about a girl Genovese was once infatuated with from afar, perfectly encapsulates the age-old question that every queer person has asked themselves at least once: “do I want to be with them or be them?”
Though Genovese is a unique artistic force in her own right, she is unafraid to wear her influences on her sleeve. The album’s lead single, ‘Spells’, for example, is a sultry, slightly unsettling love song that draws explicit inspiration from the rock/hip-hop band Gorillaz. Guitars crunch and synths squeak over a tinny drum loop that could very well have been made in the 2009 version of GarageBand. Meanwhile, the lyrics are mischievous and bold; in Freak Slug’s world, the objects of her desire have no choice but to accept her love.
“I know you like it when I say your name / If I let I die I think it will be a shame / I’ve been casting spells with no self-control / You’re about to allow what was swallowed whole.”
‘Get Away’ is another love letter to Genovese’s musical idols; with a grungy chord progression reminiscent of Smashing Pumpkins and Pavement, Genovese pays homage to her ’90s alt-rock heroes such as Stephen Malkmus. The first verse, which romanticizes the idea of making a great escape with a lover, is followed by a sweeping instrumental refrain that seems to “fly away” of its own accord. It’s a catchy, head-bopping love song that feels sincere while still maintaining Freak Slug’s playful demeanor.
The indie-rock power ballad ‘Be Your Girl’ swings the pendulum back to the vulnerable end of the Freak Slug’s emotional spectrum. The song features lush, layered vocals and a grandiose chorus that makes the listener feel like they’re watching the end credits of a romantic comedy.
As a self-described introvert and “avoidant”, Genovese says she “struggles to feel” most of the time.
“Music that moves me is the only way that I can feel sometimes. So if I can make something that makes me feel things, that’s cool cos I don’t get that opportunity often, and if I can make other avoidant people feel things, that’s cool too.”
True to her word, I Blow Out Big Candles is jam-packed with emotional depth while still having a bit of playful bite to it. In her mission to make music that truly encapsulates her eccentricities and artistic talents, Freak Slug has created a peculiar, unpredictable, and deeply compelling world of her own.
Freak Slug has a few dates left in her UK tour before heading to the US in December. The full list of tour dates is as follows:
NOV 09 – Mutations Festival | Brighton, UK
NOV 16 – Live at Leeds In The City | Leeds, UK
DEC 03 – Genghis Cohen | LA, CA, USA
DEC 05 – Gold Diggers | LA, CA, USA
DEC 07 – Baby’s All Right | Brooklyn, NY, USA
DEC 08 – Union Pool | Brooklyn, NY, USA – SOLD OUT
DEC 10 – Schubas | Chicago, IL, USA
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