She Made Me Do It – And I’m So GladShe Made Me Do It - And I'm So Glad - Your Online Magazine for Hard Rock and Heavy Metal

Words & Pictures (C) Louise Phillips

She Made Me Do It, the post-punk electro-rock trio formed by Rachel Stamp members Shaheena Dax and Will Crewdson and featuring Joe Holweger on drums, return with a new three-track EP, Pulverised, their most soul-bearing release to date and a live show to make the launch as special as it could be.

Where better then than the launch pad for one of the biggest bands to come out of the UK in the last 50 years, Iron Maiden and the Cart & Horses, in London’s East End.

I’ve been to the C&H multiple times for bands but this, SMMDI’s launch event played to a good sized crowd, made up of those that know Rachel Stamp, those that have followed SMMDI since their early inception and also those who spend the evening in the famous pub upstairs above the music venue and had wandered down to see what all of the fuss was about.

With percussion powerhouse Holweger now established as a fully paid up band member, SMMDI’s sound continues to evolve from its electro-pop beginnings into a harder, more streamlined beast. The trio combine high voltage riffs, strident keyboards and smart lyrics. The new E.P. presented us with 3 new songs and with the first, Silver Lining, sees singer Dax confront feelings of grief and heartbreak to a backdrop of intense driving punky rhythms. Next, The Emotional One, with its rousing chorus, catalogues the battle between feeling and thinking in an attempt to navigate difficult relationships in a world that feels ever more chaotic and fractured. “Always so emotional, trying hard not to lose my mind’, sings Dax over Crewdson’s abrasive guitar licks as the song builds to an impassioned climax. Title track Pulverised is a naggingly insistent song about falling in love on the front line that recalls the urgency of early Psychedelic Furs, starting off at gallop before bursting into a deftly melodic refrain.

With striking artwork by regular SMMDI collaborator Pushing Normal, (based on, I am proud to say, photos by me) the EP is complemented by stylish videos for Silver Lining and The Emotional One, both directed by Craig Griffith.

The E.P. sums up their live performance perfectly and the trio are perfectly in sync when on stage. The hour and then some that they delivered was a masterclass in alt-rock and indie-rock energy. The swirling lights of the Cart & Horses venue, combined with the booming and crystal clear sound system, added to the performance proving that SMMDI have the legs, the chops and the drive to do so so much more. They will, without a doubt make for the perfect support act to a multitude of bands out there at the moment as the music, certainly when performed live, not only hits the spot but also gives us a real crossover vibe. They’d be at home supporting any one of the resurgent indie rock bands of the 90s as they would carving their own path as the music has a real modern flair to it.

I for one want to see more of this. The band have a good back catalogue and the Spotify link above will give you a good sense of what’s out there already. If you like what you here then do them a favour and pick up a copy of Pulverised is available now on CD and all digital platforms.