Time Ain't Accidental

Chasing Spirits

Let There Be Music

On My Mind

Careful Let's Sleepwalk

An Inbuilt Fault

Give

Every Minute

'Why Does' Written by Roni Kaspi 

Drums, Vocals, Production and Editing - Roni Kaspi
Keys - Oxy 
Bass - Noe Berne
Instrumental tracks recorded at Krispy Studios
Mixed by Mathieu Pion 
Mastered by Pierre-Emmanuel Meriaud

Picture taken by Amit Selickter

Why Does - Roni Kaspi

Oxford City is a traditional song nearly 200 years old, but when I first read the lyrics I was reminded of things happening right now: incel culture and drink spiking. It’s tempting to think about old songs of times gone by, especially of songs dealing with the way women were treated and the awful things they faced, and say ‘wasn’t it awful back in the day, I’m so glad it’s not like that now’. While some things generally have gotten better, women still face male violence just sometimes in different forms. The poison wine in this song is a man spiking a woman’s drink to do her harm. Murdering her is an expression of rejection and jealousy which manifests as the same hate against women that incel culture feeds on: “if you won’t be my true lover, you’ll never be no other man’s bride”. 

This makes me think also of being hit on by guys who would not take no for an answer, and who were only satisfied and would only back off with an explanation (a lie) of ‘I’m taken’. Even then sometimes this can be seen as a challenge, ‘who is he, I’m better than him anyway’. This perception of women and girls as objects, as property, as prizes to be won, is so deep rooted in our culture. Whether you’re reading lyrics of a 100-year-old song or on a night out and seeing women get unwanted and persistent attention from men, the root is the same. So women have worked very hard to progress towards equality, and there is clearly still a long way to go.

Although it doesn’t feel like it in the song, the time signature is changing all the time. It feels like it reflects the 2 steps forward and one step back nature of the fight for equality. We are improving some things and still so far behind on others.
_______________________________
trad arr. Frankie Archer
recorded and produced by Frankie Archer and Jim Moray
mixed by Jim Moray
mastered by Piper Payne
artwork by Frankie Archer

Oxford City

Holysseus Fly’s vivacious fourth single from forthcoming EP Birthpool: ‘Teach Me’,  arriving 15th Sept via Severn Songs. 

Building on ‘Bloom's’ exquisite vulnerability, Holysseus Fly expands themes of empowerment with a lightness of touch on ‘Teach Me’. A knowing side-eye and challenge to undermining patriarchal voices, ‘Teach Me’ sees Holysseus Fly step even further into her power as an artist dripping in main character energy. A feminist flag in the sand delivered with signature radiantly soulful vocals and sleek choreography, conjure another spellbinding collaboration with Jack Liley on the visual too, filmed fittingly in a renovated church.

With EP Birthpool due in November, further solo dates across the UK later this year and glowing reviews at every turn, ‘Teach Me’ is further confirmation Holysseus Fly is not an artist to be underestimated or missed.

Vocalist, co-writer and pianist with critically acclaimed collective Ishmael Ensemble, Holysseus Fly has already made a powerful impression as a solo artist. Her most recent single ‘Bloom’, which details her struggle and triumph in finding a new creative identity after surviving cancer, caught the attention of everyone from BBC 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins who described it as ‘absolutely gorgeous’ to ITV News who described ‘Bloom’s’ video as ‘amazing’. With further support from Annie Mac, Jamz Supernova and Huw Stevens, and sold out solo shows in London and Bristol, Holysseus Fly’s star is very much in the ascendant.

LIVE DATES:
- Nov 23rd - The Exchange, Bristol
- Nov 24th - Corsica Studios, London
- Nov 28th - The Carlton Club, Manchester

Teach Me

Bird Machine

Stay

Why Does - Roni Kaspi

Roni Kaspi

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