With their debut album CD due later in the year, SASSYHIYA give us a preview of their effusive, joyful, radical indiepop with new single ‘Kristen Stewart’.
An unabashed love letter to a queer icon, ‘Kristen Stewart’ could be the most upbeat single of the summer.
The single will be available on all streaming services and as a very limited (only 50 copies!) lathe-cut 7” single with its own zine, compiled by Sassyhiya’s Helen and Kathy. The 7” single is available exclusively at the Skep Wax Bandcamp site.
Sassyhiya’s Helen is a long-time Kristen Stewart fan; the single is an ode to Kristen and her status as a queer icon/pin up. Helen says: “I wanted to do a song about her because I think she’s ace and makes great choices when it comes to roles. She’s grown up in the public eye and has still managed to become the person we absolutely hoped she would – someone proud of her queerness plus she’s really cool and fun.”
The song features a section about a real-life near-encounter with the star, when Helen saw her filming a scene for Spencer at a nearby Kentucky Fried Chicken on the Old Kent Road. “I stood right next to her while she was dressed as Princess Di but chickened out (pardon the pun) of saying hello.”
“It’s a catchy fun song that everyone can enjoy but I really hope it resonates with queer people. I love the idea of putting something out there into pop culture that reflects the love that the LGBTQ+ community have for Kristen, and that puts a queer spin on the celebrity-inspired pop song. I would love, love, love to hear it played in a queer space or at a lesbian club.”
Sassyhiya are real-life as well as musical partners Kathy Wright and Helen Skinner. Shortly after meeting at a Rollerderby game (where Kathy was skating for the amazingly named “Ultraviolent Femmes”), the couple had their first date at an Austra show in 2011 and have been bonded in music ever since.
A mixture of Television and The Sundays, Sassyhiya are the sweet spot between post-punk and indie pop. They know their way around a melody but still keep it wonky. Their influences range from the Breeders and Broadcast to The Go Betweens and Dolly Parton.
After Helen finished playing bass in Boys Forever and Basic Plumbing (much missed Veronica Falls musician Patrick Doyle’s final projects), the couple joined with friends Bart McDonagh and Mark Amura to create the cult South London LGBTQ+ band Barry.
As Sassyhiya, they released an EP in January 2022 (Gum demos), which was written, played, recorded, and mixed themselves at home in Peckham over lockdown. A second EP (Live at Paper Dress Vintage) followed in November 2022, showcasing the band’s new live line up featuring Pablo Paganotto (of Punching Swans) on drums and Neiloy Mookherjee on guitar. They have recorded a live session for Resonance FM and were featured on an episode of cult YouTube music programme Cutscene TV. They have also been included on compilations for Loud Women and Related Records. They have shared bills with the likes of Fat White Family’s Brian Destiny, Big Joanie, Mr Ben and the Bens, Cable Ties, Fightmilk, Breakup Haircut, Lande Hekt and Snoozers.
Sassyhiya’s album ‘Take You Somewhere’ will be released on 8 November 2024.
IG: @sassyhiya @skepwax
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