The Act: SASHA ASSAD

The Release: 'BAD NATURE'

The Format: DIGISINGLE

The Release Date: JANUARY 17TH 2023

The Digital Link: orcd.co/bad_nature

The Truth: Sasha Assad is a half-Egyptian, half Nottingham artist blending her indie-rock influences with emotive lyrics and ear-worm hooks. 'Bad Nature' is her second sprightly release on fierce panda and precedes the 'Tearstick' EP on March 1st. Sasha plays a pawful of New Year dates to coincide - more details below.

The panda crew encountered Sasha and her band supporting The Manatees at the Sebright Arms last spring and were smitten like lovelorn mittens by a sound which brilliantly mixed modern multi-cultural indiepop norms with old school collegiate rock va va voomings. It's not every evening we get to compare any new act with Blake Babies, but it's not every gig where you get to see something as enthralling and enervating as Sasha Assad.

The coolly regal 'Still' single came out in October last year. If that song focused on heartbreak then 'Bad Nature' is unlikely to raise the mood, as Sasha explains:

"Have you ever had the feeling that you’ve got a really rotten piece of yourself stuck to you? Well that’s this song. This is turning out to be quite the self loathing EP. Live, laugh, loath I always say.

"I wrote this on the same day as ‘Still’ and they sort of mirror each other I guess. 'Still' is quite a toxic song when you think about it. I mean, it’s literally about refusing to get over someone. ‘Bad Nature’ is just as shallow and selfish in that respect. So that’s what I’ve written - a shallow, selfish song!"

The Sasha Assad journey thus far has been suitably stealthy: some hometown blossomings, tying Notts in knots; BBC Introducing live love, Radio X support, a Truck Festival ruck, lotsa feeeling from This Feeling, consistently funtimes at The Dublin Castle and The Lexington and a few gentle frenzies at The Hawley Arms. Next up, the 'Bad Nature' single is launched very much like this:

TUESDAY JANUARY 9TH HACKNEY TWO PALMS
(Pandamonium '24 with China Bears + Solar Eyes)

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 16TH BIRMINGHAM HARE & HOUNDS
(with Solar Eyes)

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17TH HAGGERSTON SIGNATURE BREW
(This Feeling Big in 2024 show)

"Love this! Love this! Love this! Sasha Atlanta Assad's music is a beautiful dreamy voice perfectly surfing on top of a rough-edged aggressive structure of instrumentals! Simplicity balancing on top of monstrous complexity..." - Inpop