United Kingdom
I’m Angelika, a journalist and editor of Hideous Magazine
Bylines include, The Guardian, Polyester, DAZED, SoYoung, DIY, Clast, Hard of Hearing and Hideous Mag.
Many of us struggle with feelings of sadness on our birthdays every year - here, we unpack the psychology behind the phenomenon
Words by Angelika May A departure from The Shades' first EP Grin & Bare It, Shifting Sands marks a noticeable shift in tone and texture. Where the earlier record leaned into a certain jauntiness and outward energy, this release brings a gentler, more restrained tenderness.
Silver Gore's sound continues to resist confinement, blending experimental rock, alt pop, and glitchy folk into spontaneous, instinct-led recordings that feel alive in the moment of their creation.
Words by Angelika MayPhotography by Anya RoseYou may remember the hazy days of your youth consisted of scrolling through Tumblr, soundtracked by a certain woozy indie band - the kings of Indie Sleaze, Swim Deep. Lucky enough for you, Swim Deep are releasing their 5th studio album, Hum, on the 19th of June via Submarine Cat.
Finding comfort in sharing a bed with someone has always been a human remedy. Who we choose to receive this affection from has historically depended on our romantic circles, but in an age increasingly defined by dating fatigue, emotional burnout and singledom
Words by Angelika May Scantily clad, and idiosyncratically layered, multi-hyphenate creatives spill into the belly of lost - the experimental clubnight that's been steadily gaining traction since launching last year. Tonight's bill: Fast Money Music.
Words by Angelika May Is it really grim up North? Do you feel a sense of elation or despondency as you trudge further up the M1? Is the sky truly that grey?
Blending ethereal rock with folk and shoegaze influences, THEATRE has crafted a sound that is nostalgic and forward thinking for a new, alternative generation.
mry's exploration of memory, desire, and emotional tension is beautifully matched by their understated visual and textual choices.
The new single, 'Pulse, Pose, Position', by Glasgow risers Tanzana is alchemical, theatrical, and perfectly witchy for the current zeitgeist of modern mystical beings.
'Carried Away', the latest single from London-based French four-piece Huarinami, is a fiery, dynamic burst of early punk-inflected sounds...
There is a beautiful, yet frustrating tension in the song's construction, guitars compressed and concentrated, aching to rupture, whilst the voice above never fully yields. It is this teasing restraint that makes the track all the more powerful.
Wuthering Heights is inseparable from its landscape - but northern actors seldom get the lead role, instead are pigeonholed as stereotypical or supporting characters. This Bradford-born actor objects
Bleech 9:3's latest release 'Cannonball', is undeniably a song for January; dark, reflective and charged with emotional turmoil.
Words by Angelika May Austin Psych fest, which launched in 2008 caused a ripple effect on the global music scene. Founded by The Black Angels and their friends, the festival tapped into the city's rich psychedelic rock lineage. By 2015, the festival had been reborn as LEVITATION, which was a nod to Austin's legendary 13th Floor Elevators.
Words by Angelika May Wide Awake is certainly known as London's one of London's most vital festivals within the community. It is a space where grassroots music and top-tier artists collide to unionise over radical expression and phenomenal performances.
Words by Angelika MayIn the world of Rabbit, nostalgia twines with thorns, and fantasy walks hand-in-hand with craftsmanship. I sat down with designer Sophie Spratley (AKA Rabbit Baby) during the height of summer to explore how childhood imagination, music, and tactile tradition shape their creative universe.
Words by Angelika MayAh, comfort - many of us find rewatching old series as soothing as reuniting with an old friend. But how would it feel to get that same innate sense of companionship - like being at the pub with your best friends, laughing, joking, and indulging in a bit of tomfoolery - from a band?
Words by Angelika May When I am old and grey, my skin lined and furrowed, I will look back to the celestial nights of my youth.
In collaboration with designer Sofia Sanchez
Words by Angelika May Wide Awake's fifth year certainly cemented the festival's place as a key platform elevating and showcasing the immense talent of London's grassroots and underground music scene. However, this year, there seemed to be an undeniably charged undercurrent beneath the surface.
Words by Angelika May Constant Noise, the latest release from Benefits, following their explosive 2023 album Nails, is a relentless barrage of sonic intensity and a visceral symphony of pleasure, pain and resilience under a tyrannical socio-economic situation.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya RoseViddy's latest EP, Dangerous Feel to Relax (DFTR), is a continuation of self-discovery, following her debut EP, The Girlfriend Experience. DFTR reflects a more complex and conflicted state of mind, capturing the guilt of feeling comfortable and the fear that stability might dull creative expression, though that's certainly not the case here.
Words by Angelika MayDead Writers' latest single, Meet The Shadow (released on February 28th), delves into the darker aspects of the human psyche through its post-punk, alternative rock sound. Inspired by Carl Jung's 'shadow self' theory, the song explores themes of self-doubt, inner conflict, and the search for self-acceptance.
Live festival coverage featuring Waxhead
Live festival coverage featuring Ugly
Live festival coverage featuring Friedberg
Live on-site festival coverage featuring Benefits
Live festival coverage and interview with Black Bordello
Issue 2. Print
Issue 2. Print
Issue.2 Print edition
Hideous Magazine's Album of the Year list is here, highlighting records that capture the full spectrum of human emotion and imagination. From Geordie Greep's delightfully unhinged solo debut, The New Sound, to the intimate folk tales of Daisy Rickman's Howl - the explosive punk anthems of Amyl and The Sniffers, the kaleidoscopic storytelling of Crack Cloud, or the boundary-pushing electronica of Nia Archives, each record represents a triumph of artistry.
Interviewed KAETO for the first print issue of Hideous Magazine
Interviewed Abigail Morris from The Last Dinner Party
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya RoseWomen, gender minorities, and well-behaved men, welcome to Heroica; a poetry collective, and global storytelling platform hosted at Bar Doña-a space where High Priestesses, Hierophants, and Lovers watch over you with their omniscient gaze. Come, sit, lose yourself in an evening of deep connection.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya RosePenny Dreadfuls are your new source of satirical rock. Part of the London DIY scene, they have built a solid network of post-rock and post-punk enthusiasts. The four-piece band is now about to release their first EP on the 13th of September, which will cement their name in the scene.
We caught up with the pioneering musician ahead of her set at this year's Field Day festival on August 24
Words & photography by Angelika May As Wide Awake marks its fourth year as a top UK festival for London's grassroots scene, evolution has been key to its success. Over the years, Wide Awake has steadily infused a wider variety of genres while maintaining its grassroots essence which has broadened the festival's appeal, attracting a larger and more diverse crowd.
The musician speaks to Dazed ahead of her performance at Wide Awake Festival next month
Ahead of their set at London's Body Movements festival, producers Elliot and Orny share their thoughts on the importance of keeping events inclusive and why creative collaboration is so intimate
Words by Angelika May Photography by Kyle McCarthy In the bleak mid-winter, caught between the clutches of dry January and the allure of cosy pubs often gets the little devil on our shoulder yapping away, Sam Abbo's latest release 'Pass The Fiddle to The Beast' perfectly captures the tug-of-war with temptation.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose Get to know Izzy Moriarty Whyte, a singer-songwriter who has firmly planted herself in the South London gig scene. Rooted in acoustic and folky sounds, she effortlessly explores diverse genres, captivating audiences across London.
Words by Angelika May Scarlett Woolfe amplifies a fervent outcry through her inaugural single 'Poor Suzy', simultaneously championing the enduring battle against injustices suffered by women - women lost, women abused and women struggling.
Words by Angelika May Dominic Rose has entered the next phase of his metamorphosis. Formerly known as the frontman of Fake Turins, he has now cultivated a Lynchian oneiric symposium in his debut track, "I Could Change" under the new project, Max Fulcrum and the Win.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose After hatching onto the scene post-lock-down, Alien chicks have spent the past couple of years tirelessly reaping and sowing, and are now enjoying the fruits of their labour. Unsurprisingly, their first headlining gig at the iconic 100 Club proved the band's tenacity and genuine warmth promised a prosperous future.
Words by Angelika May The Northern theatrical duo known as "The Vanity Project", whose earthly names as Rob and Flora made their debut with the single 'Conquistador' in 2020. Three years later, they have unleashed their inaugural album, "We Never Should Have Come Here", which imbued the term 'queer' with a completely new significance.
Words by Angelika May The resurrection of Black Bordello exemplifies the band's tenacity to curate theatrical expositions that captivate us, as we unravel the obscurities that make this avant-garde band so obsessively mystifying. "Love is a Joke" is a meticulously crafted arrangement, where vocals, music and choreography personify each characteristic associated with the feeling of love.
Words by Angelika May "My God" is the latest parable to be proclaimed in the gospel according to Tapir! (Thanks be to God). This serves as a precursor to their album, "The Pilgrim, Their God, and the King of My Decrepit Mountain", set to be released on the 26th of January.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Angelika May Los Angeles, the seraphic city of immaculate idols has always run with an undercurrent of hedonism, sin and unconventional ideologies. Mother to The Doors, The Byrds, Black Flag, Elliot Smith and a plethora of artists from the canons of rock, punk, rap and hip-hop.
For all the record's willingness to explore, the songs' deeper sentiments are often lost in its pilgrimage for heterogeneity.
The Rolling Stones release their track "Angry" ahead of their Hackney Diamonds album
Words by Angelika May Photography by Nina Musumeci A new, evocative avant-garde pop artist is emerging onto the scene. KAETO's performance at this year's All Points East delivered a tantalising peep show of a pop star simmering just under the surface.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose Imagine a bucolic reservoir, murky green water teeming with festival-goers hoping to rejuvenate their sorry selves in pond-weed-infested waters. Amidst the brilliance of a scorching Friday afternoon, Anya and I plunge into the festival reservoir to follow suit.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose I had the pleasure of speaking to the South East London vinyl DJ collective known as the Social Record Society during the We Out Here Festival. The collective is comprised of Sophie, Annabelle, Jaime, Gabrie, Riya and Rohan who are all multifaceted artists.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose Arliworld stands as an intricate musical collective, comprised of a plethora of multifaceted artists that individually and collectively have curated a unique sonic landscape, topped by spitting powerful statements that capture the intersectional grievances between our identity and our society.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose Following the release of her single "Palate Cleanser" earlier this year, Yasmina, aka Sunkissed Child, has showcased an evidential talent for crafting vocally enriching tracks imbued with the essence of summer. Her Lebanese origins, weave a captivating narrative into her music, through a fusion of languages, genres and intricate nuances.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose Emanating from the depths of the MABGATE pub's basement, MABGATE (formerly known as The Mabgate Organ Trio) comprised of the adept Ed Allen (guitarist/producer), Nico Widdowson (organist/pianist) and Richard Moulton (drummer) congregated at We Out Here to give us a taste of the vibrant Leeds Jazz scene.
Words by Angelika May On Saturday, July 29th, three iconic East London venues - The Old Blue Last, Strongroom and Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes - came together to showcase a stylistic assortment of the future of music.
A review of Sophie May's track, "Worst Thoughts In The World" for DIY's Neu Bulletin.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose Appearing like the Maharaja of Brixton, open shirt, laptop his sceptre, Pink Eye Club's set galvanised the crowd and reminded us of the elated joy we feel in his presence. As we witness the dire straits of our current socio-economic and political condition a little dopamine boost is necessary.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose As dusk fell upon The George Tavern, the heavens parted in anticipation of a primordial recital led by four seraphic beings to celebrate their single release "Original Sin".
Words by Angelika May Stop! Reject the grind and embrace the era of DakhaBrakha and ecclesiastical feasts. Photo: Spela Cedilnik The profoundly pious, pastoral, folk, punk, blues,19th century romantic (insert an eternities worth of idiosyncratic adjectives) band, Bishopskin are in the midst of their Second Coming.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose There's a sentimentality that comes from hearing a sound that dominated so much of your youth. That soulful indie sleeze, with placeholder lyrics and twisted cliches is what first got me interested in music, especially growing up, "up Norf".
Words by Angelika May Photography by Nicholas O'Donnell "To anyone who hasn't been to one of our gigs before, God fucking help you." Few frontmen open their sets perched on a crowd member's shoulders. Few frontmen could part an audience like the red sea with such immediacy, or have them kneel patiently with bated breath.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose + Veronica Maier It seems to be that folklore and mythology are more present than ever in our current culture. With the rise of "Succubus Chic" and "Goblincore" trending on Tiktok, we are currently in the digital age of mythos.
Words by Angelika May Kitty Fitz is the self-professed "shortest member" of Prima Queen, but by no means any less mighty. A talented bass player, producer and now singer/songwriter in the midst of her solo career, and with the release of her first E.P 'All My Own Stunt's out now, Kitty is one to watch.
Words by Angelika May When we think of the word "belly," what seems to come to mind? Bellies are associated with warmth, nurture, growing life and sustaining life through eating. Emotionally the belly harbours the brunt of our feelings.
Words by Angelika May Warmduscher is the band that has had Christian mother's clutching their rosary beads since their first release "Khaki Tears" in 2015. Always crude, lewd and raucous, "intense" is probably the only valid umbrella term that can be used to represent this group of self-described "reprobates".
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose I managed to catch my first Alien Chick's gig over the course of Independent venue week. This festival, celebrates grassroots music and arts in London and the US. Every year, over two hundred venues take part in this scheme which includes some of the most prominent in the London music scene.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose Potentially the Marcel Duchamp of the London music scene (if Marcel Duchamp had an extravagant collection of Hawaiian shirts), Pink Eye Club (the one man disco machine), is the epitome of Art for Art's sake.
Words by Angelika May All good things must come to an end. Just as one, prior to their passing aligns their assets for the benefits of their loved ones, Fake Turins are preparing their fans for their unexpected departure and disbandment (quite literally).
Words by Angelika May Shana Cleveland has composed a profound ode to life and love in her new single "Faces in the Firelight", her first release since her 2019 album "Night of the Worm Moon".
As we lift ourselves into the murky waters of 2023, it's only fair we take a brief minute to look back upon the offerings we have been ever-so-gratefully forced to consume over the year of two thousand and twenty two.
Words by Angelika May Photography by Anya Rose Right now, Bisopskin are incomparable in the current London music scene. Combining elements of folk, blues with a religious influence they have created a sound of times of yore. It feels honest, sincere and heartfelt.
Words by Angelika May I had the utmost pleasure of attending the debut gig, of the enigmatic performer that is KAETO. With a mighty stage presence and adorned in even mightier shoulder pads, clad for the revolution of teenage angst (or more appropriately 20 something angst) and guttral despair.