Queer feminist punks Dream Nails based in London, UK, release empowering summer anthem “Take Up Space” today on Dine Alone Records (Canada/US) and Alcopop! (UK) along with the vibrant music video. As drummer Lucy Katz puts it, “‘Take Up Space’ is a surf punk banger calling for girls, gays and theys to take up space this summer. It’s a classic, sunny, tongue-in-cheek piece of Dream Nails goodness.”
Dream Nails’ energy and youthful power promises to set your soul on fire. From 2021, the band is joined by non-binary activist and performer Leah Kirby (they/them) on lead vocals. “Take Up Space” is their first release with Kirby, who says “This is a bop which acknowledges the injustice with cis male dominated spaces. It’s an anthem for those who are negatively impacted by patriarchal oppression. It’s a call for us to reclaim our bodies and take ownership of ourselves. We want to live without fear, we want to live freely, we want to take up space!”
Guitarist Anya Pearson adds, “There is an epidemic of male violence on our streets and women and LGBT+ people are expected to police what we wear, where we go and what we do in order to ‘stay safe‘. Ironically, when we protest about these issues, we are then subject to oppressive policing!”
Bassist Mimi Jasson gets personal, explaining “My favourite lyrics are ‘I would hitchhike to the coast, coasting along, travelling alone’ because that’s exactly what I would do if I wasn’t afraid. I love this song because it really evokes a better, more joyful world, where women and LGBTQ+ people can take up space without fear.”
Recorded over a hot summer weekend, “Take Up Space” was produced and mixed by Tarek Musa (Spring King/Dead Nature), who also produced their 2020 self-titled debut album in Liverpool. The music video was shot on location at Tarek’s recording studio and Lucy’s house in Hackney. It was mostly homemade by the band, whose ethos is proudly DIY.
