SEXWITCH (album)

Released September 25, 2015 Recorded 2015 Length 32:57 Producers Dan Carey Label The Echo Label Discography From SEXWITCH "Helelyos" Released: August 24, 2015 "Ha Howa Ha Howa" Released: September 18, 2015

"SEXWITCH" is the debut album by SEXWITCH, a musical collaboration between Natasha Khan, Dan Carey and TOY. It was released on 25 September 2015 via The Echo Label.

Background

The album consists of six cover versions of 1970s' psych and folk songs from Iran (“Ghoroobaa Ghashangan” and “Helelyos”), Morocco (“Ha Howa Ha Howa”), Thailand (“Lam Plearn Kiew Bao”) and the United States (“War in Peace”). The lyrics were translated by the group's friends, and Natasha mixed the parts she liked to create the songs.

"Some people sent back differing translations. People’s interpretation of poetry is really interesting—sometimes you translate something really word-for-word, and other people put it into a more poetic context. I did a really quick, instinctive pulling out and underlining of things I liked, and started mixing them together to create these songs."

Sexwitch played their festival debut at Green Man in 2015.

Music and composition

Producer Dan Carey and Natasha at his studio in London

The album was recorded in one day at Dan Carey's studio in London. TOY learned the songs and recorded them in a single take. Dan Carey noted that the original songs didn't have much instrumentation, but he could hear the beats that would be later added to the cover recordings. Natasha showed up in the studio to record her vocals without having rehearsed them. The lyrics were translated by different people, and she underlined the words that resonated with her that were thematically similar and "things that I felt I could rhyme and sing and had good meters".

Natasha noted she felt she "was being taken over by something else" when she recorded the vocals:

"When I was in the studio doing the singing, I felt like I was being completely taken over by something else. I don’t even really remember how it came about, it was just channeling something really heavy-going, and by the end of each song I was shaking."

When asked whether the album was cultural appropriation, she replied:

"Well I’m half-Pakistani, so shove it! I think they need to get a life and not worry about it. Music’s free and music’s for everyone to enjoy and express and interpret. It transcends countries and times and decades and I don’t think it should be an issue. It’s definitely not exploitative, it’s a celebration, and there’s a lot of respect and love for that music there. I feel a kinship with all of these songs and really wanna show them to people."

Critical reception

The Guardian said Sexwitch comprised "hypnotic, groove-based tracks that feature jagged post-punk guitars" and "shrieking crescendos".

Artwork

The cover photograph was taken by Neil Krug.

"Front and back cover"

"Vinyl front cover"

"Vinyl back cover"

Singles

On 24 August 2015, Sexwitch released a single, "Helelyos", online. Rolling Stone described it as a "hypnotic, Middle Eastern-infused groove". The Guardian said Sexwitch comprised "hypnotic, groove-based tracks that feature jagged post-punk guitars" and "shrieking crescendos".

On 18 September 2015, Sexwitch released a second single, "Ha Howa Ha Howa", online. Consequence of Sound described it as a "Sexwitch has shared another such track". The Stereogum said, "Her chanting turns to wailing and the groove mimics that transition, building and swelling along the course of the track’s seven minutes".

"Helelyos"

"Ha Howa Ha Howa"

Track listing

Standard Edition
#	Title	Length
1.	"Ha Howa Ha Howa"	06:55
2.	"Helelyos"	04:43
3.	"Kassidat El Hakka"	07:54
4.	"Lam Plearn Kiew Bao"	03:57
5.	"Ghoroobaa Ghashangan"	04:42
6.	"War In Peace"	04:47