Spotlight On: FLORENCE SHAW

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S SHERO IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

The UK post-punk band Dry Cleaning formed a few years ago as a casual weekend gathering of friends. A visual artist and university lecturer, Florence Shaw was invited by her former art school friend and guitarist Tom Dowse for jam sessions with his then-newly-formed band with bassist Lewis Maynard, and drummer Nick Buxton. Not a musician by training, but with a true artist’s aesthetic, Florence chose spoken word over singing, and her artfully sardonic and witty lyrics layered over the group’s moody music quickly coalesced into a proper band. In 2019 they released a pair of EP’s, which caught the notice of music critics, and then 4AD records who signed, and just released, Dry Cleaning’s critically hailed full length debut, New Long Leg, produced by longtime PJ Harvey collaborator, Jon Parish. And while the explosive success thus far for Dry Cleaning has been well deserved and appreciated, the new and intense attention paid to Florence and, more specifically, the type of attention paid to Florence, has been something altogether unexpected to reckon with. As she shares with us in this week’s SHEROES interview: “I’ve never spent so much time thinking about being a woman in my life.” 

Our playlist features new music from Zimbabwean-American philanthropist, singer, songwriter, record producer, and gymnast, Shungudzo. Also, a brand new song by British-Nigerian rapper Little Simz, and a new song from Laura Marling's electronic band, LUMP.

SHERO BIRTHDAYS:
We celebrate two SHERO birthdays this week - Janet Jackson is 55 on Sunday 5/16, and Cher turns 75 on Thursday 5/20.

This week’s Radio SHERO:
Susan Castle from KUTX in Austin, Texas was inspired by watching the Linda Rondstadt documentary, and spins a classic by The Stone Poneys featuring Linda Rondstadt, “Different Drum”.