She Drew The Gun: 'Art Is Our Weapon'

She Drew The Gun master a political awakening on 'Revolution of Mind'. 

EAP Photography 

Sat in the centre of Camden hours before the Labour Live festival, the energy is tangible from Louisa Roach, lead singer and songwriter from Liverpool based band She Drew The Gun.Today is a heavy political exposure in front of not only party supporters and fans but Jeremy Corbyn, the shadow cabinet and the very MPs the band have openly supported. Roach seems perfectly composed ahead of yet another event that suggests the outpour of admiration for a band who are seeking to rearm their listeners with empowerment and confrontation.

In 2018's politcal music landscape, we are blessed with new bands such as Idles and Shame who embody protest and uproar against existing inequalities. However She Drew The Gun addresses politics more empathically; this isn't just a battle, this is a recognition of love and solidarity to spread the means of a united revolution. Their name has asked many questions and immediately brings the idea of a 'Resistor' to mind.

"I think it's all the things you can do with the word 'drew' the hole idea of using art as a weapon. Three meanings are in it. I like the visual stuff of a girl and a gun. When I first started I could do cool visual stuff with that. It was only after that that I drew the gun made with art; a guitar an amp and a phone. All mechanical with different instruments." 

A combination of political drive and lyrical clarity has granted them recognition over the past five years of acclaimed releases, including BBC Radio 6's Steve Lamacq and Lauren Laverne. Touring exclusively with The Coral and Cabbage, this year has provided a platform to ears which find 'Revolution of Mind' a true awakening of the senses. There are no distractions with She Drew The Gun. They define lyrical communication to be at its purest.

'Revolution of Mind' is a refreshing no-bullshit record. Instead of listening to jargon, armchair activists and the blind realms of social media, each track delivers a solid concept of how we define ourselves in the rules of society, asking the question of why they're existent in the first place and who exactly are they serving. As Roach explains in ' Something For the Pain' "There's a glitch in the system of convention or wisdom." The title alone suggests that modern civilisation needs numbing from the institutions that stand against it. 

When asked what song Roach would use most in her defence, she instantly chooses 'Arm Yourself.' With well produced heavy guitar drive, containing an intense focus on liberty.

 "Arm Yourself' is about knowledge, being aware of what people are trying to do. Specifically Tories and anyone associated with them (Never kiss a tory!) I think there's more hope now then a few years ago when Labour weren't offering anything new. At least now people have got a choice. I've got a bit of hope that Britain can achieve the world if it got its head together, it could lead by example."

Deep rooted in spoken word and poetry, the importance of live performance makes 'Revolution Of Mind' just as invigorating as the group's previous releases. It asserts such confidence over the listener, that as a political record it achieves something that many don't; without over-production or exaggeration its messages could apply to any listener. Whilst She Drew The Gun do make clear who they support, their lyrical themes are focused on subjects that all entities of mind could relate to; identity, gender, sexuality, disenfranchisement, and aspiration. 

EAP Photography

She Drew The Gun on record come across as aligned with the listener, egoless and brutally honest. It is no wonder, that in-person, their reputation glows with an amicable aura. Despite touring Europe and the UK, Roach has not abandoned her roots in The Wirral and Liverpool. Returning, to them, has resulted in a reinforcement of support describing it as "A bit like you were a small team going on a big cup run or something." 

From a close community to being in front of a Glastonbury Festival 5,000 capacity stage, Roach has nothing but pleasantries to exclaim about the rise of She Drew The Gun over the past three years. In fact, winning the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Contest in 2016 led to a return last year where Roach's presence went further than a 40 minute afternoon slot. 

"I did a solo thing there with Billy Bragg and he was on after. I have a lot of respect for Billy and he invited me to Love Fields, he's cool. I also caught Jeremy Corbyn at Leftfield at Glastonbury. For our set we got there and there were so many people. At The John Peel Stage (2016) I was a bit more nervous not knowing if anyone was going to turn up. The Park (2017) was certainly the most magical."

Their latest release now out on is one of 2018's most anticipated artistic statements. She Drew The Gun go so far as saying that performing 'Revolution of Mind' "Is a call to arms." Whether this be on stage with fellow spoken word activists or on their current tour with The Coral, the record is ear honey to those seeking something that more provocative and punchy. It may not be televised, but it certainly will not be silenced. 

EAP Photography

All photography credit of Emma Aylett. Follow EAP Photography on  Instagram

She Drew The Gun Tour Dates
* With The Coral 

October 9th- SWX- Bristol *
October 13th- Albert Hall- Manchester*
October 18th- Electric Ballroom-London*
November 3rd- Her Fest-Sheffield
February 20th- Deaf Institute- Manchester
February 23rd- Sneaky Pete's-Edinburgh 
February 28th- Exchange-Bristol
March 1st- The Bullingdon-Oxford
March 6th-The Portland Arms- Cambridge 
March 7th- The Garage-London
March 8th- Patterns-Brighton.

'Revolution Of Mind' is out now on Skeleton Key Records.