Video Premiere: Anjimile’s “Rebellion”
This post originally appeared on Vanyaland.
Anjimile / Still from “Rebellion” video
Anjimile has a message, but they won’t shove it down your throat’s ears. Instead, the socially aware Boston band will draw you in with their indie rock magnetism, and just hope you’re paying attention to the lyrics.
This morning, Anjimile—a band that often lyrically deals with gender equality, feminism, and other issues, all packaged into tightly-wound guitar-rock pop songs—have released a live video for “Rebellion,” the latest in Fitz Ross Productions’ ongoing Spare Room Sessions series.
“‘Rebellion’ is probably one of our grungiest tunes,” the band tells Vanyaland. “We mostly make indie rock and indie-pop music, so it was fun to play something with a more jagged, sinister sound.”
In the video below, Anjimile takes to the basement for a raw and revealing live session, continuing the Spare Room Sessions’ goal of providing a forum to Boston-area bands, and provide them with professionally-shot production assets, press opportunities, and showcase gigs. A few weeks ago we hyped their Grey Season video, and so far Fitz Ross’ blooming catalog includes sessions from locals like Bent Knee, Bent Shapes, I/O, Funeral Advantage, Horse Jumper of Love, Bat House, Skinny Bones, and others. Fitz Ross is undergoing a transformation into a non-profit group with the goal of servicing up-and-coming homegrown bands by giving them production assets, press opportunities, and showcase gigs.
And with Anjimile, the appeal was strong from the start.
“We were initially drawn to working with Anjimile, not only based on their strength as musicians and growing fan base in the area, but also based on their unique positioning in the Boston area and beyond,” says Toni Tiemann, Fitz Ross’ head of artist relations. “With [frontperson] Anjimile Chithambo taking charge of the movement, the group is doing what not many other bands have the courage or capacity to by bringing issues such as racism, misogyny, and so much more to the forefront of Boston music. It would be a challenge not to have profound respect for a group working to spark change on such a broad scale, and as an organization we wanted to do anything we could to support both the band and overarching equality in Boston music. We hope that by watching the Session, people not only come to fall in love with the catchy hooks and melodies of Anjimile’s music, but also stop to ask themselves the really tough questions about equality in music.”
Start by pressing play below, and continue by catching Anjimile perform live tonight at Great Scott in Allston for the second night of Illegally Blind Presents’ Boston En Masse music festival, where 22 New England-based bands and artists play live over three nights across two venues. The series wraps tomorrow at the Middle East in Cambridge.
