Shilpa Ray releases “Bootlickers of the Patriarchy" and cover of Ministry's “I’m Not An Effigy"
Photo credit: Ebru Yildiz
NYC punk/soul artist Shilpa Ray has unveiled two tracks today.
The first cut is an original tune called “Bootlickers of the Patriarchy,” which was inspired by Senator Susan Collins’ press conference following the Kavanaugh/Blasey Ford hearings. Ray said this about the single:
“This is a character who has taken many forms throughout history, the kind of woman who seems perfectly content playing Gamma to the Alpha male. ‘Bootlicker’ is my direct challenge to the notion of ‘women supporting other women,’ as well as the falsehoods and unrealistic expectations that come with a statement like that.
I wrote the song to be played in two different arrangement styles, the first half being slow and haunting and the second going balls-to-the-wall rage. I was re-exploring a lot of industrial/proto-industrial music I had listened to as a teenager in the 90s and used some elements of synth/drum machine sounds to convey all that anger, panic and darkness.”
For the single’s B-side, Ray covered Ministry’s “I’m Not An Effigy,” which is from the act’s debut album With Sympathy. Ray stated why they chose to tackle a track from the industrial metal band:
“I was obsessed with the Ministry album With Sympathy when writing tracks for my next full length album. It is the record Al Jourgenson has stated multiple times that he’s ashamed of most, which is saying a lot considering this man’s autobiography. I teamed up with my friend Heather Elle of Flossing, formerly of post punk bands Bodega and The Wants for this collaboration. It’s my first official recorded track where I’m playing guitar, so as the saying goes, it’s never too late to pick up a new instrument and get totally lost in it.“
Pre-orders for the 7-inch can be made here. Ray will hold special release shows in Philadelphia (November 11 at Kung Fu Necktie) and Brooklyn (November 19 at TV Eye).