'Deep Down'
It strikes out against toxic masculinity...

Kier Kemp helped push Fearless Vampire Killers to cult prominence, but at the tail end of 2016 he knew he had to leave.

Wanting to focus on his own material, he started anew, a process of re-building that saw him analyse almost every aspect of his life.

Launching Inklings as a vessel for this, the powerful, 80s fuelled pop vision continually dwells on the personal.

New single 'Deep Down' lashes out at toxic masculinity, embracing the nuance of emotion, the necessity of personality.

Of the process behind the track Kier comments: "You have to rebuild everything. Not just your career, but your friendships. Yourself. But I wasn't brought up in a world where men show weakness. Push down any sign of the psychological toll and carry on. 'Real men' don't get anxiety. 'Real men' don't get upset. It’s that silence that is making some people vulnerable and it needs to change."

He continues: "I've always had a bit of a problem with 'blokes'. You know, like 'proper' lads? To me living life fully is about living to the point of tears. Whether that's tears of joy or sorrow... but as a man you're not encouraged to show emotion. 'Deep Down' is about that imposed toxic masculinity and it's consequences."

"I've had to do a lot of soul searching recently, think about who I am, and who Inklings is... It's okay to be vulnerable, it's okay to ask for help and it's okay share your feelings. The image of what makes a 'man' needs to change and fast."

Check out the video now.

Catch Inklings at London's Camden Rocks Festival on June 2nd.


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