Alt-folk duo Naz & Ella release new single about sexual harassment

Alt-folk duo Naz & Ella today released their new single ‘No (Doesn’t Mean Convince Me) ‘ from their forthcoming EP (DE)HUMANISE. The track is a dark and haunting song about the normalised sexual harassment experienced by women, particularly in bars and clubs.

Naz & Ella set the all-too-familiar scene that perpetrators use to excuse their behaviour in the opening lines, “Lights out/ Under a veil of darkness/ Haze of alcohol”. The duo’s lyrics are blunt and defiant, as they describe the power dynamics and lack of accountability in these situations, “I’m the prey/ You’re the hunter, anonymous/ Not responsible.”

“There’s a level of politeness expected, particularly of women, on the receiving end of sexual harassment,” says Naz. “If you don’t follow those rules, you quickly go from being sexually appealing to being demonised, which can potentially put your safety at risk. This song is about not tolerating that behaviour and taking your power back.”

“No one should feel worried about or expect harassment during a night out,” says Ella. “No matter how you say it, no means no, and it shouldn’t be seen as playing hard to get.”

You can find out more about what inspired Naz & Ella to write this song in their podcast ‘Not Another DIY Music Podcast’.

The track is based around an atmospheric grungy guitar riff and builds gradually with vibrato guitar lines and harmonics weaving around the riff. The chorus is where the duo get their point across loud and clear, highlighting how saying “No” can elicit a “challenge accepted” response as they harmonise, “No doesn’t mean convince me”

The bridge delivers a change in rhythm and feel, accompanied by empowering lyrics “I know my mind/ I know my mind and I won’t play,” intermittently joined by multiple voices shouting in unison to emphasise this collective experience.

To accompany the release of ‘No (Doesn’t Mean Convince Me)’, Naz & Ella have also released their first music video. Unable to film the video in the location described in the song due to COVID-19, the duo got creative in capturing footage to convey that sense of fear and unease evoked by the song’s subject matter. You can watch the video on YouTube.

‘No (Doesn’t Mean Convince Me)’ by Naz & Ella is out now and available to stream on all major platforms. You can also support the duo on Bandcamp.