New Music: The Faux Faux – Cold Hearted Woman

The Faux Faux is the solo project of Faith Vern, known for their role as one of Manchester’s post-punk influenced legends PINS. Not only is Cold Hearted Woman their debut solo single, it’s also the first release on blogger Sean Adams’ rebooted Drowned in Sound record label.

Cold Hearted Woman sees Vern both riff off and move on from the sound of PINS’ 2020 Hot Slick album. The glistening combination of post-punk and electronica remains, though here the 70s/80s glossy pop of Blondie and shades of Broadcast delicately filter through.

As if that wasn’t enough glamour, modern icons like Alison Goldfrapp and Róisín Murphy are present and incorrect through in the witty and insightful sophistication of the lyrics. A whole album of this will be a pleasant way to ease through 2023.

Says Vern about Cold Hearted Woman, “After the birth of my first child I needed more space which meant moving from my one-bedroom flat in Prestwich to a ‘proper’ house. Somehow my husband and I convinced ourselves that we should head to the country, little did we know that lockdown was lurking… I was writing about being somewhere and feeling trapped, anxiety and coping mechanisms.”

“The chorus ‘I’m a Cold Hearted Woman’ is of course tongue-in-cheek, it’s almost like once everything, all your personality, freedom, joy, is forced out of you, you just sorta go ‘ok fuck it, you think I’m cold, well yes, here it is…’ ”

Cold Hearted Woman is out now on Spotify and Apple Music, as well as all major streaming platforms. For news on new music from The Faux Faux, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or subscribe to their Substack.