Murder In The Daylight
Mandy Kane
Using a wild approach with both technology and human imagination, the tracks that make up Mandy Kane’s new EP, Murder In The Daylight, illustrate that music is still a valid medium for social commentary. And with the infectious nature of the tracks here there is entertainment along with enlightenment. I got in touch with Mandy to get some comments on this work.

Murder In The Daylight
“This song started off with its militaristic beat. Following this idea, I tracked down some samples of army drills and cut them up to fit the tempo. This really solidified the theme of the track for me, and so I started playing with the “Bang, bang.” chants in the chorus, and came up with a lead synth line that was cold and harsh, but still very hooky. Most of the atmosphere comes from a beautiful, airy synth pad that sits across almost the entire song. I find that this technique adds depth and creates a really cinematic, vast sound. The bridge is probably the part I’m happiest with, as it sets up the big ‘live band’ ending with a real sense of foreboding. Lyrically, this song is dedicated to all the young soldiers who have had their lives stolen by Governments who condone war.”
Celebrity Roadkill
“Someone recently compared this track to The Buzzcocks. I was definitely going for a punk aesthetic, because the intention of the track is to make a point without being afraid of what people might think. The main feature of this song is the guitars. I spent quite a while experimenting with different amps and mics to get the sound I was after. Eventually I think I went with a Marshall stack and Fender guitar, and split them. It is a song inspired by the corporate end of the industry, and having to deal with the backlash generated by being mistaken for a pop ‘idol’. Lee Harding should probably have a listen.”
Glitch
“I recently acted in a short film called eleVATE, and also wrote the score. In addition to that, I was inspired to write a song that fit in with the film’s theme of falling in love with a machine. Hence, Glitch was born. In terms of production and programming, I think this is my favourite track on the EP. I have a fetish for technology, and I incorporated an arsenal of my kookiest musical toys for this one. The overall texture is very pleasing to the ear, and I think the melody is one which lulls the listener into a false sense of security before the dark outro hits. Although a love song, I couldn’t resist the temptation to add a wicked twist at the end.”
(UK) Hanky Panky 
“There are plenty of songs out there for clubbers to get dirty to, but when I thought about it I realized that the queer/bisexual community didn’t really have an anthem that confronted their lifestyle on anything other than a very superficial level. I wrote this song to be a celebration of alternative living and a warning to be cautious at the same time. Sometimes I think people overlook the risks purely out of self-indulgence, often at great cost to their health. I gave the track a solid four on the floor beat to fit with its theme of club culture. Lyrically, it’s quite sarcastic, but there are several ways that one could interpret this song. The (UK) tag was inspired by the Kingdom from which some of the world’s filthiest clubs were spawned. God save the Queen(s)!”
Murder In The Daylight (Van She Tech Vocal Remix)
“I heard Van She’s Sex City on the radio one day, and instantly fell in love with it. When I found out they were from Sydney, I immediately hunted down Nick’s number and hooked this remix up. They’ve done a great job on this. It’s a classic early 90s influenced take on the original, which I find incredibly cool because that era is not long enough ago to be absolutely ‘retro’ and not recent enough to sound common. Sometime down the track I might get a few 12” vinyl pressings done, just for the hell of it.”
(UK) Hanky Panky (STD Remix)
“This remix came about when clubs in the UK started playing the track, and needed something more danceable and electronic as an alternative to the original. This was the first remix I completed using only my laptop. Some of the sounds in there are pretty spontaneous, purely because I really didn’t have a clue what I was doing with most of the software! I’m very happy with the way it turned out, though.”
Love My Way
“The Psychedelic Furs have always been an influence on me, so when iTunes asked for an exclusive track, I decided to finally cover one of my favourite Furs tracks, Love My Way. Rather than take the standard approach and basically replicate the original, I thought it would be interesting to attack the piece from another angle entirely. To begin with, I halved the tempo, turning it into more of a ballad. Then, I treated it more like a remix, adding new electronic elements and giving it a sci-fi edge. The vocal harmonies in the chorus are what really make this track, I think. I hope the band tours again, because I’d really like to see them live and pass on my version of their song.”
Thanks Mandy.
Rob Hudson
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