Review: Godmother “Transgenre”

22 Apr 2015 — Lukas Dubro

Joey Hansom is a person who cares. Over the last couple of years, the artist has tried to push Berlin's alternative scene forward on different levels, whether on the forefront as performer and DJ, or in the background as producer and event organizer. Last month saw the release of Alexander Geist's soaring new single "Malediction", which Joey co-wrote and -produced, and he is also behind Expatriarch, a platform to showcase queer/feminist music in the city, as well as the Boo Hoo party.

Perhaps most notably, however, Joey has a band called Godmother that are set to release their new EP Transgenre this week. Joey started the band a few years ago as a project where he didn't have to "make compromises," as he told me once at a party. And this is exactly what it feels like. He not only has a clear vision of what he wants, he also puts a lot of effort into making it come to life. "It's a challenge sometimes, because this is all very DIY, but I'm not aiming for a lo-fi aesthetic," he explains. Yes, whether with arrangements or eyeliner, Joey likes to lay it on thick. Transgenre collects four catchy songs, with a theatrical approach recalling Queen, David Bowie and Of Montreal (yet with a distinct lack of guitars). Style and substance unite.

Godmother songs don't have just a musical directness, they have a clear message. "MTFTM" is about finding utopia beyond the gender binary system, while "One-eyed Snake Oil" is an ode to the failure of hegemonic masculinity and capitalism. This mixture of pop and politics is never heavy-handed, though. With his lyrics, Joey proves that he has a great (and deranged) sense of humor: "Now all our troubles we forgot 'em, because we're topping from the bottom," he sings in "MTFTM". "We're living in a no man's land, no dicks, no tits, just our prostate glands."

Do we need more people like Joey in Berlin? Yes. These are the heroes that are capable, whether behind the scenes or in the spotlight, of helping to achieve a greater good and sustaining a vibrant music community in the city. Joey is a prime example of someone who doesn't follow styles and trends, but has cultivated his own significant path and voice.

His new EP will be released on Joey's own label New Pangea as an edition of 100 cassettes and as a free download. Berliners can catch Joey, Rocco and his bandmates T-Word and Sara onstage for the Godmother release concert at Mitte's ACUD (Veteranenstraße 21) this Friday, April 24.