Introducing: SAFIRE

New solo artist SAFIRE oozes anger and rage in a sexually charged fusion of metal, pop, electro and hardcore punk. The SAFIRE sound screams female empowerment in a thrilling industrial sound that’s described to us as “Rage. Power. Sex.”

The UK-born Irish artist’s parents were musicians and singers, so it felt almost inevitable she would follow in their footsteps – even if she wanted to be a dancer when she was younger.

On the sound that SAFIRE has honed, she tells us: “You can always expect me to be energetic and singing/screaming about something I feel passionately about. I’m all about female empowerment and my tracks are coming from that place. They are as much a reminder to me as they are a message to my audience! I want my audience to feel uplifted, empowered and strong and I write music in that frame of mind most of the time.”

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SAFIRE’s debut single OUT FOR BLOOD, which was released earlier this month, epitomises the singer’s rage and desire to shift gender dynamics. It opens up with a building guitar sound over electronic drums, which continue under engaging vocals “Turn my insides out, Eat my heart like a predator, Paint the walls blood red, Running games like a matador,” which intensifies with a cry of “Get down on your knees, This is gonna hurt, I’m fucking crazy.”

That flows into a vicious chorus of screamed vocals “You are just a plaything, You don’t mean anything to me, You are just a plaything, I’m taking names and I’m out for blood” supported by a piercing synth sound and crushing drums and bass. A more laid-back verse takes over, which includes the superb line “Worship me, I am your queen, I’m the last fucking face you’re gonna see.” It builds back to another heavy chorus, which ends with electronic stabs under repeats of “Get down your knees,” then intense instrumentals lead into a final blast of the chorus.

On the track’s reception, SAFIRE tells us: “It’s been great! Nel’s at BBC Radio 1/Future Alternative exclusively played the track which was incredible and people have been massively supportive in sharing the track and streaming it on socials. And, for anyone who hasn’t listened yet, what should they be expecting from it? ENERGY. POWER. RAGE.”

SAFIRE’s sound is inspired by metal, RnB and pop, with the heavier edge thanks to the likes of Tool, Incubus, Deftones, Alexisonfire and The Hope Conspiracy, having grown up on the music of Michael Jackson.

And on what inspires her to write music, SAFIRE tells us: “I just don’t want to do anything else.  There’s nothing else I enjoy right now more than writing so it’s pretty much all I focus on. Any key themes or topics that you write about? Power dynamics. Sexuality and battling with demons (whether those are in your own head or in real life).”

There’s plenty more to come from SAFIRE, with a second single scheduled for release in January and you can expect strong visuals to accompany it – as SAFIRE tells us: “I feel really strongly about this track and the visual art really needs to be right!” SAFIRE also hints at collaborations with producers and “performances” next year, so keep an eye out for more on that.

You can follow SAFIRE on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and, ermmm, this is a first for us, OnlyFans, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and YouTube.