Her name is Angela... ❤️

Hi,

This Friday (9 October), I'll be releasing Angela, the fourth and final single from The Silence is Deafening.

It's not an easy song to share (or even to perform) because of its subject matter. Angela is a song about domestic abuse, the silence that so often surrounds it, and something I've found myself thinking about a great deal: male violence against women. What happens when you suspect someone is in trouble, but don't quite know how to help?

The timing feels particularly poignant. The allegations surrounding the Cornell case are all over the news, and it has been yet another massively discomforting week for women around the world — coming on the not-too-distant heels of the Epstein files and the Gisèle Pelicot rape case. Sometimes it feels as though we're confronted with another reminder of the scale of male violence against women before we've even had time to process the last one.

The song was inspired (if that is the right word) by the UK's Ask for Angela initiative, which offers people who feel unsafe in a venue a discreet way of asking staff for help, and partly by conversations with a close friend who worked for a domestic abuse charity. Although she could never disclose any details, our conversations would often veer towards the subject of male violence against women.

I wanted to tell the story from the perspective of an observer. A neighbour who exchanges pleasantries with a woman living down the street, notices the bruises, senses that something isn't right, perhaps hears the arguments through the walls... but is unsure whether, or how, to intervene.

It's an uncomfortable position to be in, and one that I suspect some of us might unfortunately recognise in some shape or form.

The song also reflects on how difficult and dangerous it can be for someone to leave an abusive relationship. We often ask why women stay, when perhaps we should be asking what makes it so hard for them to leave — and what we can do to help.

I deliberately left the ending of Angela open. The narrator notices a For Sale sign outside the house and mail left by the door. Has Angela finally managed to escape and start a new life elsewhere? Or has something far worse happened?

I wanted to leave that question with the listener.

PRE-SAVE ANGELA https://link.isqmusic.com/angela

With all of that in mind, I wanted to share the lyrics with you before you hear the finished song on Friday:

There’s a lady that lives down the street where I live
When I pass her she smiles
But her stare is discreet
Always says her “hellos” but she can never stay
As her eyes looking lonely away
As her eyes looking lonely away

And I’d like to walk over and knock on her door
Maybe ask her for coffee or lunch, something more
I’ll pretend not to notice that bruise on her face
As her eyes look a lonely place
As her eyes look a lonely place

Angela, Angela
Are you ok?
I’m calling, please pick up the phone
Angela, Angela, why do you stay?
His violent heart’s not a home

But if I ever walked to the front of your door
Would I hear him
Scream at you
Push you to the floor
With his eyes all ablaze
As he hits and he shoves
Cause he’s doing this all
Out of love
Yes. he’s doing this all
Out of love

Angela, Angela are you ok?
I’m calling, please pick up the phone
Angela, Angela why do you stay?
His violent heart’s not a home

Hey Angela
Loud screams in the night
That I don’t understand
Hey Angela
So much more to this life
Than a weak and terrible man

Angela, Angela are you ok?
I’m calling, please pick up the phone
Angela, Angela why do you stay?
His violent heart’s not a home

There’s a lady that lives down the street where I live
But I pray she’s moved on, for some things you can’t forgive
In front of the house, there’s a sign saying “For Sale”
And left outside the door there’s your mail
And left outside the door there’s your mail.

Irene Serra

AND FINALLY... SEE YOU AT CRAZY COQS?

THURSDAY 15 OCTOBER | 8:45PM | SOHO, LONDON

Just over a week to go!

If you fancy hearing Angela and the rest of the new album live, with the full band AND all those luscious harmonies courtesy of Joy and Ineza, I'd absolutely love you to join me.

🎟️ BOOK YOUR TICKETS https://tinyurl.com/ISQ-TSID-AlbumLaunch

And with that, we're almost at the finish line. One final single this Friday, the album launch next Thursday and The Silence is Deafening finally making its way into the world on 23 October.

It's been quite a journey getting here, and I'm very glad to have you along for the ride.

Take care, and I hope Angela stays with you.

Ire x

ISQ

Discover more than the songs

Two unreleased songs.One exclusive live video.Yours free.

Two unreleased songs.
One exclusive live video.
Yours free.