Five-piece band M(h)aol have announced their debut album Attachment Styles, which will arrive on 3rd February 2023 via TULLE Collective, with a coastal-filmed video for powerful former single 'Asking For It'.

‘Asking For It’, which is an intensely raw and personal song that has developed tenfold over the years. It was the first piece of material singer Róisín Nic Ghearailt ever wrote to try and process some of her experiences and feelings around r*pe culture.

On the track, Róisín said, “I wrote it initially in 2016 then revisited it in 2020. I was shocked by how much internalised victim blaming there was in the lyrics. I rewrote it, then we recorded it and it was released to raise money for Women's Aid in 2021. The album version is a lot angrier than the 2021 one and almost satirical insofar as it's highlighting how ludicrous the notion of anyone 'asking for it' is.”

Another video directed by bassist Zoë Greenway with added input from Róisín, it’s as vulnerable and compelling as the song itself. So many times, the prickly subject matter has been treated with a complete lack of respect for how triggering, traumatic and long lasting an event like this can be for a victim. The band wanted to highlight the resources and services that are available, with accurate facts and helplines plastered across the visuals.

“This has been the most difficult video I’ve made for M(h)aol to date," Zoë said. "There’s so much power and emotion in Róisín’s lyrics and performance, so we worked really hard to create a responsible and sensitive portrayal of this experience she’s conveying, do it justice and make people care.”

Róisín adds on the video, “I think lots of media and cultural depictions of r*pe can be retraumatising. We wanted the video to be cathartic rather than traumatising. We both wanted to offer resources and highlight services that are available to survivors. The quotes in the video highlight the change in the song too, over the years it became a much more hopeful one.”

Zoë finishes by saying, “I hope watching the video inspires compassion and empathy in people. I think it’s important to open channels of communication around sexual assault in a way that validates a victims traumatic experience and shows a path towards a more hopeful and supportive healing journey. I think empathy is paramount in trying to build a better world."

With Róisín speaking directly to camera, interspersed with clips of figures covered in tulle material and mirrors reflecting the choppy sea, the coastline becomes an incredible setting for the words Nic Ghearailt is begging to be heard.

"You never asked me for it / I never asked for it / And we both know the truth / The world love people / Who look like you," she concludes on the track, proclaiming how often r*pe cases never even make it to trial, with less than 2% of cases leading to convictions in the justice system.

Women's Aid Helpline: 1800 341 900
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: 1800 778 888

Based between Dublin, London, and Bristol; M(h)aol (pronounced male) are formed of Róisín Nic Ghearailt (She/Her), Constance Keane (She/Her), Jamie Hyland (She/Her), Zoë Greenway (She/Her), and Sean Nolan (He/Him).

Attachment Styles is a record about social connection, queerness and healing, the band state. When Róisín was writing the lyrics, she used the theory of attachment styles as an overarching theme which is a theory that looks at the impact our inter-familial relationships and society have on how we relate to one another.

Bassist Jamie produced, mixed, and mastered the album where she wanted to capture the live element, meaning it was recorded in one small room with no headphones, minimal drum mics, and only a PA for vocals.

Following the release of their critically acclaimed EP Gender Studies, they gained a spot in the NME 100, as well as support from The New York Times, Rough Trade, BBC6 Music, So Young, Gigwise, Hot Press, The Irish Times, The Line Of Best Fit, NME, and more.

M(h)aol have been hand selected by Shellac, and Gilla Band to support, as well as dates at Latitude, Green Man, Primavera, and End Of The Road Festivals, plus were recently announced for SXSW next year, and will be touring for Independent Venue Week.

The band also announce a headline tour for May 2023, that sees them perform in Newcastle, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, London, and Brighton with tickets on-sale Friday (11th) at 10am. ‘Ghost A Post-Punk Boy Today’ tote bags available here.

Pre-order Attachment Styles here.

Tracklist

1. Asking For It
2. Bored Of Men
3. Noone Ever Talks To Us
4. Bisexual Anxiety
5. Therapy
6. Nice Guys
7. Kim Is A Punk Type Of Dog
8. Cowboy Honey
9. FEMME
10. Period Sex

Artwork by Zoë Greenway.

2023 Headline Tour

January 31st | Birkenhead, UK | Future Yard^
February 1st | Manchester, UK | YES (Basement)^ SOLD OUT
February 4th | Brighton, UK | Komedia Studio^ SOLD OUT
February 5th | Bristol, UK | Strange Brew^
March 15th - 20th | SXSW, Austin
May 19th | Newcastle, UK | Bobiks
May 20th | Glasgow, UK | The Hug and Pint
May 22nd | Leeds, UK | Hyde Park Book Club
May 23rd | Manchester, UK | YES (Pink Room)
May 25th | London, UK | Boston Music Room
May 26th | Brighton, UK | The Hope & Ruin