Little Hag
Asbury Park’s self-proclaimed “bitch rockers” Little Hag are set to release their new album, Now That’s What I Call Little Hag, on August 23 via Bar/None Records. Little Hag is excited to unveil the album’s first single, “The Machine,” along with its accompanying music video which was directed by Kris Khunachak. The video is featured on VEVO Pride: DSCVR Future Icons and is streaming at YouTube.
On the song, Little Hag's Avery Mandeville, who went viral on TikTok this weekend says, "This song is about being done with love and dating, and how a vibrator is more satisfying than any man. I wrote this right after breaking up with my boyfriend and finished it when I met my girlfriend, who inspires the turn at the end where 'the machine' isn’t a replacement for a partner, but a welcome addition.”
Little Hag is working through her issues and has a brand new album to prove it. Now That’s What I Call Little Hag showcases the wide-ranging songwriting talents of Avery Mandeville. Collaborating with eight different producers and studios, Mandeville delivers a diverse collection of punk rock bangers, deep disco dives, torch songs, folk ballads, and more.
Mandeville’s songwriting explores various themes: she rages against capitalism in “1000 Birds,” skewers an ex in “Would It Kill You?” and “You Blew It!” while also scrutinizing herself in “God I'm So Annoying” and “HHSTTHN.” Tracks like “All 3” and “Oops!” delve into the contrast between private and public personas, and “Suck Out The Pain” imagines surgically removing heartache. The album also features “King Cake,” a sappy sapphic love song, and “The Machine,” an ode to her vibrator that doubles as a metaphor for the coming AI revolution. It’s a journey filled with raw emotion and audacious commentary.
Little Hag is also announcing several shows in New Jersey including a solo show on June 13 in Asbury Park, full band shows in June and July at Salty’s Beach Bar in Belmar, and an album listening party on August 16 at Over The Moon in Asbury Park. Upcoming tour dates are listed below. The band will also be hosting a Bandcamp listening party on August 22 at 7 pm Eastern Time.
Little Hag, formed in 2016 in the suburbs of Central Jersey by Mandeville, guitarist Matt Fernicola, and drummer Owen Flanagan, has since been joined by bassist Mitchell Warren-Devlin and keyboardist/vocalist Cara Introcaso. Mandeville and Fernicola came up through the local open mic scene, eventually hosting their own at the legendary Inkwell Coffeehouse in West Long Branch, where they honed their craft and worked on what would become Avery’s debut self-titled album.
After signing to Hoboken’s Bar/None Records in 2020, Little Hag released Whatever Happened To Avery Jane, a compilation of older tunes including the summer bummer pop single “Tetris.” Their following EP, Breakfast, featured the raw tracks "Piss,” “Blood,” and "Cum.” The sophomore LP Leash was abrasive and daring, calling out a variety of shitty dudes - exes, alcoholics, and old man stalkers - and the ugly ways we self sabotage. The power of these feminist anthems saw Little Hag take the late stage performing with Bright Eyes, Alex G, Interpol, and Spoon in their hometown of Asbury Park, with Naked Giants in L.A,. and at Feile Na Greine festival in Limerick, Ireland.
For Now That’s What I Call Little Hag, Mandeville took time to clear her head after a breakup, traveling to Durham, N.C., to write a song every day for a month before moving to South Philly. The album was recorded with engineer Mark Watter (Alex G, Liz Delise) at Headroom Studios and Erik Kase Romero (The Front Bottoms). Little Hag bites down hard on your brain and doesn’t let go, with infectious live energy, unabashed audacity, and a penchant for the uncomfortable and taboo.