Irish Post-Punk Act M(h)aol Tackle Victim Blaming With Profound New Single “Asking For It”

Irish post-punk five-piece M(h)aol (pronounced ‘male’) have officially announced their debut album Attachment Styles will be released on February 3rd, 2023 via TULLE Collective. Their new single and video “Asking For It” is an explosive and powerful release that holds nothing back on the topic of sexual assault and the toxicity of victim blaming.

Raw and visceral to its core, “Asking For It” is deeply personal release from frontwoman Róisín Nic Ghearailt, as she processes some of her experiences and feelings around rape culture.

On the track she 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 raw and vulnerable as the song itself. “This has been the most difficult video I’ve made for M(h)aol to date”, Zoë says. “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 rape 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.”

Elevating the words and passion further, the band’s dynamic and explosive performance creates a sturdy foundation of fuzz-filled guitars, droning percussion, and acrobatic vocals. Alongside bands such as CLT DRP, Witch Fever, and Grandmas House, the increase of attention on female-fronted bands broaching difficult subject matter is beyond deserving.

Watch “Asking For It” below: