For close to a decade, Arms & Hearts has been the moniker of Manchester acoustic punk singer-songwriter Steven Millar. However, the project has now returned as a duo with Sam Johnson joining Steven on drums. Their first single together is called ‘Binaries’.
The addition of Johnson sees Arms & Hearts flesh out the project’s DIY indie punk spine, providing a resonating and spirited tone.
Commenting on the track, Millar explained “‘Binaries’ is a protest song. It touches on my own experience of realising that I am non-binary as well as a commentary on the current culture war surrounding trans people and their rights. ‘Binaries’ is written about the horrific climate facing trans people, being used as punching bags by the political class to win the votes of a small but loud minority of sociopaths, led by ex-celebrities in a desperate attempt to stay relevant.”
“It’s also about the joy I felt after accepting that I didn’t have to, (and in fact never did) fit into the arbitrary gendered boxes Western society imposes on people,” comments Arms & Hearts vocalist and guitarist. “And you don’t have to either, if you don’t want to. Trans rights now and forever.”
All download proceeds are going to Gendered Intelligence, a charity supporting trans and non-binary people. Further information about Gendered Intelligence can be found here.
‘Binaries’ Lyrics
It’s an unwinnable war, two steps forward for three steps back
Lines are drawn, and the words are etched into stone
And I’ve been swimming, in little pills and the chemicals in my blood
Numb the feeling, that I never fit in my own skin
When living is a hard-won truth
Screaming at the Television
I won’t fit neatly between the lines
Here, there are no Binaries
And I’ve been digging, myself out of my self-dug grave
And I’ve been living, a little, happier these days
We were here before you, we’ll be here long, after you are gone
There’s a rock and a hard place, you know that they are coming for you next
When living is a hard-won truth
Screaming at the Television
I won’t fit neatly between the lines
Here, there are no Binaries
When living is a hard-won truth
Screaming at the Television
I won’t fit neatly between the lines
Here, there are no Binaries
