She Made Me Do It sharpen their post-punk edge on Pulverised.
More than a decade after their formation, London’s She Made Me Do It continue to defy expectations and transcend genres. With their newest EP Pulverised, the electro-rock trio—fronted by Shaheena Dax and Will Crewdson, and rounded out by powerhouse drummer Joe Holweger—deliver a fierce, emotionally resonant three-track release that showcases just how far they’ve come from their early electro-pop experiments.
Formed in 2013 during a touring hiatus from glam-punk cult heroes Rachel Stamp, Dax, and Crewdson originally envisioned She Made Me Do It as a more electronic, post-punk-laced side project. But over the years, the band has evolved into a formidable, full-throttle act in their own right—richer in tone, deeper in intent, and more urgent in sound.
Electro-pop roots, post-punk fire
Their debut self-titled EP dropped in late 2013 to glowing reviews, quickly followed by the darkly alluring Endless Dream State in 2015, which Louder Than War’s John Robb memorably described as “throbbing late night electronic sex pop full of dark shadows and ghost-like sounds.”
By the time The Frantic Legion arrived in 2017, the band’s sonic palette had expanded further, embracing guitars, bolder choruses, and darker lyrical themes ranging from PTSD to heartbreak. Dax’s lyricism remained a guiding force, while Crewdson’s riffs gave the songs a razor-sharp punch.
Live, the band grew even more muscular, with Dax picking up bass guitar duties and Holweger—initially a live-only drummer and bandmate of Crewdson’s in Adam Ant’s touring band—eventually becoming a full-time member.
Their run of EPs—Garbo’s Pool, Drenched, Scorched, Otherworldly, Starlust And Other Tales, and Artificial—documents a band constantly refining their sound. And with Pulverised, they’ve hit a new creative peak.
The most soul-bearing release yet
Silver Lining opens the new EP with a jolt of emotion and electricity. Dax confronts grief and heartbreak with piercing clarity over pulsing, punk-infused rhythms. Her voice is equal parts vulnerable and commanding, surrounded by swirling synths and Crewdson’s jagged guitar.
The Emotional One is an unflinching look at emotional turmoil in a fractured world. “Always so emotional, trying hard not to lose my mind,” Dax sings—an instant highlight line that captures the track’s thematic essence. As the tension builds, the band unleash an impassioned, crashing chorus that lands with full emotional weight.
The title track, Pulverised, rounds off the EP with swagger and urgency. Lyrically centred on love in volatile times, the song gallops out of the gate before settling into a melodic, hook-laced groove. It’s a sonic nod to early Psychedelic Furs, full of propulsive momentum and raw sentiment.
A decade of stunning visuals
The band’s evolution has never been limited to sound alone. Their long-running collaboration with designer and filmmaker Jeff Conway at Pushing Normal has resulted in consistently striking visuals, from album artwork to surrealist music videos—including their reimagining of The Cure’s “Three Imaginary Boys” and the vividly animated “Artificial.”
Director Duncan Catterall has also contributed cinematic depth with promos for “Bones,” “Broken Morning” and “Free Again.” Meanwhile, Craig Griffith takes a more cinéma vérité approach for the new Pulverised videos—Silver Lining and The Emotional One—providing a raw and immediate visual counterpoint to the EP’s emotional heft.
Tracklisting:
- Silver Lining
- The Emotional One
- Pulverised
