LDN Vegans are excited to announce their very first Spotify playlist, featuring ten of the best tracks by artists such as Siouxsie And The Banshees, Moby, Birdeatsbaby, The Smiths and Mishkin Fitzgerald.

Each season, Phil and Polly will choose songs they love. Sometimes the artists might be vegans themselves, or they might just be making badass music. Phew! What a scorcher!

Siouxsie And The Banshees
‘Skin’
This closing track on Kaleidoscope, the 1980 album from Phil’s favourite band – Siouxsie And The Banshees, is a powerful way to start our summer playlist. “Mink, seal and ermine smother fat women,” sings Siouxsie. “I have a noble cause for skin, there’s just too many of them.” For everyone staying in the shade this summer.

Alanis Morissette
‘You Outta Know’
Hard to believe this is 22 years old. Released as the lead single from Alanis Morissette’s third studio album, Jagged Little Pill, ‘You Outta Know’ was only a modest hit in Morissette’s native Canada at first, peaking at No.20 in the pop charts and No.21 on the rock charts. Hard to believe also that Britney Spears covered the song as part of her 2009 Circus tour.

The Smiths
‘Meat Is Murder’
Perhaps the most obvious song to place on a vegan playlist, ‘Meat Is Murder’ still has the same powerful impact it had on these ears when it was released in February 1985. The title track to this iconic Manchester band’s second album, starts with the disconcerting mooing sounds of cows, before lead singer Morrissey launches into the most thought-provoking lyrical attack:

“And the flesh you so fancifully fry is not succulent, tasty or kind. It’s death for no reason, and death for no reason is murder.” Quite.

Birdeatsbaby
‘Silence’
If you’re new to this Brighton-based band, we strongly urge you to check out their website. You’ll be hooked even before you hear the music. Their website tells their story best…

“Birdeatsbaby’s name was literally dreamt up by bandleader Mishkin Fitzgerald, back in her teens after a particularly long bout of insomnia. Often sleep deprived and on medication the flame haired singer would have strong hallucinations and nightmares, resulting in most of the material from the band’s first record Here She Comes-a-Tumblin’.” Passionately vegan, and good friends of Polly’s, what other reasons to investigate do you need? Press play!

Jane Wiedlin
‘Fur’
“I don’t wear fur. Won’t do it! Fur’s for fools. I’m too cool,” sings Wiedlin on the title track to her second solo album from 1988. Pet Shop Boys producer Stephen Hague gave the album its pop sheen. A few years later, he was to work on Superstition, the 1991 album by Siouxsie And The Banshees.

Strong lyrical message considered, it was also heartwarming to see the ex-Go Go’s girl posing cutely with a bunny on the cover, leading some listeners into a false sense of security, before learning of her objection to the horrors of the fur trade. The true punk in her obviously never died, despite the out-and-out pop feel of the rest of the album.

Moby
‘Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad’
Vegan electronica artist Moby had his most commercially and critically successful year in 1999 when he released his Play album. Lifted from it was this brooding ballad, which also boasts vocals from the late Urban Cookie Colective vocalist Diane Charlemagne.

Radiohead
‘Creep’
Vegan Thom Yorke is an advocate of animal rights and spokesman against non-vegan fashion industries. He claims that fellow musical influences The Smiths – and fellow vegan Morrissey – first inspired him to do so after listening to their song ‘Meat is Murder’, which we’ve also included here.

Mishkin Fitzgerald ft. She Makes War
‘Raise The Bar’
Mishkin Fitzgerald, a good friend of Polly’s, is best known for her role as lead singer and pianist in the British ‘orchestral punk-rock’ band, Birdeatsbaby. Check out their ‘Silence’ track on this playlist. Mishkin is heavily Influenced by classical piano music, and alternative artists such as Nick Cave, Patti Smith and Regina Spektor.

Chaka Khan
‘Ain’t Nobody’
We know, we know, it’s summer. When Phil’s not listening to the Banshees, Curve or The Cure, he’s putting this on. Vegan Chaka Khan did great things when she released this in November 1983. Crazy to think this was originally going to be issued as just a bonus track on the Rufus & Chaka Khan live album, Stompin’ At The Savoy. Ignore the assault of modern-day reworks – settle for the best version. This is one of Phil’s favourite all-time dance tracks.

The Pretenders
‘Hymn To Her’
There were a few classics from vegan Chrissie Hynde to feature here. Unlike some other Greatest Hits albums, the compilation from The Pretenders really WAS an album of greatest hits.

● Find out more about LDN Vegans here.