The feminist quintet puts the patriarchy on blast in their spirited new single

If you ever wanted an angrier yet somehow more light-hearted version of The Man by Taylor Swift, I may have the perfect song for you. With Take Up Space, Dream Nails imagine a world in which they aren’t forced to live life as per the patriarchy’s instructions.

This summery, surf-punk track covers a fair amount of ground; from safety at night to manspreading. It’s the kind of song I frequently find myself blasting at full volume through my headphones after resisting the urge to flip off catcallers. It is, in short, a feminist bop.

According to the band’s Instagram, Take Up Space is a “call for us to reclaim our bodies and take ownership of ourselves”. Like most of the topics covered in the song, they approach the issue of bodily autonomy in a delightfully tongue-in-cheek manner, with lines like “I mean, I’d sunbathe in the fields / Feel like my nipples need UV” presumably ensuring that any listeners who weren’t the intended target audience hastily press the skip button. Other standout lyrics include the regrettably relatable lines “Then I’d meet my date, walk home late / Not hold my keys like Wolverine”. 

Like the rest of the lyrics, these lines don’t make me want to simultaneously laugh and angrily pump my fist in the air because they’re particularly original or unexplored notions; they make me want to do those things because it feels empowering to know that it’s not just me facing these issues and that people are actively trying to dismantle the system that allows them to exist. Songs like these are important not only for protesting injustices but also for creating a sense of camaraderie for all who suffer their consequences. 

This track is the band’s first release since the addition of their new vocalist Leah Kirby, a non-binary vocal powerhouse who doubles as the drag king Cyro. With a UK tour lined up next month and a second album in the works, Dream Nails are bound to piss off a few more misogynists as they continue to expand their catalogue of unapologetic feminist anthems.