SOLOMON CROOK (NZ) DROPS RAW AND AFFECTING NEW SINGLE & VIDEO ‘THE DAY I THOUGHT ABOUT DYING’
The enigmatic Solomon Crook has today announced his new single The Day I Thought About Dying, an immensely powerful track that will prompt the listener to consider the mark they will leave on the world once they’ve left it, out today, October 25. Solomon Crook has also announced a truly stunning clip to accompany The Day I Thought About Dying. Directed by Oscar Keys and created in collaboration with talented choreographer Raquel Abolins-Reid, lighting designer Sebastian Fraser, designers Ruby Malcolm and Charlie Walkley and cinematographer/blocker Solomon Drader, the clip is a precise, divine experience with profound meaning.
The Day I Thought About Dying is a track that will remain with the listener long after it finishes. As steeped in meaning as the title itself, this eclectic song will bouy even the most downtrodden spirit; something about the deep introspection and bravery that emanates from The Day I Thought About Dying is undeniably magnetic and hypnotic. Produced by Devin Abrams (Pacific Heights, ex Shapeshifter and producer for Drax Project, The Adults et al), and for fans of Bon Iver and Matt Corby, this track maintains a bed of electronics that lays the foundation for a breathtaking vocal performance from Solomon Crook. Acoustic elements enmesh themselves amongst sharp production, and the end result is a deep, swelling, mighty piece of music. “This song explores the uncontrollable feelings of loneliness and isolation that we can all face,” says Solomon. “I wrote this song in a time when I was feeling separated from people I should have felt closest to. I felt this need to escape and break free of this helpless feeling but not knowing how. This song is me internalising these feelings and thoughts, reflecting on them and trying to understand them.”
The clip for The Day I Thought About Dying is appropriately commanding. Set amongst the ornate, story-laden walls of the Greek Orthodox Church Of Transfiguration, Solomon deals with unrest, in the form of shrouded figures contorting around him. These figures overtake him, as they cover him, twisting him around the church. Through a sliver in time, he spies a way out of this turmoil. Once complacent, Solomon finds himself now fighting his demons, managing to break free for an instant – and hurtles himself towards the darkness.
It is impossible to look away, as Solomon sings desperately into the camera, and the viewer is sure to be irrevocably moved by this clip. Describing the creation of the clip, Solomon says, “The filming of the music video was a such a special experience – the collaboration that was shared throughout the whole process allowed for a common vision of what we all wanted to achieve. Oscar’s original narrative and concept beautifully supports the lyrical content within the song, whilst giving it a hopeful sentiment that you can break through these feelings of darkness, like the figures in the video. I couldn’t be more grateful to work with such creative and expressive friends.”
The Day I Thought About Dying is just a taste of what’s to come from this talented young artist, and plans are in place for a second EP from Solomon Crook in 2020. Already having supported the likes of Amy Shark and The Teskey Brothers, and garnering hundreds of thousands of streams for his debut release Love Juice, it’s quite clear that this is just the beginning for Solomon Crook.
The Day I Thought About Dying is available to stream and buy now.
BEACHWOOD ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE MARBLES + BEACH BOYS COVER GOD ONLY KNOWS
The effortlessly cool Beachwood have today announced two singles Marbles and God Only Knows (out today, October 25). Their compelling, hypnotic brand of electro pop shines bright on both tracks; completely mastering an unexpected cover in God Only Knows, and documenting a gradual lapse of sanity in Marbles. Beachwood (otherwise known as Jarrad Rogers and Angeline Armstrong) are the new kids on the block – only these multi medium artists already know exactly who they are, and are already making waves across the globe. After working with massive international artists such as Charli XCX, 5 Seconds of Summer, Lana Del Rey and Lauryn Hill, and much loved Australian artists Montaigne, Daniel Johns and Luke Steele (Empire of the Sun), it’s finally time for Jarrad and Ange of Beachwood to step to the front.
Their new original track Marbles was conceived in Los Angeles and features Texan MC Tray Haggerty, and you can almost hear the buzzing heat in the final release. Surprising beat changes, inventive melodic vocal ideas, almost overwhelming synthesisers and hits are all contained within Marbles. It feels like a true masterclass in marrying the art of songwriting and the art of production and the end result is one very exciting pop song. Speaking on the inspiration behind the single, Jarrad says, “Sometimes, caught up in the moment, we find ourselves saying and acting like someone we don’t even recognise – someone who is not at all the person we want to be deep down – that sort of inner struggle just seems to be a part of human nature. It was cool to work together on a song that found a way to really capture that universal feeling of letting someone you love down, of ‘losing your mind, your grip on things, your marbles.’”
God Only Knows may seem a strange fit as a cover for a modern electronic pop duo – but Beachwood’s version of this classic Beach Boys hit is the track you never knew you needed. Eerie, progressive and warm, the gorgeous nature of this stunning song glows in Beachwood’s thoughtful remake. Angeline’s voice is soft and emotive as impressive production swells and recedes with stunning technical prowess. This cover highlights the melancholy within God Only Knows, as Ange explains, “God Only Knows is such a sweet, romantic sounding song – but when you dig deeper and pay attention to the lyrics, it’s quite bittersweet and dark – there’s a real desperation and longing in it. That same longing and bittersweet feeling exists in both of our new tracks: hidden beneath pulsating pop beats and big progressive sounds, there’s the raw voice of a desperate longing for a relationship that won’t spoil or break. I think that taps into something very personal for all of us, no matter how deeply buried.”
The decision to release the two songs side by side was one that felt natural to Beachwood, as Ange reflects, “It’s always nice to give people more. As artists we’re always so hungry to release our music faster than is sometimes possible – it feels really good to just let go and hand these two over to the world all at once. We wanted to do something a little different – there’s a big focus on releasing one single at a time these days, but we felt that there was a bit of a story here in releasing both together. We love re-imagining songs, especially ones as amazing as God Only Knows.” No matter what the song, the Beachwood sound will always come through.
Beachwood is Jarrad Rogers and Angeline Armstrong.
Marbles and God Only Knows are released today, October 25, both through BMG.
KING COYOTE SHARE NEW SINGLE COCA COLA AHEAD OF NEW EP WILD OUT NOVEMBER 1 + ANNOUNCE SHOWS WITH GRINSPOON AND THIRSTY MERC
Australian rockers King Coyote have today announced their killer new single Coca Cola, an energetic romp inspired by chasing true love, out today. Coca Cola is the first taste of the upcoming King Coyote EP Wild, an absolute masterclass in rock n roll, set for release on November 1. King Coyote will be heading out on tour throughout October and November to celebrate the release, kicking off in Burleigh at Moe’s Desert Clubhouse on Friday October 4, then heading through Kingscliff to support Grinspoon, home to Port Macquarie for a series of shows, wrapping with a summer show on December 28 at Tacking Point Tavern (Port Macquarie) supporting Thirsty Merc.
Coca Cola is for fans of true, classic rock n roll; the kind of song that makes you want to slam your empty glass on the bar and head straight to the dancefloor. Evocative of rock auteurs Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures and Jet, Coca Cola is overflowing with heady guitar riffs and hooky vocals. Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, lead vocalist Sunny Rowlands enthuses, “This song is a bit of old time rock n roll, a throwback with our twist. Coca Cola was inspired by true love, about seeing the red flags and acting on it, before you lose too much time… or whatever the listener thinks it’s about. We like both!”
Wild is a diverse collection of rock music by a group of seasoned musicians who know exactly who they are and what King Coyote represents. From the exhilarating opener Running Wild, to the affecting, emotive closer Diamonds, the EP is true to its namesake in every sense of the word – this music is undeniably Wild. Produced by Michael Lynch (Jimmy Barnes, Midnight Oil, John Butler Trio), Wild meets the thematic golden trio – sex, drugs and rock n roll – head on, as Sunny says, “We’ve taken a bit of time with this EP, enjoying the road, the band bonding, the late nights, the long nights and all the in-between, helping us get the songs to the point that represents us truthfully as a band. It’s taken a couple of years, but it was worth the wait for us – it shows how far we’ve come and how far we can go.”
King Coyote are set to perform tracks from Wild live throughout October and November, with a diverse run of headline shows and support slots alongside rock legends Grinspoon, Thirsty Merc and First Beige. Giving fans a taste of what to expect from the shows, Sunny says, “The shows will be high energy, loud, and in your face – like a shot of coffee with your Red Bull!”
King Coyote is Sunny Rowlands (vocals), Jimmy True Love (guitar, vocals), Stevie G (drums, vocals), Josh Hall (bass) and Mike Montgomery (guitar).
Coca Cola is out today, October 3. Wild is out November 1
KING COYOTE QLD & NSW TOUR
FRI 4 OCT | MOE’S DESERT CLUBHOUSE, BURLEIGH, QLD | 18+ | SUPPORTING FIRST BEIGE
Tickets available here
SAT 5 OCT | KINGSCLIFF BEACH HOTEL, KINGSCLIFF, NSW | 18+ – SUPPORTING GRINSPOON | SOLD OUT
FRI 18 OCT | FINNIANS, PORT MACQUARIE, NSW | 18+ | w SLIPPERY GYPSEES
Tickets available on the door
FRI 1 NOV | ART OF THE EMPIRE (ACOUSTIC), PORT MACQUARIE, NSW | 18+
Tickets available on the door
SAT 28 DEC | TACKING POINT TAVERN, PORT MACQUARIE, NSW | 18+ | SUPPORTING THIRSTY MERC