MARVELL ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE & VIDEO NEEDLE NEW EP COMFORT IS KING OUT DECEMBER 9 PRE-SAVE NOW
Sydney rockers Marvell have today announced their most powerful single to date – Needle, a true journey of a song that describes the hardships, trauma and impossible hope that accompanies a cancer battle, released today. Accompanying the track is an equally affecting video, made in collaboration with Brae Fisher (Dear Seattle). Needle precedes Marvell’s new EP, Comfort Is King which is set for release on December 9 – fans can pre-save the record now and Sydneysiders can check out the band’s dynamic live show when they play Avalon RSL on December 4.
Needle is one of those songs that sticks with you long after the first listen. Bold, raw, defiant and brave, the track begins with a soft acoustic guitar and vocalist Max Marvell’s sole voice before interchanging vocals with his brother Tom in the second verse – symbolic in that cancer can be a lonely road, but a second voice joins in to support – then builds into a massive, full band climax, mimicking the often startling, always affecting journey that follows a cancer diagnosis. For Marvell, the song is deeply personal, as Max explains, “We wrote Needle when our then-drummer BJ was battling testicular cancer. We wanted to write about how we felt, imagining ourselves in his shoes and really trying to understand what he was going through, rather than just telling his story. The track starts as something contemplative, going through the fear and the uncertainty then quickly evolving into a more powerful song, daring at the possibility of hope. We wanted to blend the visceral, contradictory feelings of such a devastating situation with the sterile, procedural reality that we saw BJ going through. All in all, this track aims to capture that feeling of staring down the barrel of something terrible, when all the odds are against you, and saying fuck it – I’m going to give all I’ve got to make it through.”
The video for Needle is a deeply rare experience – all the emotion of the song is beautifully, respectfully reflected in visual form through the story of a man trying to escape a bad situation. Speaking on the conception of the clip, Max explains, “The video tells a symbolic story that relates to the lyrics and BJ’s battle with cancer, but also depicts the themes of struggle in a more general way. We bounced around ideas and initially wanted to paint a very raw picture of cancer specifically, but decided that representing the themes in a more abstract way would allow the audience to dig a little deeper to find their own meaning. We wanted people to empathise, rather than just be told a story. We let Brae Fisher take the story and put his own spin on it, writing and directing a film that depicts a nameless man escaping from unknown captors. We wanted to capture the desperation and panic of the escape as the man runs away from something that is unknown to the audience.”
Evocative of Australian rock legends Powderfinger, Paul Kelly, and modern influences such as Catfish and the Bottlemen and local heavy act Ceres, the EP, Comfort Is King, is demonstrative of a band in their element. Secure in their sound, confident in their songwriting skill, the EP shines from start to finish – from the contemplative, emotional Needle, to the upbeat Ratalatat, to the sweet organ sounds of Honey and the stunning, gentle closer All Of It, this is true brilliance in the form of rock/pop songwriting. Crunchy guitars pair perfectly with acoustics, pounding drums marry with the Marvell brothers’ harmonies – Comfort Is King has it all, as Max says, “Ultimately, we wanted to make a fun, energetic record, despite some of the other stuff that life had thrown at us and our mates, so that we could address all the painful parts that led up to this record while not letting it take us over completely. We wanted to try and find the fun and the life amongst it all to keep us going and that’s what this record is about; acknowledging the shitty times but also remembering why we play and make music – because it’s a blast and brings us all together despite anything else.”
Needle is out today. Comfort Is King is out December 9 and available to presave here.
Marvell is Max Marvell (Vocals/Guitar), Tom Marvell (Vocals), Jesse Gaupset (Lead Guitar), Dylan Mitchell Frost (Bass), Theo Henry (Drums).
THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT SHARE EPIC NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO SO TIRED
Beloved Australian rockers The Butterfly Effect have today announced their commanding new single So Tired, a deep exploration of living life in the fast lane – offering a glimpse into the band’s hectic schedule and reckless partying back in the day, out today, November 17.
After an extended hiatus, The Butterfly Effect made a triumphant return to the music scene in 2019 with their killer track Unbroken and a run of festival appearances.
So Tired is classic TBE – angry, pumping, complex rhythms and chord changes that only the most skilled musicians could conjure and master. The lyrics are pained, as the protagonist participates in troubling behaviours in an attempt to run from the darker parts of the mind. It’s a serious, haunting track, but makes several important observations on ignoring poor mental health through the use of dangerous distractions. Speaking on the introspective inspiration behind the track, lead guitarist Kurt Goedhart says, “This song is about excess; this song is about us. We started this band, then before we knew it, it became ‘hold on for your dear lives!’ We were in a cycle of writing, touring, recording, touring – and above all else, we were partying NON-STOP. If you wanna know what it is like to live that life, there is no better explanation than this song.”
“This song to me represents an internal battle we will most likely all face at one time in our lives. Depression, anxiety, fear, anger and a sense of hopelessness are all part of that battle. How do you deal with it on a day to day basis? How do you get through it? It can grind us down, leave us empty, with nothing in the ‘tank’. It can be a hell that some of us will struggle with for a long time,” explains vocalist Clint Boge. “Finding a temporary comfort can lead to a life long fight, climbing out of a hole dug by us. The grind is real, it’s ground hog day every day and it’s tiring and can cripple even the toughest of us. We have experienced these feelings and have come out the other side this is that story.”
“I’m so fucking tired I can’t sleep. I’m so fucking wired I can’t speak. I’m burning alive I’m so beat. So god damned drained get off me,” sings Boge. “Fighting a demon you can’t see, he’s riding my back like a monkey. I just can’t escape, can’t break free. Fell to my knees I can’t breathe.”
The video for So Tired is truly bonkers, in every sense of the word – Sin City-esque and at times psychedelic, a person drives through an extra-terrestrial kind of city-scape, peppered with images from the lyrics of the song. It’s a total trip, as drummer Ben Hall jokes, “I liken this video to a pineapple Cruiser and a chat with a weird uncle over Christmas lunch… you’ll most certainly be left with more questions than answers!” Buckle up for the wild ride, and prepare yourself for the brilliantly ominous, intense vibe that reflects the themes and stressors within the song perfectly.
Fans will be thrilled to hear that The Butterfly Effect are gearing up for a new album in 2022, as Hall enthuses, “We’ve got a new album coming in 2022, the next single is also ready to go, it’s a savage tune and will be dropping in February. Phattest riff Puddles has written in 20 years. We’re hoping Covid restrictions will ease and Glenn can join us for the next studio sessions, making the experience more of a traditional recording scenario, minimal internet, lots of noise kind of thing.”
The Butterfly Effect is Ben Hall (drums), Clint Boge (lead vocals), Glenn Edmond (bass guitar) and Kurt Goedhart (lead guitar).
So Tired is out now.
SHEPPARD ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU + BRISBANE LORD MAYOR CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Aussie pop superstars Sheppard have just released their glistening, heartfelt new single Christmas Without You, a poignant seasonal track that will hit home for those who are missing a loved one this Christmas, out today. The thoughtful song and spectacular video are landing just towards the end of an absolutely massive year for this powerhouse family group, with their 2021 album Kaleidoscope Eyes peaking at number 2 on the ARIA charts and their beloved hit Coming Home racking up over sixty million Spotify streams. Sheppard will be celebrating the release of Christmas Without You with a performance at Brisbane Lord Mayor Christmas Carols on December 11.
Christmas Without You is a truly appropriate Christmas song for a year like 2021; reflective, gentle, and emotive, festive piano and subtle bells lead the song as vocalist George Sheppard’s sweet voice floats above it all. The track reaches an expressive, cathartic climax, perfectly suited to the melancholy of a festive season that’s missing some loved ones. Evocative of Coldplay’s seasonal classic Christmas Lights, Christmas Without You is a sparkling triumph, as George reflects, “My sisters and I realised that there must be so many people who, for whatever reason, haven’t been able to see their families and loved ones for a very long time, and Christmas time can be particularly hard for people in those circumstances. We wanted to write a song for all of those people who might not be having such a great Christmas without their families, and to leave them with a little bit of warmth and hope.” The video for Christmas Without You, created by the band’s longtime visual collaborators, Polish graphic design firm Ars Thanea, is a stunning offering, consisting of gorgeous, pain-stakingly created CGI imagery that feels perfectly in line with the ebbs and flows of the song itself.
Excited to be performing the new single at their hometown Brisbane Lord Mayor Christmas Carols on December 11, George gives fans a taste of what to expect, saying, “We’ve been lucky enough to be invited to perform at a few of the big carol events this year, which is a huge honour. We’ll be playing this new Christmas song of course! It will sound huge with a full live band and possibly an orchestra, so we’re really hoping it will be a beautiful spectacle for families all across Australia.”
Sheppard’s anthemic, colourful, energetic pop has made them a household name in Australia. Boasting over 850 million streams across all platforms, a handful of number ones across the world, and just last year, a coveted half-time performance slot at the AFL Grand Final, during which they announced their 2021 album Kaleidoscope Eyes. The group, consisting of George, Amy and Emma Sheppard, guitarist Jason Bovino and drummer Dean Gordon, have already achieved more than most artists can dream of in a lifetime – but by all accounts, they’re only still just getting started.
Christmas Without You is out today.
Sheppard is Amy Sheppard – Singer/Keys, George Sheppard – Lead Singer/Guitar/Keys, Emma Sheppard – Back-up vocals/Bass Guitar, Jason Bovino – Guitar, Dean Gordan – Drums.