LIFE Share New Track “Switching On”
Ahead of live dates at New Colossus Festival in New York this week (& some pending rescheduled sets in Austin, Texas the following), Hull's LIFE continue their rapid upward trajectory with the announcement of their new single “Switching On”. Honing in on a more exploratory sound, “Switching On” sees LIFE incorporate future-facing elements of electronic instrumentation with more experimental and brooding guitar/bass work, while reflective lyrics look back over the band's journey together and what is yet to come.
The single is also accompanied by a new video, which has been directed and produced by the band with the help of local filmmaker Josh Moore (who has also collaborated with the band on all of their recent videos). The video channels Wes Anderson-esque color palettes and symmetrical shots, combining frenetic lighting with dating style video monologues from houseplants trying to find love. Watch and listen to it HERE.
Speaking on the single, frontman Mez Green says, “After completing ‘A Picture of Good Health' I felt like I belonged in the world, lyrically painting over the bone-eating demons, I wanted to express why this was. I wanted to scratch it out like people do on woodland trees or moorland rocks. It was love; I found love.
‘Switching On' is my lyrical attempt of charting that journey; the initial giddy, nervous and pinch-me moments, the wanting to be accepted, the lust and the incredible feeling of finding that person and falling in love.
The band wanted to be open to all aspects of musicality so that the lyrics were given an aural heart. We wanted to be brave, bold and exciting as we evolve our sound and rhythms by bringing in elements of synths, pads, machines and pure bass and guitar experimentation.
‘Switching On' is a nod to where we want to be and where we are going; the future.”
2019 was an incendiary year for the band, which saw them release their critically acclaimed second album A Picture Of Good Health, earning plaudits from the likes of BBC Radio 6 Music (4 playlisted singles + Album Of the Day) and BBC Radio 1 (Jack Saunder's Album Of The Weekend) as well as being selected as Liz Kershaw's Album Of The Year on BBC 6 Music. Similarly, the album has received high praise from a number of major publications (e.g. Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan & Paste) as well as featuring in end of year lists from the likes of the Guardian, Dork and more.
The new single also follows the recent announcement of a new run of tour dates to take place across the UK in April 2020. The dates come on the heels of the band's recent arena tour as main support for Kaiser Chiefs and also follows on from their own packed-out UK/EU headline tour and unforgettable album launch in a Camden kebab shop.
Alongside the new UK tour dates the band have also just played a short string of French shows – where they also made a big impact over the last year, recently appearing on national TV alongside Primal Scream and IDLES for Jehnny Beth's new TV show ECHOES and will return for further live dates in late-April. Elsewhere, LIFE will be playing at New Colossus Festival in New York later this week – they will play both the launch party and will support A Place To Bury Strangers at Brooklyn's Bowery Ballroom. Despite SXSW's cancellation, LIFE will still travel to Austin to play an array of shows that will be finalized very soon. New Colossus set times and full tour dates listed below.
LIFE TOUR DATES:
MARCH:
3/11/2020 – New York, NY – New Colossus @ Pianos, Opening Night Party3/13/2020 – New York, NY – New Colossus @ Bowery Ballroom w/ A Place To Bury Strangers3/14/2020 – New York, NY – New Colossus @ Berlin w/ DIY Magazine3/17/2020 – 3/21/2020 – Austin, TX – Various Venues3/22/2020 – Dallas, TX – Three Links 2
APRIL:
4/11/2020 – Stockton, UK – Stockton Calling
4/12/2020 – Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute
4/13/2020 – Edinburgh, UK – Sneaky Pete's
4/14/2020 – Nottingham, UK – Bodega
4/16/2020 – London, UK – Lafyette
4/17/2020 – Sheffield, UK – Academy 3
4/18/2020 – Hull, UK – Welly
4/19/2020 – Birmingham, UK – Academy 3
4/20/2020 – Bristol, UK – Rough Trade
4/22/2020 – Paris, FR – Le Badaboum
4/23/2020 – Bourges, FR – Le Printemps de Bourges
MAY:
5/10/2020 – Cologne, DE – Blue Shell
5/11/2020 – Berlin, DE – Cassiopeia
5/12/2020 – Munster, DE – Sputnik Cafe,
5/13/2020 – Munich, DE – Kranhalle
5/14/2020 – Mallorca, ES – Mallorca Live Festival
5/15/2020 – Turin, IT – Blah Blah
5/16/2020 – Verona, IT – Colorificio Kroen
5/19/2020 – Hamburg, DE – Haafenklang
5/21/2020 – Nijmegen, NL – Merleyn
5/22/2020 – Utrecht, NL – ACU
5/23/2020 – Den Haag, NL – Sniester Festival,
5/24/2020 – Rotterdam, NL – V1
purchase or stream “Switching On” HERE
A Picture Of Good Health track listing:
- 1. Good Health
- 2. Moral Fibre
- 3. Bum Hour
- 4. Hollow Thing
- 5. Excites Me
- 6. Never Love Again
- 7. Half Pint Fatherhood
- 8. Grown Up
- 9. Niceties
- 10. Thoughts
- 11. It's A Con
- 12. Don't Give Up Yet
- 13. New Rose in Love
purchase or stream A Picture Of Good Health HERE
