With her debut UK live shows just days away, Brisbane newcomer Hatchie has shared a fourth track and accompanying video from her debut EP, ‘Sugar & Spice’, which comes out on May 25th via Heavenly Recordings.
The new track, ‘Sleep‘, continues to delve into Harriette Pilbeam’s introspective world where daydreams meet a shimmering soundtrack of bright synths, jangling guitars and deliciously bittersweet vocals, we are big fans: “Sleep is about feeling frustrated with someone who can’t communicate their feelings,” she explains. “In this song I’m trying to coax someone into talking to me by any means necessary, even if it means visiting me in dreams.”
On the accompanying video she comments: “We decided to play on the idea that I’m trying to get someone to communicate with me in their sleep. We made a bunch of dreamy sets to focus on, like I’m talking to them in their dreams. At some points I’m really serious, at other points I’m almost teasing them because I’m so over trying to get them to talk.”
Speaking of the EP, Pilbeam says: “After writing music that never felt cohesive or special enough to warrant its own venture, ‘Try’ marked a shift in my writing style I wasn’t expecting. I wrote it in early 2015, followed quickly by ‘Sleep’ and ‘Sugar & Spice’. They were written more for myself than for a specific project, in an effort to explore feelings of vulnerability and ecstasy I had previously suppressed. I wanted these songs to sound lush, sparkly, and recreate euphoric feelings I experienced falling in love for the first time. I reworked my demos with Joe Agius, whose production and writing additions achieved the perfect sound I was searching for, giving me confidence to start taking the songs more seriously and continue writing.
The songs on ‘Sugar & Spice’ were all written without much thought or pressure from myself or anyone else, allowing me to lay my feelings out like I’ve never done before. Joe & producer John Castle helped shape the sound you can hear in each track, bringing life to each song in its own special way.”
The release comes hot off the back of a remarkable nine months for Hatchie. After signing to Ivy League Records for Australia/New Zealand, Heavenly Recordings for UK/Europe and Double Double Whammy/Polyvinyl for North America, and recent performances at SXSW, the international demand will see Hatchie embark on a huge run of shows. The UK leg in May will take in festivals such as Live at Leeds, Liverpool Sound City and The Great Escape as well as a string of London shows.
Hatchie UK live dates:
5th May – Live at Leeds, LEEDS (DIY Neu Stage 1:30pm)
5th May – Sound City Festival, LIVERPOOL (Heavenly Stage 8:45pm)
6th May – Sounds from the Other City, SALFORD (Heavenly Stage 6:15pm)
7th May – Hare & Hound, BIRMINGHAM (supporting Anna Burch)
8th May – The Hug & Pint, GLASGOW (supporting Anna Burch)
10th May – Shacklewell Arms, LONDON (w/Death of Pop)
16th May – The Social, LONDON (w/Camille Christel)
17th-18th May – The Great Escape, BRIGHTON
19th May – Union Chapel, LONDON (Daylight Music afternoon session. Details here)
20th May – Hoxton Bar & Grill, LONDON
22nd May – Sebright Arms, LONDON (w/Dan Stock)
‘Sugar & Spice’ EP track list:
1. Sure (official video | Robin Guthrie remix)
2. Sleep (official video)
3. Sugar & Spice (official video)
4. Try (official video)
5. Bad Guy
