The first single from Martyrs’ forthcoming album Luminism is released today. ‘Sunset Thinking’ is a haunting, melodic, anthemic depiction of the struggles many of us face in overcoming mental health issues. Offering a hand of hope in the midst of despair, bruised and tender vocals framed in what the band calls post-yacht rock, a suite of illuminating synths and reverb-coated guitar motifs. Today we are debuting the beautiful accompanying video by @lejuanix, which features neon lights and cityscapes of East Asia, watch below.
Michael from the duo says: “’Sunset Thinking’ is my attempt to reach inside the mind of someone who finds themselves a carer in a situation where they believed they were a partner or friend. It’s a song about dealing with the frustrations which arise when trying to help someone suffering with mental health issues. It’s about the strain of attempting to show someone the value in the small, beautiful moments in life. It’s about the small victories these wonderful people achieve when they can show you the light coming in through the cracks, if only for a moment.
I’ve been lucky enough to know people like this.
‘Sunset Thinking’ is a hymn to the people who help you when you can’t help yourself, those who stand by you when you can’t stand, the people who show patience and kindness and ask nothing in return.
For those on the other side of the coin, the side I know best:
When you’re at your lowest and believe there is no-one there for you, there is. When you are down and believe you won’t get back up, you can. When you believe there is no way to continue, there is a way.
There is always someone who cares.”
Their forthcoming album delves into a deeply personal swirl of nostalgia and reminiscence on a wave of bright, shiny synth and ‘80s guitar. They hope in these songs you’ll hear the hum of old TV station idents, the buzz of FM radio; see the light reflecting off a new CD, the first flickering images of a late-night horror movie; and feel the joy of the first day of a childhood summer. Genre-wise? Maybe you could call it Post-Yacht? Proudly DIY, everything they do is written, recorded, mixed and mastered in-house.
Artists who influenced this record include: Daft Punk, Phosphorescent, Afghan Whigs, Tears for
Fears, Islands, Deerhunter, Madonna, Steely Dan, Amadou & Mariam, REM, New Order, Hall &
Oates, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper and Curtis Mayfield.
Their previous album Un Diavolo En Casa came out in 2022 and is a reimagined soundtrack to a
long-lost Italian horror movie. You should give that a listen too. It’s dark though, and
some of the vocals were recorded on an iPhone, so…
Martyrs are Jon and Michael, who grew up together in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales and now
reside in Kent, England. Fortunately, you cannot find them on any social media platforms but you
can email them, if you like, at [email protected].
“All profits from both CD (yes, we’re making CDs for some reason) and download purchases of
Luminism on our Bandcamp will go to Trussell Trust: Stop UK Hunger. They support essential
food banks throughout the United Kingdom and you can make a donation to them here.”
