WATCH: Tomberlin – ‘happy accident’

A captivating reflection on the mental toll of existing in emotional purgatory when you’re in an undefined relationship, American songwriter Tomberlin has shared her latest single ‘happy accident’. Taken from her second album, i don’t know who needs to hear this… which is set for release on 29th April via Saddle Creek, ‘happy accident’ is a sincere, relatable guitar tune underscored by Tomberlin’s tender vocals and candid, relatable lyrics.

The follow up to her 2020 EP Projections and her debut album At Weddings (2018), Tomberlin’s new record promises to “to examine, hold space [and] make an altar for the feelings.” On ‘happy accident’ she unravels the many disconcerting thoughts that come with not knowing where you stand with someone romantically. Her observational lyrics cut deep throughout the track, particularly lines like: “walk five miles from my door / just to give you some more / do you just talk to me / when you’re lonely and bored?”

“‘happy accident’ is a song about relational obscurity. Trying to sort out who you are or who you were to someone,” Tomberlin explains. “Is this relationship romantic or is it just sex? Do you want to spend time with me or are you just bored? Do I make my own decisions that are good for me or are my decisions predominantly based on what I think you might want or need? I was kind of walking through moments in previous relationships in my life. I wanna know why someone wants to get to know me. Do you want to know me or just your idea of me? Do I want to know you or just my idea of you?”

From breaking away from her highly religious roots as a Pastor’s daughter in Kentucky, to relocating to New York to play music and featuring as a guest vocalist on Phoebe Bridgers’ last album Punisher, Tomberlin’s unconventional journey into music has paved the way for her exquisitely confessional songwriting. She’ll be touring the UK & Ireland in April and May this year.

Watch the video for ‘happy accident’ below.

Tomberlin UK & Ireland Tour Dates 2022

April 28th Margate – Caves
April 29th Nottingham – Rough Trade
May 1st Leeds – Brudenell Social Club
May 2nd Manchester – Yes (Basement)
May 3rd Edinburgh – Voodoo Rooms
May 4th Birmingham – Cuban Embassy
May 5th London – St Matthias Church
May 6th Cardiff – Clwb For Bach
May 7th Brighton – Kmedia Studio
May 8th Dublin – The Grand Social

Follow Tomberlin on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Facebook & Instagram

Photo Credit: Michelle Yoon

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Cage Park – ‘Hand Me Downs’

A brooding reflection on the time you spend lingering in the gap between leaving college and starting university, Birmingham-based indie outfit Cage Park have shared their latest single ‘Hand Me Downs’. The title track from their new EP which the band plan to release later this year, ‘Hand Me Downs’ is a coming-of-age tune that navigates the restlessness of youth.

Formed of Reuben Saunders (drums), Leo White (guitar), Edie Mist (bass and vocals) and Arthur Belben (vocals), Cage Park met at secondary school in 2017 whilst playing as part of the school’s rock and pop ensemble, but they’ve moved on musically since then. As the band have grown up side-by-side, it seems fitting that ‘Hand Me Downs’ documents this coming-of-age-process.

Born from the push and pull that comes with wanting to make a mature decision, but also wanting to enjoy moments of freedom, Cage Park blend yearning dual vocals, swirling riffs and post punk inspired beats to extrapolate on this wired feeling. The lyrics explore the many mundane and juvenile things we do – “small-talking / hand shaking” – to pass the time when we’re waiting for life to happen.

“The track was written around the recent changes in our lives,” bassist & vocalist Edie explains. “It’s about leaving college and taking gap years. Wanting to move towards adulthood but still ending up on the sofa watching cartoons.” Cage Park express this sentiment with relatable and exasperated flair, holding on to the comfort of their past before their futures unfold.

Listen to ‘Hand Me Downs’ below.

Follow Cage Park on Apple Music, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: VERO – ‘Cupid’

An intoxicating blur of urgent vocals and buzzing riffs, Stockholm-based trio VERO have shared their latest single ‘Cupid’. Taken from the band’s upcoming debut album Unsoothing Interior, which is set for release on 6th May via PNK SLM, the track is a raw exploration of lust and control, punctuated by discordant guitar noises and brooding lyrics.

Formed of teenage friends Julia Boman & Amanda Eddestål and Clara Gyökeres who they befriended whilst DJ’ing on the Stockholm nightclub circuit, VERO create music inspired by an eclectic range of influences. Their main purpose, aside from creating anthems with shades of 90s alternative icons Sonic Youth, is to challenge the idea of what a modern guitar band is supposed to be. That challenge started with previous singles ‘Beg!’ and a cover of Shame’s ‘Concrete’, but now the trio have further proved their ability to antagonise and intrigue listeners with their new single ‘Cupid’.

“‘Cupid’ was the first song we wrote that made the album” the band explain. “We had made a couple of demos before, but we weren’t loving them. They all sounded a bit too pretty and safe, so when the drums for Cupid were done, we took a guitar and started making these wheeling, chaotic noises, and that was it. That was the sound that set the tone for our album. The lyrics are a bit dream-like, it’s about lust and control.”

With their refreshingly candid approach to making music, VERO’s debut album is set to be a cathartic listen. “We don’t want to be super musicians,” bassist & vocalist Julia Boman explains further. “We want to write the best fucking songs and just have the best energy and show people that we’re having fun.” With ‘Cupid’, the band have certainly achieved that.

Listen to ‘Cupid’ below.

Follow VERO on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Pre-order VERO’s debut album Unsoothing Interior here

Photo Credit: Dan Kendall

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Maria BC – ‘The Only Thing’

A gentle musing on relinquishing yourself to the feeling of being in love again and having that feeling reciprocated, Maria BC has shared their latest single ‘The Only Thing’. Taken from their debut album Hyaline, which is set for release on 27th May, the track is a disarming, tender reflection on the serenity that sets in once you are fully “seen” by your partner in a new relationship.

Following on from their dreamy debut EP Devil’s Rain (2021), on Hylaine, Maria BC has created another tender collection of songs that “Let the world wash over you…rather than trying to pin it to one single thing.” This immersive quality is captured beautifully on ‘The Only Thing’, through Maria’s tentative guitar picks, atmospheric beats and soothing vocals.

“The track is about allowing yourself to be seen fully by another person. When you find they aren’t afraid, you realise you shouldn’t be either,” Maria explains about their new single. “It took me a bunch of tries to finish the arrangement for this one. It felt too sparse, while the song is about that full, effervescent, sun-is-coming-up feeling of new love. I spent several weeks adding parts and scrapping them — you know, getting nowhere. Then, at some point, I realised the refrain of another song I was working on had the same chord progression as ‘The Only Thing’ refrain. I turned that into a kind of counter-melody, Liz Fraser style, and I think it tied the whole thing together.”

The new track is accompanied by a beautiful video, shot by Olivia Q. Pintair and choreographed and Performed by C Green. Watch it below.

Follow Maria BC on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

Photo Credit: Ulysses Ortega

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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