Honey Joy’s forthcoming album ‘II’ is out shortly – on 04 September – and today they’ve given a final taster of the record in the form of new track ‘Raising Boys’. Vocalist Meg Tinsley says it’s about: “Seeing the most wonderful soft and compassionate human-being raised to be a man. And toxic masculinity destroying them.”
With London indie punk label Everything Sucks behind them, Honey Joy have been blazing the DIY trail since they were 16 years old, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2017. ‘II’ was recorded at the sadly recently closed Music Land Studios in Haggerston, London with Simon Small (Black MIDI, Apologies, I Have None, Cult Dreams, The Front Bottoms) over a mere five days last year. “Our beloved pug dog Vinnie was on hand at each session to give creative advice to Simon when it was needed,” says guitarist (and Meg’s husband) Matt Tinsley.
With punk rock and indie pop influences combining in a cathartic swirl of sound and spirit, ‘II’ is a journey between the dark and the light. Meg wrote half the songs whilst signed-off sick from work due to her mental health and the other half when she was out the other side and on a mission of self love. It’s “an exploration of the places your mind can go and a narrative of my experiences during those times,” she says.