Louis & The Shakes have shared their snarling new single ‘BLACKOUT 9.0’ – listen here.
Sonically gargantuan, the track harnesses burly percussion from the get go whilst weaving spiky synths with a fizzing falsetto vocal delivery. It follows on from the band’s last release ‘sorry. x’ earlier this year, which began to tease the four-piece’s new, heavier sound.
Speaking about the track in more detail vocalist Louis Antoniou says, “I had to really dig deep on this one as this is one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written. I had the concept and lyrics for a while, but I chopped and changed the arrangement numerous times…eventually on the 9th attempt I felt like it was a true representation of my experiences, using alcohol as an escapism and the added anxieties that come with that. There was also something quite tongue in cheek about calling it ‘BLACKOUT 9.0’ as if blacking out repeatedly. That gallows humour is something I particularly enjoy, because that’s very real to me.”
He continues, “I feel as a band we really pushed ourselves with this track, we all knew this one had the makings to be one of our boldest tracks. The intensity ramps up with every section of the track which I was conscious of doing, evoking that rush and simultaneously descending into oblivion.”
Releasing via the iconic Marquee Records label, the single follows on from last month’s triumphant show at The Lexington in London, and sees the band at the peak of their evolution, honing a darker soundscape whilst nodding towards a more pop sensibility. Previously the band have seen support from Radio X, BBC Introducing, Gigwise, Louder Than War and Far Out Magazine, and now armed with a richer and fuller sound they’re set to propel themselves even further into the stratosphere.
‘BLACKOUT 9.0’ is available to stream now.