5 days ago
7
The four-piece have played all the usual suspects when it comes to showcasing new acts, and all while mostly underage. If you live in the capital, you’ve surely caught one of their shows - or at least you should have, even if you're a lacklustre fan of new music. "Crashing Down" is the first single to be taken from their forthcoming EP, Please Leave, I Need To Wake Up Now, which will be self-released at the end of November, and is essentially about change – for better or worse.
“We chose "Crashing Down" as our first single because it’s so different to our previous releases," guitarist Ivy explains. "We wanted to start afresh for this EP. It’s one of our favourite songs we’ve written and one we’re most proud of.” Recorded in a few days at East London's Strongroom Studios with increasingly in-demand producer Adele Phillips, being in one space for an extended time has had an obvious impact on the band’s output. It's an impressive intro to any act, but even more so for four teenagers going through the usual identity crises your most formative years can bring. All while excelling at school, playing a tonne of shows, and still creating something with real impact.
"Crashing Down" specifically is a clear marker of a new sound. There’s no outside interference here, no “start with the chorus and keep it to 3 minutes”. Instead they build from a haunting, drawn out, near-whispered intro, morphing into what feels like a rapid descent, only to stop, and slow, and pull you back – audible edging, if you will. The track distorts and builds to a near howl two-thirds through, but still with enough space to appreciate the interplay of each individual part, the eventual calm of the closing section all the more valuable for the anxiety beforehand (perfectly reflected in the cover art, too).
Ivy goes on to explain just some of the alchemy that led to the new single: “Being in the same room last summer allowed us to change and develop the songs and our ideas as we went along. Some of those new ideas fast became our favourites across the EP. In the past we’ve gone in with a specific idea and had to stick to it, in the interest of saving time. Adele’s input in the studio was so great for us because she had ideas about both our creative and commercial approaches, as a performer and a producer herself this was so beneficial. Adele was great at managing to keep us focused but also allowing us to have loads of fun, meaning there was a good balance between productive and creative.”
Phillips is similarly effusive of Red Ivory’s abilities: “After seeing the band play at a showcase, I was really impressed with their energy and skill for such a young band. When working they had a great ability to manage themselves and each other, probably due to their close friendship, and to collaborate when it came to making changes.”
English (US) · 