Groovy Goodness: The Hails’ latest single is the energetic, catchy song you’ve been waiting for
By Laura Gerhäusser
If you’re on the hunt for a new, fresh song to dance to, you’re in luck: The Hails are back - and they are groovier than ever.
The band, who met at the University of Florida, released their latest single, “Denial,” on July 14. It perfectly demonstrates The Hails’ recipe for creating bops: heavy basslines, atmospheric guitar sounds, and punchy drum machines, combined with a convincing vocal performance. On top of that, it also features an exciting new approach to their unique signature production style.
As Franco Solari, guitarist and vocalist in the band, explains, “'Denial’ was a test of our boundaries creatively. When I first came up with the idea for the ending, I hid it on my computer for months until we got together in the studio. Thankfully, we were all open to exploring this new direction and let the song take us to places we hadn’t been before."
As soon as the song kicks off, it is guaranteed to make you want to get up and dance or, at the very least, bop your head along to the beat. As “Denial” progresses, sonic surprises will keep your ears tied to the music; it’s a perfect blend of pop, funk, and unexpected electronic elements.
Lyrically, the song explores the idea of denial in our lives. As the track explains, denial is often the easy way out when faced with a life-changing moment, or the longing and desire for escape. It’s a common and immediate way of coping. As the song describes,
“You know I sink into the deep and
waste another weekend
the changing of the seasons
never helped me get out of the motions.
I’m in denial
and it takes everything to keep myself from asking why
So in denial
if I release myself, take me back where we used to go.”
“‘Denial’ was one of the first songs I started writing after we all graduated from college and could no longer live in the same city,” Solari continues. “I was feeling some angst and uncertainty at the time and I think that came out in the lyrics. It was also my first real attempt at fleshing out a composition on my laptop using the limited production knowledge I had, which was really fun and liberating. We were able to develop and finish the idea together remotely and that’s basically how we’ve been making music ever since."
“Denial” is currently available for streaming on all platforms; listen now.
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PC: Liam Sheehan