NEWS
Nation Of Language share new single and tour dates
20 October 2021
Brooklyn’s Nation of Language consider the absurdity of unfettered capitalism and the self-interests of giant corporations as well as the mega-rich in their new single and video, ‘The Grey Commute’. The trio also announces a worldwide deal with [PIAS], to release their highly anticipated second album A Way Forward on 5th November via Play It Again Sam.
Discussing ‘The Grey Commute’ songwriter/vocalist Ian Devaney said, "In some ways ‘The Grey Commute’ is one of the more upbeat songs of the record, but in truth it’s one that was born out of much more depressing stuff. As I was working on the lyrics I had a kind of fixation on terrible tax policies, our cultural addiction to meaningless consumption, and it all got swept together into this punchy, kind of fun track."
He explains further, “To give a sense of time: the Republican tax plan, under which we’re currently living, was just being passed and it was pretty clear just how mind-bindingly stupid it was. Such deep cuts to the taxes of the hyper-wealthy and corporations were both shocking and not shocking at all, and it was difficult to comprehend that anyone thought it wouldn’t lead to the exacerbation of the inequality and instability that defines our time. But here we are. You can see everything I felt then pretty clearly represented on the page when absent any backbeat and melody, but the rant gets dressed up a bit with some bounciness on the final cut to help serve as a bit of a Trojan horse to hopefully get the sentiment across."
The video’s overt absurdity serves a similar purpose in trying to compliment the absurdity of the subject matter. We turned the task of hitting that particular note over to our friend Gary Canino, who has been churning out amazing videos for his own musical project (Dark Tea) for some time. We’d been devouring his work over the past year, and Aidan actually ended up in the video for his song 'Buying A Gun'. He’s able to use humour in a way that has thus far eluded me when it comes to making our own videos, and this really felt like the right song to bring some of that energy too."
The band have had outstanding support from The Times, DIY, NME, Pitchfork, BBC6 Music, CLASH, Gigwise, Consequence and more. Previous single ‘This Fractured Mind’ remains on BBC6 Music’s A-List for a fourth week, with ‘A Word & A Wave’, ‘Across That Fine Line’, and ‘Wounds Of Love’ being further previews of the new album.
While much of the sounds on first album Introduction, Presence garnered comparisons to the synth-punk sound of the 80’s, with this new set of songs the band delved heavily into the Krautrock pioneers and electronic experimentalists of the 70’s for inspiration in the studio, stretching their boundaries in new and different ways. Production on the record was divided between Abe Seiferth (who worked on Introduction, Presence) and Nick Milhiser of Holy Ghost!.
Nation Of Language are in the midst of their first ever US headline tour, performing at mostly sold out venues, while properly celebrating their acclaimed 2020 debut for the first time. This January, the band are set for an EU and UK tour with Berlin, Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester, and London sold out already. Limited tickets are available for other live dates here.
10/01 - Cologne, DE @ YUCA
11/01 - Antwerp, BE @ TRIX Bar
12/01 - Amsterdam, NE @ Paradisio
14/01 - Hamburg, DE @ Turmzimmer
15/01 - Copenhagen, DK @ Ideal Bar`
16/01 - Stockholm, SE @ Obaren
17/01 - Oslo, NO @ Bla
19/01 - Berlin, DE @ Kantine am Berghain [SOLD OUT]
20/01 - Zurich, CH @ Kater
22/01 - Barcelona, ES @ Laut
23/01 - Madrid, ES @ Sala El Sol
25/01 - Paris, FR @ Supersonic
27/01 - Leeds, UK @ Hyde Park Book Club [SOLD OUT]
28/01 - Glasgow, UK @ Broadcast [SOLD OUT]
29/01 - Dublin, IE @ The Grand Social
30/01 - Manchester, UK @ YES Basement [SOLD OUT]
31/01 - London, UK @ Lafayette [SOLD OUT]
Discussing ‘The Grey Commute’ songwriter/vocalist Ian Devaney said, "In some ways ‘The Grey Commute’ is one of the more upbeat songs of the record, but in truth it’s one that was born out of much more depressing stuff. As I was working on the lyrics I had a kind of fixation on terrible tax policies, our cultural addiction to meaningless consumption, and it all got swept together into this punchy, kind of fun track."
The video’s overt absurdity serves a similar purpose in trying to compliment the absurdity of the subject matter. We turned the task of hitting that particular note over to our friend Gary Canino, who has been churning out amazing videos for his own musical project (Dark Tea) for some time. We’d been devouring his work over the past year, and Aidan actually ended up in the video for his song 'Buying A Gun'. He’s able to use humour in a way that has thus far eluded me when it comes to making our own videos, and this really felt like the right song to bring some of that energy too."
The band have had outstanding support from The Times, DIY, NME, Pitchfork, BBC6 Music, CLASH, Gigwise, Consequence and more. Previous single ‘This Fractured Mind’ remains on BBC6 Music’s A-List for a fourth week, with ‘A Word & A Wave’, ‘Across That Fine Line’, and ‘Wounds Of Love’ being further previews of the new album.
While much of the sounds on first album Introduction, Presence garnered comparisons to the synth-punk sound of the 80’s, with this new set of songs the band delved heavily into the Krautrock pioneers and electronic experimentalists of the 70’s for inspiration in the studio, stretching their boundaries in new and different ways. Production on the record was divided between Abe Seiferth (who worked on Introduction, Presence) and Nick Milhiser of Holy Ghost!.
Nation Of Language are in the midst of their first ever US headline tour, performing at mostly sold out venues, while properly celebrating their acclaimed 2020 debut for the first time. This January, the band are set for an EU and UK tour with Berlin, Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester, and London sold out already. Limited tickets are available for other live dates here.
10/01 - Cologne, DE @ YUCA
11/01 - Antwerp, BE @ TRIX Bar
12/01 - Amsterdam, NE @ Paradisio
14/01 - Hamburg, DE @ Turmzimmer
15/01 - Copenhagen, DK @ Ideal Bar`
16/01 - Stockholm, SE @ Obaren
17/01 - Oslo, NO @ Bla
19/01 - Berlin, DE @ Kantine am Berghain [SOLD OUT]
20/01 - Zurich, CH @ Kater
22/01 - Barcelona, ES @ Laut
23/01 - Madrid, ES @ Sala El Sol
25/01 - Paris, FR @ Supersonic
27/01 - Leeds, UK @ Hyde Park Book Club [SOLD OUT]
28/01 - Glasgow, UK @ Broadcast [SOLD OUT]
30/01 - Manchester, UK @ YES Basement [SOLD OUT]
31/01 - London, UK @ Lafayette [SOLD OUT]
