PLUS, DEBUT EP:
‘DOORWAY CONVERSATIONS’
– OUT 3 JUNE 2022
LIVE DATES THIS MAY
Expertly tapping into and memorialising a certain place and time in history, the latest single from Headshrinkers is a lofty expanse of a track that merges spoken-word lyrics with velvety vocal harmonies and opulent stretches of instrumentals.
As gentle acoustic guitar strums and skillfully-crafted poetry descend into an exhilarating crescendo of steady and majestic drums, jubilant riffs and increasingly urgent vocals, “The Sea Has No Friends” ingeniously boasts the band’s breadth. Straying slightly from the rip-roaring post-punk of their earlier singles, the new track stays true to the band’s knack for capturing the imagination and evoking the sights and sounds of a specific — and at times long forgotten — moment in time.
Of the story behind the track, vocalist and songwriter Garran Hickman explains:
“It was quite the reflective day when I wrote that piece. Words and melody were both written in half an hour. It’s just two entwined memories really: one is of my older relatives sharing stories of their loved ones in the war, and secondly the opening line, ‘the sea has no friends’, are words my dad used to describe the sea.”
Produced and mixed by Gavin Monoghan at Magic Garden Studios in Wolverhampton and engineered by Liam Radburn, the track comes as an astute follow up to the band’s most recent single “Monocle”.
An anthemic and anarchic track with earworm choruses and playful punk instrumentals, “Monocle” came complete with a hedonistic video filmed at the Black Country Living Museum — which featured prominently in hit BBC series Peaky Blinders — and nods to the area’s notorious history.
“The Sea Has No Friends” also comes as another glimpse into Headshrinkers’ forthcoming EP ‘Doorway Conversations’ — a debut poetic upshot that is the culmination of the band’s recent creative output.
The extended release captures the zeitgeist of lyricist Garran Hickmans’ early life through to the present day, with striking observational lyricism blended with heady and acerbic punk instrumentals. With poetry nodding to Hickmans’ youth and videos and artwork paying homage to the band’s home and upbringing in the Black Country, Headshrinkers have set out to create songs expressing anecdotes, memories and misfortunes in their first oeuvre as a form of catharsis to ready them for their promising new chapter.
Now gearing up to release the ‘Doorway Conversations’ EP on 3 June, the band are set to play a run of live dates across the UK this spring. With a frenetic energy and a full-force approach to live shows, frontman Garran Hickman’s captivating, visceral performance takes audiences on a riotous and compelling journey as they are blasted with Headshrinkers’ unrelenting brand of poetry-laced punk. Catch the band at these dates as follows:
HEADSHRINKERS UK LIVE DATES 2022
12th May – Royal Park, Leeds
13th May – The Jacaranda, Liverpool
19th May – Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield
20th May – North Street Social, Wolverhampton
Headshrinkers are Garran Hickman (vocals), James Knott (guitar), Xavier Al-Naqib (bass) and Scarlett Churchill (drums, backing vocals). Having formed in 2019 and bonded over a shared vision of capturing the intricacies of modern life within their music, the Black Country-based foursome have been quick to make a name for themselves on their local music scene and beyond.
Carving out an unmistakable sound characterised by its unflinching poetry set atop searing and confrontational guitar riffs, thunderous basslines and pummelling drums, Headshrinkers were dubbed as Brum Radio’s ‘Band of the Year’ for 2020, and named on This Feeling’s ‘Big in 2021’ list.
Dubbed as “noisy, moody and absolutely brilliant” by Happy People, the band’s sound has been described as “incendiary post-punk laced with stunning poetic majesty” by This Feeling. With comparisons to Joy Division and a commendation for their “clear intellectual depth” coming from Our Sound Music, After Paris also commended Headshrinkers for their “pounding, high energy instrumentals” that “combine perfectly with vocals akin to the most exciting bands in the UK’s thriving punk scene.”
TO RELEASE NEW SINGLE: “THE SEA HAS NO FRIENDS” || DEBUT EP ‘DOORWAY CONVERSATIONS’
OUT 3 JUNE 2022
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
