LISTEN TO NEW SINGLE: “IMERICA”
WITH B-SIDE: “SALT YOUR WOUNDS”
WITH B-SIDE: “SALT YOUR WOUNDS”
OUT TODAY, VIA BLAGGERS RECORDS
Longstanding Gospel/Trash renegade – LONGY – shakes up Summer 2021 with a spate of essential new releases via Blaggers Records.
Marking his return today with a double-helping of new tracks, the enigmatic Essex artist releases the new single: “iMerica”, backed with the B-side: “Salt Your Wounds”
From its lacerating opening gambit, “i is for the motherf**ker, telling me to hate on colour” Longy makes his voice loud and intentions clear. A brash, in-your-face clash of RATM-esque rock fury, thunderous brass and incisive spoken-word, “iMerica” builds a searing critique of the contemporary cultural landscape that tackles issues of politics, nationalism, technology and racism.
Firing shots at America and the wider world, Longy says of the track’s visceral subject matter:
“I’m sure like anyone, the world was unhinged when Trump got into the presidency, I assumed the world would now be in a different place no matter what other countries did against him. I was sick of the racial slurs, that’s why I thought the first line should be absolute and completely on the plate…. “
Initially beginning life as a band instrumental, Longy added its call-to-arms chorus during the intense Summer of 2020. Written looking out over the sea in his native Southend and lost deep in thought at the state of the world, Longy remembers:
““As soon as the pandemic hit, we were bombarded by all these Netflix programmes and futuristic views. I’m a massive Charlie Brooker fan so it was easy to see where I think it’s going… I could have picked any country but America is just like watching a film daily live on the news. Plus iGanda didn’t really have the same ring to it.”
On a campaign to bring the B-side back, the track is backed by the more mellow and reflective: “Salt Your Wounds”; a collaboration with Jazzie Sirius who helped orchestrate the lush, languid Eastern textures that accompany Longy’s wrought vocal. Whatever happened to the B-side?
“There was a time when you couldn’t wait to listen to the b-side of a new single a band or artist had just put out.” says Longy. “It could have been anything, a remix of the single, an instrumental, a Chemical Brothers remix, an acoustic story song, an acoustic version of the single, do we worry more about making everything perfect when maybe life also needs the imperfections too. Let’s Take Rod Stewart and the DJ in Milwaukee who decided to flip the a-side and introduce the world to Maggie May.”
The lead single, “iMerica”, is also confirmed to feature on a brand new six-track EP, earmarked for release on 4th July 2021. As politically on the pulse as this A side single, Longy’s upcoming EP will cover the grounds of a class system, mental health, the fall-out of Black Lives Matter and more, with an overall message of hope and belief that things can still change for the better.
LONGY – EP TRACKLIST
Trust in life
The underclass
Potential
Imerica
Lockdown & reset
Lifejacket
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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 and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
