‘Lucky Star’ by Marlin’s Dreaming | New Album, ‘HIRL’
Exclusive video premiere of ‘Lucky Star’ by Dunedin indie pop outfit Marlin’s Dreaming, taken from their upcoming album ‘HIRL,’ dropping on August 16th.
Following on from their soft spoken and dynamic ‘Hello, My Dear’ single last month, ‘Lucky Star’ delivers a mesmerizing tempo and highlights Semisi’s vocal prowess. ‘Lucky Star’ is an upbeat beat melodic single that will capture your attention from the beginning to the end.
Semisi on the track “It’s kinda a funny song. It’s written in this mixed-up past and present tense, and the lyrics just flow out like a stream of consciousness. I’m trying to match the song’s fluid vibe, picking words that fit both meaning and rhythm. The phrases slide right into the beat’s pocket, making it feel like it’s cruising fast on a grid. The song kicked off with that opening riff, and we built it up from there. We recorded it about five minutes after writing it. We were still figuring it out as we recorded, and it took a bunch of live takes to nail it. This is one of the only songs we’ve started with a riff—usually, a guitar riff or melody comes later. So, it’s a different approach for us. The album needed an upbeat, fast-paced track, and this one hit the mark. It might be the last song we wrote and tracked before wrapping up the album. But really, it’s just a love song about my partner and me, and the feeling that sometimes I can’t quite provide exactly what they want and need. Yet, somehow, we’ve been together for ages, and it’s worked. So, I guess I’m questioning it, accepting it, and reflecting on it all at once.”
‘HIRL’ is a complex and layered indie pop record that sparkles and shines with a studio pop gusto not seen for some seven years from the band. Notably, it takes the layered and tender songwriting of the previous records and levels up the production to a sparkling studio pop sheen. ‘HIRL’ marks a turn for Marlin’s Dreaming as they level up their production and embrace a pop mindset.
Semis Maiai explains “Overall this is a happier record. Sure it’s still a bit emo – all of my music is – but it’s probably a tad lighter. Probably because I’m more positive than I was then! Musically this has meant we are no longer afraid of the pop elements; big climaxes, high production value and not being afraid to make it sound flash and not super distorted. While some of the songs on the album keep us tied to that time in Dunedin all living and writing together, we started to find that many of the songs we had didn’t fit within the bubbly, fun pop-ness of the kind of album we wanted to write.”
The album started its journey soon after 2021’s ‘Hasten’ with Marlin’s Dreaming descending into the familiar territory of laying down tracks for a new record in their home territory of Dunedin. But following the session the band did a total 180, searching for a different sound than attained on previous records.
Headline photo: Nina Oxley
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