Naarm/Melbourne-based artist Wilding has just released a new track titled ‘I Am’; a clever, playful, and introspective list of bittersweet affirmations, and the lead single from his upcoming album Whatever I Am, due out May 3rd.
“‘I Am’ is a song about identity. I sing a sardonic laundry list of words that asks us who we are and how we see ourselves. And whether this even matters. I decided instead it’s better to not ponder this idea for too long.”
WILDING
While the single’s lyrical content dances between the whimsical (“I am broken / I am fixed / I am KitKat / I am Twix”), the reflective (“I am misguided / I am woke”), and even the downright gloomy (“I am older / I am grey / I am dying / I am decay”), its sonic qualities maintain a total sense of joyous movement throughout. An absolute earworm of a track, ‘I Am’ is a wonderfully catchy Britpop style tune, underlaid by a ripper of a funk-rock bassline, and delivered with a side of gorgeously bright and bouncing guitar melodies.
Contrasting so sharply between the darker sentiments of the song and the groovy, almost cartoonishly vibrant nature of its soundscape, the result is something so memorable and exciting, characteristic of the classics of its genre:
“I like the juxtaposition of slightly melancholic lyrics with an upbeat energetic sound. The mix of happy and sad. ‘I Am’ does this. While the lyrics are darkly contemplative, the music is banging! In a Britpop-indie-disco type of way.” WILDING
‘I Am’ was recorded by Fabian Hunter (Jade Imagine, Zoe Fox, Baby Blue) at his Fishbones Tone Shack studio in Northcote, alongside Robin Waters (Eves Karydas, Dan Sultan, Ella Hooper) and Wilding frontman Justin Wilding Stokes.
Mixed, then, by ARIA Award-winning producer Wayne Connolly (The Teskey Brothers, You Am I, Babe Rainbow) and mastered by John Lee (The Murlocs, The Stroppies), the single is reminiscent of iconic Britpop acts like Blur, while incorporating the classic-pop sensibilities of those like The Beatles, and the grit and energy of newer acts like fellow Melbournians Gut Health.
Following the single, of course, will be the aforementioned new album, Whatever I Am, set to be released on May 3rd via Half A Cow Records. An album which Wilding describes as one “about generational identity,” the record poses the questions: “Is this me? Was this me? Will this be me?” to artist and audience alike. In celebration of the new release and its parent body of work to follow, Wilding will be performing a one-off show at Melbourne’s iconic Old Bar in Fitzroy:
“I’m always excited to jump on stage with the Wilding band. It's so energetic and euphoric! It's exciting times for us as we move forward as an established band, rather than a solo project. We’ll be getting to regional Victoria and the East Coast again soon.
We’re launching the album at our favourite watering hole, The Old Bar, Fitzroy on Friday 10 May. Joining Wilding will be the melancholically uplifting jangle-pop of Redspencer and the post-punk sounds of newcomers Follies.” WILDING
‘WHATEVER I AM’ ALBUM LAUNCH
Friday May 10th The Old Bar Melbourne
Supported by Redspencer and Follies