The track arrives only months after their latest EP, total serene.
Image: Rashidi Noah
Australian legends Gang Of Youths are keeping the hits coming with the release of their new single, the man himself. The moving and contemplative track is a heart-thumping ode to frontman Dave Le’aupepe's late father.
Opening with striking strings from Tom Hobden and hymnal choral work, Gang Of Youths continue to push the boundaries of their sonic realm, presenting one of their most captivating tracks to date. Produced in their own studio space in Hackney, the symphonic release is built upon a pulse-racing beat and dimensional guitars, that move towards a contemplative piano breakdown. the man himself continues the groundwork set out on total serene, further sampling David Fanshawe’s field recordings of Indigenous Pacific music.
Channelling U2's Bono with his emotive and strong vocal performance, Le’aupepe enchanting vocal performance rings clear throughout the song as he navigates the loss of his father. Throughout the course of the song, Le’aupepe holds onto the memory whilst attempting to find his own purpose and ponder the future. “If I ever have kids I’m not really sure how to raise them without my dad helping me out.” the musician comments.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the band to re-route their creative output, using their new found downtime to challenge themselves musically and push the boundaries of their sound. “I think it’s been challenging for us, this whole process, but it’s probably going to be good for our music. We’ve gone in a less safe direction and it’s going to be more in line with Dave’s actual vision, rather than Dave pumping something out to get a deadline met,” says bassist Max Dunn. “We’re exploring so many different territories and sides of ourselves and that’s manifesting in the music,” adds keyboardist Jung Kim. “We’re doing things that have never really made an appearance in Gang Of Youths.”
Forming in 2011, Gang Of Youths have gone from strength to strength, with two acclaimed records, 2015’s The Positions and 2017’s Go Farther In Lightness, under their belt, with the latter earning them four prestigious ARIA Awards. Their 2015 premiere performance on Australia’s MTV Unplugged proved their .... as a live act, with sold out shows across the country, and support slots across Europe and the U.S with Mumford & Sons and Foo Fighters.
the man himself is out now! Listen to the track below.