06 July 2021 - 0 Comments

Grawlixes have released the second single in anticipation of the upcoming release of their second full-length album, Love You To Death.

Love You To Death will be released on July 15 on Home Alone Records and is available to pre-order now HERE  

The third single from the new album, City Across the Bay will be released on July 6th 2021.

The song is inspired by the view you have of Nelson from across Tasman Bay as you head towards Kaiteriteri. The type of view that’s rooted in NZ’s collective imagination, if not from actual experience then from pretty ad campaigns, probably selling you alcohol. 

"I moved to Nelson with my Mum and younger brother when I was seven and lived there until I went to University. The Cedermans (Mum’s side) were fortunate enough to have a share in a modest bach in Torrent Bay, and we would go there for family holidays while the younger generation were still young, and before my granddad’s senses had faded. They are some of my most precious memories - cards by kerosene lamp, make-shift mini golf, fishing from the wharf. Sadly, the family who we shared the bach with decided they wanted it for themselves so we lost access somewhere along the way, and now Torrent Bay is littered with million-dollar properties which entirely defeat the point. The magic is gone, as my uncle would say. 

City Across the Bay is a breakup song grounded in my feelings about Torrent Bay. I wrote it shortly after Penelope and I ended our relationship back in late 2016. The verses are from my perspective, and the choruses from Penelope’s, broadly speaking. A lot of my life is represented here one way or another, to the extent I was moved to tears when hearing the basic rhythm tracks back in the initial session. Such a relief knowing you have a good take! This is also one of two songs from Love You To Death that feature puns in their opening lines (the other is Modern Boy) and the only song on the album that features a swear word (‘shit’). Kinda ironic that we use so few swear words given our band name, and the purpose of Grawlixes (a literary term for the symbols that bleep out swear words). Next album will have to be far swearier! We will swear like drunk teenagers."

A lot has happened since Penelope Esplin and Robin Cederman recorded the first Grawlixes album in their spare bedroom as a couple in Dunedin. Their debut album was released to critical acclaim, reaching #9 in the NZ Album Charts. They have since toured extensively throughout Europe with label mates French for Rabbits (playing in Switzerland, Germany, France & England), ended their romantic relationship, moved to Wellington and expanded into a 5 piece. 

Grawlixes now consists of Penelope Esplin (Lake South, French for Rabbits) on vocals and accordion, Robin Cederman (Tahu & The Takahes, Prophet Hens) on vocals and electric guitar, Alex Vaatstra (Julian Temple Band, Emily Fairlight) on violin, Emma Hattaway (BoJack Funkman) on bass, and Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa (Dawn Diver, French for Rabbits) on drums. 

The album was recorded with Lee Prebble at The Surgery, in Wellington (L.A.B, The Black Seeds, Trinity Roots) and mixed with producer Tom Healy (Julia Jacklin, Tiny Ruins, Finn Andrews) and mastered by Paul Gold of Salt Mastering in Brooklyn, New York (Sufjan Stevens, Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors). The result is lush instrumentation, captivating performances and clean intimate vocals. Grawlixes have never had more to say, nor said it more affectingly. The melodies and harmonies are lovely, the production crackles with colour, and the whole thing marks a new level of achievement.

Love You To Death, runs the breadth of songwriting; from the tragedy of living life through a camera lens, through the animalistic nature people exhibit during a fight, to even plotting the murder of your partner.

GRAWLIXES LOVE YOU TO DEATH TOUR

July 22 - Nelson, The Boathouse 

July 23 - Marahau, Tim's Place 

July 24 - Takaka, Mussel Inn  

August 12 - Wellington, Meow

August 14 - Palmerston North, The Stomach 

August 15 - Hastings, Common Room

August 19 - Christchurch, Wunderbar 

August 20 - Dunedin, The Dive

August 21 - Oamaru, Grainstore Gallery (New date)

August 26 - Tauranga, The Jam Factory (New date)

August 27 - Hamilton, Nivara Lounge 

August 28 - Auckland, Wine Cellar

Tickets from Undertheradar.co.nz

You can find out more about the band here:

Grawlixes on Facebook

Grawlixes on Bandcamp

Grawlixes on ITunes

Instagram

Twitter

Grawlixes on Home Alone Label

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