UTG PREMIERE: Highlander – “Except For Your Friend”

HIGHLANDER NEW SONG PREMIERE

Atlanta-based indie pop quartet Highlander dives into the mystically strange with its latest track, “Except For Your Friend.” The track, which comes off of the band’s March 10 EP Weird Future, is a utter melodic trip. Channeling a mixture of ’80s nostalgia a la The Cure and modern indie elements the likes of Grizzly Bear, “Except For Your Friend” is not a track to sleep on.

Highlander’s Joie Oliver had this to say about the track:

Except For Your Friend” was an older song that originally was a punky, surf-rock thing before there was a band to actually play it. Garrett heard the riff on an old demo of a group of songs was labeled ‘Night Boners.’ I was starting to get into drones and more textural stuff, so I had the idea to slow it down. It just made sense. Then Sam came up with that guitar harmony, really a very simple part, but it just made the whole song sound deeper, more emotive. I had a synth in front of me that was great for pads. Every layer we added seemed to click right into place, until what started as a simple guitar figure turned into something almost symphonic.

The lyrics come from that frustration of when you’re into someone, but can’t chill with them without also chilling with their whole group. You’re just thinking, ‘if I could just talk to you one-on-one…’ Over time, you realize that there’s a not-nice, almost predatory note underlying that kind of emotion. The way the song developed in the band’s arrangement, slowing it down and focusing on texture, it’s less aggressive and more lonely. It’s like, when you’re newly single and you’re aware of these feelings of frustration and entitlement and how fucked-up they are, but they’re there anyway, and who knows, maybe that’s why you’re single.

The band’s new EP, which is set to be released via Deer Bear Wolf Records, is sure to indulge the mind and body of indie lovers far and wide. Check out “Except For Your Friend” below and leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Comments are closed.