By Jace Hawker
Take The Libertines, turn it up to 11, add a handful of drive and pair it with some of the best songwriting to come out of Bristol this year- this is The New America’s latest single. After listening through this heartbreakingly melodic and intoxicatingly raw track, I began picking my brains trying to think of a catchy sentence to sum it up. This is what I came up with:
Noisy, tasteful and undoubtedly original- each section of Papillon offers up an eclectic musical palette for the hungry consumer to feast upon. From the moment the crunchy guitars and lamenting bass kick in, this song offers plenty to be obsessed with. Its cutting lyrics tell a story of friendship, mental health, recovery with a tinge of despair. It is the bands studio recording debut and they’ve already perfected a raw and distinctive sonic quality that sets them apart from other artists in this often-muddied genre- I specifically appreciated their unique and icy guitar tone.
Papillon is the perfect auditory commentary of the human condition- coming to us at the perfect time, as we all continue to live in lockdown. This is exactly what my ears have been waiting for! Its sheer honesty forced me to reflect on the current state of the world and empathise for those going through a hard time. It perfectly encapsulates what music can- and should do. I am beyond excited to hear what these guys come up with next. Until live music returns to our daily lives and we can catch a TNA show, keep up with the band on socials:
Facebook facebook.com/newamericaband/
Instagram @newamericaband
Bristol Music Journal 