February 2017 saw Australian trio Middle Kids razzle-dazzle the world with their self-titled EP, and in 2018, the group find themselves sweetening cups of tea and coffee around the world with their highly contagious, rock-centric, pop-sensible tunes and emotionally vulnerable journeys of growth. This is all told and sonically carved into the 12-song, earth-busting record Lost Friends, released in May via Domino Recording Co.
The idea for the record’s title came from a realization had by vocalist and guitarist Hannah Joy. “I was remembering all these old friends of mine that I never see anymore,” she shares, “some because of the seasons of life, some because of conflict, and some because of distance. That’s a sad thing, but it’s also the reality of life, and just because something is inevitable doesn’t mean that you don’t grieve it.” The song of the same name is one of the few soft-trodden tracks on the record, full of isolated sentiment.
Otherwise, Middle Kids really know how to beam as bright as the sun, with an energetic bounce present on tracks like “On My Knees” and “Mistake.” The heavy reflections still remain, but the liveliness and vigor of the songs rips through the soundscape thanks to Harry Day’s drumming, Joy’s melodic progressions, and bassist and multi-instrumentalist Tim Fitz’ grounding influence. “On My Knees” is extraordinary with its constant in-your-face dynamics, slamming through frantic Latin syncopated drum beats, bursting guitar chords, and a streamlined bassline running through the mix. “I remember Hannah writing the opening riff for that in a soundcheck somewhere in the States,” Fitz comments. “Months later, we ended up going back to it and just going crazy with it.”
Much of the record features Joy finding ways to let things out, stringing her thoughts through songs like “Bought It” and “Edge of Town.” The latter track explodes into a finale of winding vocals and a humming guitar lead after climbing through a seismic build. On her songwriting process, Joy comments, “The thing that really drives the dynamics is the emotion in each song, so we create moments around that. As in, creating a build or a drop or [a] ‘Wow, this song has been very intense for two minutes, let’s come up for air’ kind of thing.”
Lost Friends shines as a summery, anthemic release. Between the clashing of incredibly decadent atmospheres, shining instrumentals, and powerful emotions sprinkled throughout the release, Middle Kids have plenty more to offer without ever sounding stagnant. Each track on their debut LP has a distinct personality and vibe. Combine this with their poignant atmosphere, and Lost Friends is the perfect record for understanding one’s everyday life.
Photo by Ellie Smith
