Legendary alt-rock/indie-pop songwriter Jamie Lenman is delighted to unveil the video for his towering, melodic new single ‘Talk Hard’ which is released on 11th August 2022 via Big Scary Monsters.
The new single comes ahead of Lenman’s performance on the Yokhai Stage at ArcTanGent Festival on Friday 19th August 2022.
The first hint at a leaner and more mainstream leaning sound to come from his new material, commenting on the single Lenman says: “I’ve been trying for a long time to do something a bit more melodic, and Talk Hard is the first flowering of that. People tell me they can hear Weezer in there which is great as they’ve always been heroes of mine, particularly the first two albums.”
“Lyrically it’s about standing up for yourself, for making sure that your voice is heard by people you feel are ignoring you—be that your friends, your family, your boss or even your government. It’s about encouraging and empowering people, standing behind them and lending them your support. Very positive, after all the negative feelings from King Of Clubs.”
In a crossover into his alternate universe sideline stage-managing cabaret shows, the video for the track stars Lenman and hula-hoop performer Amazi Hoops. It was directed by Jen Hingley from Manchester alt-rock band False Advertising, who also plays guitar in Lenman’s live band.
“I consciously tried to not cook up any ideas of my own for this track so that Jen could have free reign without my interference,” explains Lenman of the concept for the video. “She came up with this tin can idea that I really liked. It seemed very similar to the kind of videos we used to make back in the band days, with a quirky concept and even a little mystery. We went and did it in one day, filmed in the same room where the band rehearse and the fields nearby, and it came out great!”
Recorded at The Chapel studios in Chichester over January and February 2022, the new material was engineered, produced and mixed by Mark Roberts (Delta Sleep, Black Peaks, The Physics House Band) with additional engineering by Kieran Heighes, and mastered by Ed Woods (The Who, Manic Street Preachers, VUKOVI).
The sheer catchiness of Lenman’s new material is undeniable, and was proven on the road when he took his new-look three-piece band to this year’s Download Festival and played a set of entirely unheard tracks. The capacity crowd erupted into spontaneous sing-alongs despite never having heard a single note before, resulting in one of the surprise highlights of the weekend.
Combined with dazzling artwork from renowned Washington Post/Wall St Journal illustrator Michael Parkin, Lenman will be unleashing his new softer side on an eager public later this year, alongside a string of live shows.
Further new music and live dates TBA.
New single ‘Talk Hard’ is out now on Big Scary Monsters
Jamie Lenman Live Dates:
19.08.22 – ArcTanGent Festival 2022 – Yokhai Stage
