Having relocated to London, Gang Of Youths have redefined their creative process and evolved their sound as they look to make their biggest statement to date. The first chapter of this new era starts today as they share their new single ‘the angel of 8th ave.’. The track represents their first new music since 2017’s ‘Go Farther In Lightness’ album.
‘the angel of 8th ave.’ is a striking step forward for the band as they embark upon the most vital phase of their career so far. This time they’re channelling the musical lineage of their new life in the UK, drawing on the hypnotic motorik grooves of Joy Division and the luminous synths that embody classic New Order. It’s an utterly assured evolution of the ambitious, transformative power of music that they have become renowned for.
The song also represents a shift in Dave Le’aupepe’s lyrical approach. Now his focus falls on exposing the beauty and elegance of conversational, tell-as-it-is language in a song about the grandest of emotions. Simultaneously, it is still both poetic and intensely real. His opening words hone sharply in on a moment that changed the direction of his life, while the spectre of death conversely provides a glimpse of a brighter future.
He says, “It’s about falling in love, and finding a new life in a new city together.”
Entirely self-produced, the track was recorded in their own studio in Hackney, a place which provides them with unlimited creative freedom. It was subsequently mixed by the Grammy-winning Craig Silvey (Arcade Fire, The National).
Directed by Joel Barney, the song’s accompanying video was filmed in the band’s hometown of Angel, North London. The focal point is a tight close-up of Le’aupepe’s hugely charismatic performance, as the band dart from the bustle of the station to the relative desolation of the canal.
