The Mary Onettes is an exceptional Swedish band that formed in 2000, led by brothers Philip and Henrik Ekström. By 2014, they had released four full-lengths and a number of EPs and singles through the beloved Swedish label Labrador Records.
They developed a lush guitar-driven dream pop sound, with rich delays and cavernous reverbs. Their approach fit perfectly with other Swedish dream pop bands such as The Radio Dept. and The Amazing.
From 2015 through 2018, they released four tracks through Cascine. Then last year they signed with Gothenburg based Welfare Sounds & Records and released a three song EP, What I Feel In Some Places. The band brought the drums forward with a nice crunching snare and beefy bass kick, and centered the tracks with synths. Philips vocals and songwriting is full of stirring melancholic sadness.
Today (March 10), The Mary Onettes dropped a new single called Easy Hands and it’s an incredible track. Philip’s vocal melodies and harmonies are golden. The song carries the fat kick and snare beat forward, and it finds the perfect blend between atmospheric guitars and synths. There are a lot of guitar textures with delays that fill the mids, slight analog synths that add just the right touch, and a fuzzy synth bass that comes in during the chorus. You’ll hear more details with every listen.
Philip Ekström said this about the song:
“After quite a long time being artistically a bit unsatisfied ‘Easy Hands’ came to life when I realized that making art is really who I am. I can’t escape from it. But In order to keep making art I need to be nice to myself. That’s the core of the lyrics behind ‘Easy Hands'”
Philip Ekström (Force Field PR)
Pearl Machine is a b-side instrumental and spoken word. It begs to be placed with moving images that evoke a longing from within.
Philip Ekström released an album in 2020 you may have missed under the moniker of H.MOON. The songs were stripped down with precise instrument placements. It’s a soul-searching album that draws strong emotions. You can read my review of the album here.
Welfare Sounds & Records promises “more news is coming soon,” so we’ll wait with anticipation. Cannot wait to hear more!
They Mary Onettes – Easy Hands (lyrics)
Easy hands we are dead apart
You’re everything that shakes my heart
And you catch me falling
For the depths I aim
Easy hands you play a part
Hold me still, am I here at all
Pulled away by the undertow
Can we lean from the edge of it all
Looking at a moment where I used to break
I can feel it, and I’m older It’s a change I never saw
Easy, Easy Hands
Pull me up
I shouldn’t let it be a part of me
I can stay there
But I’m older
It’s a change I never saw
Easy, Easy Hands
Let’s levitate
I see a world
I wasn’t there at all
You place vourself where we can melt
There was a time when we just burned
Looks like we made it
But do we know what the world will be giving
Easy hands you play a part
Am I moving away, away from it all ?
Am I closer to the dream now?
Am I still on the edge of it all?
Looking at a moment that I used to fear
I don’t love it
But I’m older
It’s a change I never saw
Easy, Easy Hands Pull me up
I shouldn’t let it be a part of me
Everything I ever got from your heart I carry now
With Easy, Easy Hands
I levitate
I see a world
It ain’t the one I knew
Darkness cannot be a friend now
Darkness cannot be a friend now
Everything will be much more to keep
Looking at the moments never stop
Bring it out to the world
Looking at a moment that I used to fear
I could run
But I just want to feel the flow through all of this
With Easy, Easy Hands
Pull me up
I shouldn’t let it be a part of me
I could stay there
But I’m older
It’s a chance I never saw
Easy, Easy Hands
Written By: Philip Ekstrom
(source: Apple Music)
