MAL DE MER RELEASE NEW TRACK ‘SMILE’ INSPIRED BY THE RECENT BUSHFIRES SPREAD ACROSS AUSTRALIA

Perth’s Indie-Surf Funk outfit Mal de Mer have just dropped their latest single ‘Smile’. Having caught air on Triple J with their previous singles ‘Goodbye Headache’ and ‘Sunshine and Thunder’, ‘Smile’ carries a new theme of inspiration with the song's message.

Usually following the common themes of love, relationships and heartbreak, ‘Smile’ takes a new path down the direction of Australia’s politics. Saskia Fleming (vocals) is excited to move the band in the new direction with the single.

“It was a comfort zone for me for a long time, and I wanted to push the envelope a bit this year and hone my craft by writing about a topic that is not as 'safe' and much more divisive. Virtually everyone can relate to songs about love, but I know not everyone is going to relate to how I was feeling about our country's leadership during the bushfire crisis; so just saying 'fuck it' and releasing it anyway has been a really empowering experience!”

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Broderick Madden-Scott at Tunafish Recording Company (Stella Donnelly, Noah Dillon), ‘Smile’ brings us the familiarity of Mal de Mers’ funky energy but with something different. The instrumental that stretches out the end of the track accompanied with a haunting Trumpet solo really solidifies the chorus lyrics for me, “say smile, so I frown, I frown, I frown”. Bringing the song's happy energy to a solemn reflective ‘frown’.

“Mal de Mer have a lyrical approach that carries the kind of cynicism that is characteristic to the Gen Y experience.” - X-Press Magazine, 2019

Having only been in the Perth music scene since 2018, the five piece band has shown promising growth, supporting the likes of Keiran J Callinan, DZ Deathrays, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets and Sly Withers. As well as bringing in the 2019 New Year with Great Gable, Death by Denim and Dulcie.

With hopeful tours on the horizon, it is safe to assume there are great tracks to come from Mal de Mer.

‘Smile’ is available on all streaming platforms.
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Keeley Connolly