Rising Australian/British band, Greatest Hits return with their new single, ‘Nuclear Love’ on November 18th, the first single taken from their new EP ‘Volume 2’ available now.
Existing in the space between Sunshine Pop, 70’s groove, and Neo-Psych ‘Volume 2’ demonstrates a deft ability to melt multiple genres and influences. Whilst exploring elements of indie-pop, soul, funk, psych-rock and more, Greatest Hits use these sounds to establish their own brand of danceable, yet vulnerable energy.
“At its core, Greatest Hits is about handling the heavy things, lightly,” says frontman Ryan Cooper. “We want to flip it on its head – laugh at our insecurities, and point out our struggles, while having a good time!”
A good time is definitely had with lead single ‘Nuclear Love’ out November 18th – a lo-fi bop about infatuation, which glistens with a new wave groove. Elsewhere there’s fun Beach Boys-vibes in the addictive opening track ‘Spicy’ whilst the jangly ‘Pleasure To Meet You’ is what the band call their most collaborative track, written over a couple years in three different countries, with six different people including Timothy Lanham of The Vaccines. There’s also the wistful love song ‘Banana Moon’ and the sun-drenched psychedelic pop of ‘Palm Springs’ which explores the illusion that everything works out supposedly easily for some people – “It’s my realisation that everyone is figuring out their own struggles,” says Ryan, “that most good things just require hard work.”
Greatest Hits is the project of Australian artist, Ryan Cooper. Whilst living in the UK and after extensive touring with bands, Hollow Coves, and Halfnoise (Zac Farro of Paramore), Ryan began work on something more accurately reflecting his influences with initial help from fellow musician, Josh Macyntire (Marmozets/Dream Ceremony), who was crashing on his couch at the time. With no intention of developing things further, those early demos travelled from friend to friend, resulting in Greatest Hits agreeing to play their debut show – with no band, and a collection of half-finished songs. Joined by Henry Chatham (bass), Chelsea Foley (vocals/percussion), and a rotating line-up of musicians, Greatest Hits were soon playing a string of supports including The Districts, Ezra Furman, Halfnoise, Lost Under Heaven, and Holy Wave, along with UK festivals like Live at Leeds, This Must Be the Place and Leeds Emerging – fast earning a reputation for their engaging live shows.
A temporary relocation to America saw the band spending time between New York and Nashville, in what became a significant time of writing and recording, before returning to homeland Australia for their next chapter. After receiving BBC Radio 1 support in the UK, an official Triple J add in Australia, and a huge year supporting the likes of Donny Benet, San Cisco, King Stingray, The Buoys – the band’s latest release sees them working with Shags Chamberlain (Mac Demarco, Weyes Blood, Drugdealer), to produce a sound that is full of both timeless groove and modern sensibilities.
The single ‘Nuclear Love’ and the EP ‘Volume 2’ is available now.