The rising queen of daydream-pop, Hazel English, has parted our cloudy skies with the new sun-kissed track “Five and Dime” from her upcoming album “Wake UP!” arriving April 24th via Polyvinyl / Marathon. “Five and Dime” features English’s signature retro soundscape, paired with a wistful surf-rock tempo that radiates 1960s nostalgia. The anthemic hook drum rolls into a surreal, masterfully composed chorus that you’ll find yourself even singing in dreams.
“Five and Dime” is a vehicle for emotional liberation – inspired by a trip back to her former home in Oakland, the song represents English’s longing for escape in a stifling relationship. “Five and Dime” recalls an old East Bay nickname for the 510 area code; it’s a portrait of English’s nostalgia.
English’s music is modern and simultaneously timeless; her energy evokes this generation’s widespread yearning for a more sentimental, romantic era – while also remaining grounded in the politics of the present.
Hazel English’s upcoming album Wake UP! is a literal wake-up call and response to herself, a resolution to English’s anxieties about her greater purpose, as well as to life’s banalities. She’d ask herself: “Am I happy? Do I like the direction I’m going in life? Am I engaged with my community? Do I feel connected to others?” This record is a reminder to stay present and be mindful – of oneself and the collective socioeconomic issues at stake. English explains, “Radical messages need a raw and vibrant backdrop to pop.” Raw and colorful is indeed her trademark – following in the footsteps of The Mamas and the Papas, The Zombies, and Jefferson Airplane.
English’s compelling songwriting has earned English over 25 million streams and wide press acclaim, rounding out 2019 touring with Lord Huron and Death Cab For Cutie. 2020 is her biggest year yet, with Wake UP! being produced by Justin Raisen (Angel Olsen, Charli XCX) in LA and Ben H. Allen (Animal Collective, Glass Animals, The Big Moon) in Atlanta.
Set your alarm for the release of Wake UP! on April 24th and preorder here. The album will include the following tracks:
Born Like
Shaking
White Noise
Off My Mind Combat
Five and Dime Like a Drug Waiting
Milk and Honey Work It Out
Follow Hazel English’s snychronous voyage through the past, present, and future: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook.
