Alternative rock quintet Psyence release their new single ‘Nobody Understands’ on 9th September ahead of their second album release, Lessons In Forgetting Everything (L.I.F.E) on 30th September 2022.
Written during the 2021 lockdown, ‘Nobody Understands’ is a thumping statement about mental health, containing the lyric:
“My mind is a weapon and it’s built to self-destruct. I am my own worst enemy….”
…reflecting the band’s personal struggles through a challenging period in everyone’s lives in 2020 and 2021.
Says Psyence:
“This song is about mental health and having a daily battle with yourself, nobody will really ever understand what’s going on inside yer head apart from you. You've gone full circle so it's time to break the cycle.”
The new 10 track album traverses alternative rock, rock n roll and electronica, with huge guitar riffs, soaring melodies and twisted stories about dysfunctional relationships and love. The album includes recent singles ‘Domino’, ‘So High’ and ‘Sugar Sweet.’
The first single from the second album, ‘Domino’, was released in February, ahead of Psyence’s first headline show in two years, at the sold out Stoke venue The Underground. The official video for ‘Domino’ was shot on the rooftop of the YMCA in Stoke, with panoramic views across the city referencing its strong industrial past.
Second single ‘So High’ was released on 20th May to coincide with the album announcement. Third single ‘Sugar Sweet’ presents a different side to the band’s output, was released on 15th July and reflects on the band’s musical influences.
Says Psyence about the new album:
“Our sophomore album is finally here, we’ve spent a lot of time cooped up in the lab over the past two years working on this. Titled, “Lessons In Forgetting Everything” or “L.I.F.E”, depending on which way you want to look at it, it’s a tale of maturity, mental anguish and an ever growing need to break the mould and get away. LIFE IS NOT AN EXACT PSYENCE, but we think our second album comes close to representing who we are and what has happened in our lives in the last couple of years"
The album is available on vinyl and digipack CD as well as via all digital platforms.
Psyence headline the Sugarmill in their hometown of Stoke on 7th October to celebrate their second album release and play at the Shiine Festival on 13th November. Other dates are being added at the moment.
ABOUT PSYENCE Psyence began as a collaboration between schoolfriends, all from the working-class background of the Potteries, in Staffordshire, West Midlands, an area with a strong heritage in rock. Psyence released their first EP in 2017 and their debut self- titled album in 2019. With second album plans delayed by the pandemic, two new singles were released in 2020 which formed part of 2021’s ‘Reality or Design’ five track EP release.
Unable to tour for most of 2021 Psyence turned their attention to the studio, refining and expanding their sound. They made their live return at the Shiine Festival in November 2021 and their headline return at a sold-out show at the Underground in Stoke in February 2022.
'Cold Blooded Killer' from Psyence’s debut album featured in the hit US TV show SEAL Team in 2020 and also in Netflix hit TV show Pieces of Her in March 2022, triggering over 80k Shazams, with the song featuring in the Shazam charts in 12 countries around the world, including the US and the UK.
Psyence have previously toured with Warmduscher, The Blinders, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, and Saint Agnes and have performed at many UK festivals including Kendall Calling, Tramlines, and Festival No.6 amongst others.
Ben from Psyence founded the Your City Festival in Stoke on Trent to celebrate local music. 2022’s fifth edition in June featured 75 artists performing in multiple venues across the city, and had a mini music industry conference to assist local artists with their careers in music. Psyence will perform an exclusive acoustic set at Your City on 2nd June, previewing tracks from the new album.
Psyence are Steve Pye (guitar and lead vocals), Jay Bellingham (bass), Joe Walsh (drums), Ben Nixon (Keys) and Jamie Cartlidge (guitar and vocals).
LINKS
OFFICIAL WEBSITE AND MERCH STORE - www.psyence.uk