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Harlan 2019

Harlan are stuck in a maze of feelings on dizzying new single "Anyways"

11 April 2019, 11:45 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

Memphis-based Harlan try to navigate a maze of feelings on the dizzying and melodic new single, "Anyways".

"Anyways" sees the driving force of Harlan - 21-year-old Harlan Hutton - draw from experiences of self-doubt in relationships, wrapping up the 'overthinking' headspace into a bright and melodic indie track that finds its feet somewhere near Snail Mail.

The upbeat drums provide a breezy tone to the track, while also keeping the idea of racing thoughts at the forefront of the single to accompany the lyrics that channel a feeling of being trapped in your own mind, "Anyways can’t replace times you didn’t stay / I am trying to erase / Memories I can’t escape."

Harlan's dulcet guitar tones are playful despite the sense of uncertainty portrayed, and help to glue the negative thoughts to the optimistic instrumental to create a soaring indie-rock offering.

Expanding on the single, Hutton says, ""Anyways" is about that place of self sabotage you can get into at the beginning of a relationship, where you focus on all of the reasons why things might not work out. It's at the intersection of being optimistic and in love and feeling cynical about how past relationships turned out. It also shows some of my insecurities. Writing this song was definitely my asking the "why are you even dating me?" question. I was feeling the pressure of what I thought I had to do to prove myself as a partner (not letting the apartment get too messy, etc). The lyrics make me laugh sometimes now because even though I wrote them a few months ago, I feel way more secure now than I was feeling then, but singing them totally takes me back to feel super cynical and uncertain."

The new offering was recorded and mixed by Calvin Lauber (Julien Baker), and lands as the first single from Harlan's debut album, which is due to land this summer.

"Anyways" is out now. Find Harlan on Facebook.
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