Darwin alternative pop-punk five-piece Draftday has revealed their hard-hitting new single ‘Misspent’.
Finding success on triple j with previous singles ‘Soap’ and ‘En Soi’, this new single sees the genre-bending band have showcased a more aggressive approach than the band has touched on previously, placing it somewhere between what we would expect from the likes of Trophy Eyes and Ceres.
With a driving drumline, dangerously addictive riffs and an unfaltering baseline, ‘Misspent’ is Draftday’s most unrestrained track yet. Evoking both sadness and anger, the song is an honest representation of what goes through your head after being hurt.
To celebrate the track, we sat down with vocalist Arran Barker (virtually) and got him to share his top five breakup tracks.
‘True Love Will Find You in the End’ – Daniel Johnston
There’s not really any other artist like Daniel Johnston, especially when it comes to songs about love and heartbreak. This was the first song I ever heard by Daniel, the stark and lo-fi tape recordings of his work just hit a weird spot when you’re feeling low. Daniel’s music has this ability to give you a sense of hope amidst it all and I think that’s an important thing to keep in mind. Especially in the lines:
‘Don’t be sad I know you will, but don’t give up until, true love will find you in the end’.
Daniel had to be the first mention on this list, his recent passing (RIP) brought a resurgence of his beautiful collection of some of the most perfectly crafted love songs you’ll ever hear.
‘Ne Me Quitte Pas’ – Nina Simone’s version
I am definitely not fluent in French, but all you need to feel this one is knowing the translation of the title: ‘Don’t Leave Me’. The song was originally performed by Jaques Brel, written about the ‘Cowardice of Men’ after Suzanne Gabriello had removed Brel from her life due to his actions. The song is a plea, aware of its own hopelessness. We want to fight but all we have left is that phrase ‘Don’t Leave Me’.
Whilst Brel’s original is stunning, Nina Simone’s version is my personal preference.
The orchestral backing of this track builds up around Nina’s incredible voice as she begins to really let herself fly with a passion that most vocalists only dream of delivering, one of the true queens of soul.
With a keen eye, you’ll find a reference to this song in our music video for ‘Mess I’ve Made’.
‘Shimmer’ – Moose Blood
The whole album ‘Blush’ is a real go to, but ‘Shimmer’ is a standout track. Centering on a dragging guitar track and a simple beat that makes me want to pull out some old photo albums and soberly reminisce. This track is an ode to wanting to start again after time has passed, and then realising that perhaps you and your past significant other have grown and moved on. A healthy thought to come to terms with.
The track hits this huge post-rock climax, which reminds me of some of my go-to highschool breakup bands: ‘Joie De Vivre’, ‘Explosions in the Sky’ and ‘Have Mercy’. It’s one for those who miss someone’s company.
‘It’s been a while since I saw you, you don’t look the same, you taste different too’.
Go for a drive with this one on repeat, windows down and a sunset to match.
‘All my Little Words’ – The Magnetic Fields
A friend of mine introduced me to this band and the album that it came from ‘69 Love Songs’ (yes the tracklist is a hefty 69 songs), and I was obsessed with it for months. I could not recommend a better breakup album, it has some of the best folk love songs I’ve ever heard. Like Daniel Johnston in its bare simplicity, it takes you through so many different emotions and stages of heartbreak.
‘All my Little Words’ feels like a bitter acceptance, that no matter what you say/do/sing/write, this person will not see you in the same light you see them.
The Baritone vocals of Stephen Merritt is a mix between Leonard Cohen and Ian Curtis, once you match that with folk guitar and haunting backing vocals well…you’re going to want a shoulder to cry on.
Other standout tracks from the album include: ‘I Don’t Want to Get Over You’, ‘The Book Of Love’, ‘Meaningless’ and ‘Love is Like a Bottle of Gin’.
‘Guilty Party’ – The National
To round it all out, here is the song that I feel best connects with the feeling of a relationship falling apart. The National’s Matt Berninger summarises the sense of falling out of love, apologising for characteristic faults and the dead end that a lot of relationships hit. This song came out around the same time I was going through a breakup, and the chorus lines resonated hard.
I say your name, I say I’m sorry
I know it’s not working, I’m no holiday
It’s nobody’s fault, No guilty party
We just got nothing, Nothing left to say.
It’s a hit of reality, and that is what heartbreak is in itself. A pulling back down to earth from the highs of being in love, the comfort of being understood by that one significant person who knew everything about you, who made you feel a little less alone in this absurd world.
I suppose the message in this list is that heartbreak is a grounding process that will repeat itself throughout a lifetime, that there’s nothing to fear even when it all seems a little pointless. Through it all, to feel something to this extent is a defining factor of being human, take it as an opportunity to grow, an opportunity to be grateful that it even happened.
Love is the constant movement between awareness of our loneliness and the comfort in sharing that awareness with somebody who is going through the exact same experience.
Check out Draftday’s single below.
