Australian Artist-Producer KESMAR Shares the Retro-Pop Single + Video “Out of Luck”

September 9, 2022 BY Jason Currell

Today, Australian songwriter and producer KESMAR (aka Nathan Hawes) makes his return with the retro-pop single “Out of Luck.” Inspired by the tasteful sounds of the ‘70s and a penchant for yacht rock in particular, KESMAR shares a bouncing melody with bright piano lines and warm guitars to make the perfect sing-a-long. Listen to “Out of Luck” on all digital retailers (here).

Nathan Hawes explains the meaning behind the song:

“This tune is basically a covid tune, it’s about waking up late, feeling like you’re going in circles. I made a point in covid to write strictly no songs about covid, but it found its way to creep in. I also wanted to write a really British sounding song. I had the verse and chorus for a while but always wanted to do a resolving outro that would shed some light about anxiety and just regular feelings that was common in lock down.”

Watch & Share “Out of Luck” Official Music Video:

ABOUT KESMAR:

Basking in the glow of bright analog synths, lush guitars, and organic beat-craft, Sydney-based singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Nathan Hawes strikes a distinctive, infectious, and inimitable balance between yacht rock and D.I.Y. bedroom pop.

After releasing his dynamic second E.P. Forever Holiday in 2021, Hawes planned new recordings with friend and frequent production collaborator Tobias Priddle — but when Australia went under a second lockdown, he decided to take a different and more hands-on route. “I’d stay up all night and read interviews of how classic albums were recorded, and then I’d take those ideas into the studio,” he recalls while discussing the road to self-producing the record. “I started getting closer to the sound that I‘d heard in my head all these years.”

Hawes’ analog approach to recording is an integral element of bringing those songs to life, as he wields musical technologies from the past to craft his utterly timeless sound. “My process of recording and recording on tape is something I practice almost daily at home,” he explains. “It’s a constant cycle — an incredibly simple way of recording that took me many months to learn — but I love the performance element of recording to tape. As I’m recording and playing all the instruments myself, the tape machine is like a second person making me commit to my own ideas.”

“Out of Luck” showcases an evolution in sound and songwriting that comes with immense personal growth as an artist. There’s a classic feel, with gorgeous melodies steeped in the soft-hued sounds of the 1970s—but equally in step with Hawes’ contemporaries, cementing him as an exciting new voice in modern pop music.

Download Single Artwork Here