Bleach Lab Share Single “Obviously” + Announce New EP ‘If You Only Feel It Once’ (Out 4th Nov)
August 26, 2022 BY Jason Currell
Rising South London four-piece Bleach Lab share new single ‘Obviously’ and announce their forthcoming third EP If You Only Feel It Once, out November 4th. Freshly-signed to Nettwerk, the news follows previous single ‘Take It Slow’. Across their earlier releases, the band have earned devoted champions at BBC 6Music,and wide critical acclaim at press. Having stepped up to a sold out crowd at London’s Omeara in March 2022, the band have spent the Summer appearing at UK festivals, and will cap off the year with a run of headline dates including a show at London’s Lafayette on November 11th.
Frontperson Jenna Kyle explains that new track ‘Obviously’ is a candid reflection on the aftermath of a unexpected break-up, and the inevitable cycle of blame and misdirected emotion that follows; “This track addresses the person your partner has left you for, you’re bitter, hurt and rightly or wrongly directing your aggression towards them instead. However in the chorus, it is a bit of a conversation with yourself, self-reflection and realisation that it doesn’t really matter what you say or do, your former partner still loves them either way.”
Listen to ‘Obviously’ on all platforms here:
https://bleachlab.ffm.to/obviously
Pre-save the If You Only Feel It Once EP here:
https://bleachlab.ffm.to/iyofio
This fusing of inner-dialogue with external commentary is a recurring motif across the If You Only Feel It Once EP. The release which overarchingly grapples with themes of balance, belonging and the innate human drive to seek a sense of ‘home’ – in ourselves, places and others. Continuing on themes from their earlier releases – there are still clear references to personal growth, finding inner peace, accepting solitude and heartache, and letting go of connections with people that you once considered to be important. “There’s a lot of themes of feeling at home and finding your feet as an adult, which relates to the way that I feel at home with my family and the journey that I’ve been on since I’ve left home.” Kyle expands, “Also of finding your way in life, navigating relationships and friendships and as you grow, realising which ones weren’t for you and which ones you are better off without.”
Buckinghamshire-raised and South London-based, Bleach Lab are formed by magnetic lead singer Jenna Kyle, drummer Kieran Weston with his love for ethereal pop, guitarist Frank Wates’ knack for crystalline, dream-pop and bassist Josh Longman’s driving consistency and collaborative lyric work. 2021 saw the four-piece make their mark with the release of their first two EPs, A Calm Sense of Surrounding and Nothing Feels Real, the latter produced by Stephen Street (The Cranberries, The Smiths, Blur). With one eye cast towards the band’s enduring 90s influences present in previous releases, If You Only Feel It Once drives the bands vision forward – delving deeper into poppier, more modern sounds. It’s through this dichotomy that Bleach Lab shine, achieving their intention alongside producer Duncan Mills (Peace, The Vaccines, Jake Bugg). From the first urgent strums of its opening track, If You Only Feel It Once flows like water with delicious melodies and their most instant, sugary offerings yet. Elsewhere across its five tracks, they take influence from the dreamy pop melodies of Alvvays (on ‘Take It Slow’), create gigantic, glistening singles (‘Obviously’) and end with the avalanche of noise on the closing title track with a deeply exciting glimpse into their future.
UK Tour Dates:
28/08/22 – Leeds, This Must Be The Place
02/09/22 | Hebden Bridge, Trades Club w/ Dream Wife
03/09/22 – Manchester, Psych Fest
03/11/22 – Bristol, Exchange (headline show)
04/11/22 – Southampton, Heartbreakers (headline show)
11/11/22 – London, Lafayette (headline show)