CONGRATS RELEASES NEW SINGLE “LOBOTOMY”
Following up his sleek and passionate single “Russian Roulette”, Slowly Slowly frontman Ben Stewart has revealed the next instalment of his solo project Congrats; a new single titled “Lobotomy”. Produced by ARIA Award nominee Konstantin Kersting (Mallrat, Tones & I, Jungle Giants), this single is our second taste of a larger body of work set for release later this year.
Combining his sonic pop inspirations (The 1975, Joji and Post Malone) with his candid, pop-punk influenced lyricism, the Congrats project is proving to be a formidable foray into the pop world for Stewart.
“Lobotomy is a dark and twisted take on heartbreak,” said Stewart. “It's tongue in cheek because I had to choose between a laugh or cry - I chose the former so I could at least dance through it. You shouldn't listen too hard to it, it's a bit miserable. It's like a conch shell where you think you can hear the ocean, but then a crab nips your earlobe off.”
The music video for “Lobotomy”, directed by ROME (Mallrat, Benee), is a glitchy representation of heartbreak, showcasing the distinguishing charm and magnetism of Stewart’s solo performances.
“Russian Roulette”, the first release from Congrats’ 2020 EP, was premiered on triple j’s Home and Hosed and promptly added to rotation, and received praise for its effortlessly slick production and bell-clear vocals.
Praise for “Russian Roulette”:
“Darkly addictive… From the jump, it's a dive into emotional territory fans are familiar with, though the trap-tinged pop production we hear on 'Russian Roulette' could easily put it on a playlist alongside work by artists like The 1975.” - triple j
“Congrats has proven to be a bewitching musical project... Congrats’ pop songs and trap beats seem to be simply a different vehicle for Ben’s flavour of authentic songwriting that we know and love him for via Slowly Slowly.” - Depth Magazine
“‘Russian Roulette’ is about running at self destruction while being dragged back by the collar of conscience. Every time I think I have figured myself out, I get thrown a curveball,” said Stewart.
The music video for “Russian Roulette”, directed by Kyle Caulfield, reflects this darkness through a vintage, Quentin Tarantino-esque aesthetic.
Congrats was born from what Stewart refers to as a self-awakening. After growing up a fan of punk, rock and hardcore, he found his tastes broadened as he matured; he began to fall in love with modern pop, hip-hop, and the big studio sounds that accompanied both.
“I wanted the songs to feel classic despite being suited up in modern production, but I didn’t know if it was possible,” said Stewart. “I didn’t know if my songs would work inside a pop housing. I was listening to artists who push the boundaries of rap and trap music like Roddy Ricch, Yung Lean and Post Malone – I get the same feelings of excitement when I tap into the energy of their music as I did when I first found heavy music. I can feel the same pain and it has filled my sails for exploring new territory. I want to be uncomfortable again.”
Soon his skillset had completely re-developed from everything he’d learned in his already successful career as a DIY indie rocker, as this new approach opened up a world of possibilities. The result has been two soaring early singles, with an EP set to follow later in 2020 via new label partner and Australian indie stalwarts Dew Process – a prospect that Stewart is clearly primed for.
“Lobotomy” is available on all streaming platforms now.
Praise for Congrats:
“‘Cut Down The Middle’’s lush electronic elements provide an entirely new context for Ben’s sparkling vocal delivery, and it’s evident that his production skills are going to be one to keep an eye on with this being his first dabble in the genre.”
- Happy Mag
“Invisible confines of genre fall away when the metaphors and storytelling we know and love in (Slowly Slowly’s songs) are undeniably present, as is the beauty that moves me with each listen... It’s so clean and crisp and pop-tastic and yet rich with genuine emotion. The result is a stunning sweet spot of sound and I can’t get enough of it.”
- Depth Magazine
“I’m very into what's coming out of Ben’s songwriting explorations (in) Congrats… It feels like we're expanding the map with these exciting new landscapes for him to express himself. Lucky us to get to go along for the ride.”
- Dave Ruby Howe (triple j)
