GRIDS & DOTS RELEASE DEBUT EP; ‘WHAT HAPPENS TO FRIENDSHIPS’
Sydney indie outfit Grids & Dots today reach a career touchstone: the release of their debut EP. The seven track record, What Happens To Friendships, captures the energy of Grids & Dots beautifully.
Blending a myriad of influences across the indie and shoegaze soundscapes, the music is melodic and colourful, driven by striking lyricism and storytelling.
CHECK OUT GRIDS & DOTS NEW EP HERE
Featuring previously released tracks ‘The Great Divide’, ‘Hazy Jane’ and the more recent single ‘City Skies’ the What Happens To Friendships EP is dreamy in its sounds. Moments of melancholy (‘Friendships’) are met with nostalgic reflection (‘Someone Mentioned’); vocalists Daniel Handaru and Carmen Minikus trading tones beautifully between one another.
The band worked with ARIA Award winning producer Wayne Connolly (Paul Dempsey, You Am I) on the EP at Sydney’s Hercules St Studios. The process, which ended up directly clashing with the onset of COVID-19, was longer than anticipated, however the final result is a record Grids & Dots are immensely proud of.
“It ended up being a drawn out process of sneaking into the studio when we were allowed, making sure all precautions were being met and then slowly mixing the material as the laws relaxed. It was strange, but in a way it allowed us some breathing room in between sessions to think about how we wanted to sound and figure out the details in an organic, unhurried way.”
Grids & Dots
For the 'City Skies' music video, filming took place across King Street in Newtown, as well as parts of King's Cross, Pyrmont, Sydney Park and Camperdown Park. Directed by Zhiran Zhou and Datu Bethke from Oakville Films, the levels of cuteness and nostalgia are balanced well, with the perspective of the central canine hero taking viewers on a ride.
A collection of music that charts the journey of young people finding themselves and discovering more about their artistic influences, the What Happens To Friendships EP is Grids & Dots at their most defined yet. Recorded and delivered with perspective as an advantage now, the music is focused and cohesive and provides a great entry point for newcomers to the Grids & Dots fold while for longtime fans, this is a gift.
PRAISE FOR GRIDS & DOTS
"As powerful as it is mesmerising, both the song and video from Grids & Dots are a masterclass in arresting content, and truly set them apart as one of the most exciting bands to watch on the Aussie music scene."
Tonedeaf
"Sydney trio Grids & Dots make the kind of melodic shoegaze that has a lush, dreamy warmth to it while remaining dynamic and exciting, never getting lost down a rabbit hole of reverb."
Music Feeds
“Gorgeous feel to this track - like it's been kept in a locked treasure box in your big sister's room since 1995. This band knows what it's doing.”
Triple J Unearthed Dave Ruby Howe
“You have that peaceful and shimmering sound and the dual vocals work nicely”
Triple J Declan Byrne
"For fans of dream-pop acts like Beach House and Real Estate, Grids & Dots is certain to scratch a similar itch. There’s just something comforting and warm about their sound, like watching a summer sunset."
Louder Than War
