CHUTNEY TO RELEASE FIRST SINGLE OF THE YEAR ‘INVISIBLE’
If you're a fan of Ocean Alley and The Rubens then I think there'll be plenty about Chutney that you'll be into. Declan Byrne (Triple J)
That voice is crazy good! I love the way you belt it out but keep it cruisy at the same time.Claire Mooney (Triple J)
A breezy breed of indie rock with just enough grit, it’ll hook you in from the first chord. Happy Mag
Vocals are akin to the likes of Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, with a music composition which would not seem out of place in the early 2000s.Young Creative Press
“Real love is hard to come by. So you find a way to cope without it.” The melancholy quote from Sir Elton John’s biopic, Rocketman, struck a chord for Chutney lead vocalist, Matt Hansford, after watching the film on a weekday afternoon. Inspired to put pen to paper, the line was rewritten “real love is hard to come by, she’ll take whatever she can get, you cut a certain silhouette” and the concept for Invisible was conceived.
Featuring honeyed vocal harmonies and guitar lines not uncommon in the early 2000s britpop scene, the track’s unique structure flips a standard song arrangement on its head, replacing the absent chorus with a defining riff to compliment the song’s steady beat.
Delving into the minds of the lonely, the single vocalises the thoughts that come with feeling not good enough and unlucky in love. Frontman, Matt Hansford, explains: “Everyone at some point in their life feels as though they don’t deserve someone’s love, that they’re invisible and dragging them down. You can be left thinking maybe they would be better off without you in their life”.
Invisible, although forlorn in its lyricism, somehow manages to leave you with a sense of warmth. As though being invisible isn’t so bad after all, if it means realising you’re with the wrong person. The thought-provoking lyrics paired with a palpable solo from guitarist Cal Hughes, prove Chutney is well and truly on their way to a future alongside some of their biggest musical influences, Catfish and the Bottlemen & The Strokes. The single will also be accompanied by a satire-soaked music video, set for release on February 11.
Chutney’s electrifying live shows and expressive songwriting verifies the four-piece as a standout in the Gold Coast alternative rock scene. With all members hailing from separate local bands Augusta, Hot Coffee and the Stingin’ Rogers before coming together in late 2019 to turn their mutual love for lyrical indie rock into a fully fledged outfit.
The boys kick-started their musical career releasing their debut track Romance & Intrigue, catching the attention of local fans, leaving them with a taste for Chutney and wanting more. Subsequently, further tracks were released and began charting in the top 5 on triple j Unearthed, setting the group up for their self-titled five track EP shared in September of 2020. The release carries mastering credits from Brian Lucey of Arctic Monkeys, the Black Keys and Chet Faker fame along with production by longtime collaborator Scotty French of Lovestreet Studios.
The EP’s opening track Consolation Prize presents a bluesy ballad listeners can’t help but sing along to, with the song consequently receiving praise from triple j Unearthed tastemakers. Juxtaposing this track, the EP also notably features high-energy, riff-driven track Outcast. Quickly becoming a fan favourite, the thrashing tune showcases Chutney’s versatility whilst remaining true to their british-influenced roots.
Impressively slick guitar lines, magnetic vocals, pounding drums and throbbing bass lines, form the crux ofthis first-class lineup, with the self-proclaimed “condiment rockers” proving to be more than just a sidesauce, they’re the whole damn meal.