The Native are set to release their new EP ‘Looking Back’ on August 19th as their first body of work under a new deal with This Feeling Records.
The release of ‘Looking Back’ adds a fresh landmark moment to an ascendant year for the Plymouth quintet. The EP features all of their recent singles – ‘20 Something’, ‘Changes’ and ‘Blindside’ – which have been heralded with airplay at Radio X, BBC Music Introducing and BBC Radio London. They’re also firing on all cylinders in the live arena. They completed a huge tour as guests to Bastille, while summer has already seen them hit festivals including the Isle of Wight, Truck and Chagstock.
Collectively the ‘Looking Back’ EP is centred on themes of feeling adrift and disillusioned in young adulthood, and that’s also true of its title track. Big keys and subtle synth textures initially support Charlie Noordewier’s yearning voice, but the song soon bursts into life with The Native’s unmistakeable hybrid of luminous melodies, chiming guitar, and driving rhythms. Despite posing questions of youthful angst, ‘Looking Back’ is ultimately an expression of optimism that reaches out to those mired in the darkness: “Looking back when the lights are off and I’m doing fine / I wish I knew if I’d dared to try that I’d be alright.”
The Native commented:
“When we first wrote ‘Looking Back’ it never really stood out to us as a single, we didn’t think much of it until we started playing it live on the Bastille tour and it became the highlight of the set. We had people ask us to write out the lyrics so they could get them tattooed which was something we’ve never had before.
I think after seeing the effect it had on people we realised what a special song it was and honestly think we can all say it’s the best song we’ve ever written. We haven’t ever been more proud of a body of work and can’t wait to share the whole EP.”
In addition to its four singles, the ‘Looking Back’ EP also features two brand new songs. ‘All Or Nothing’ drops the pace for the EP’s most reflective moment, while the closer ‘If Not Now, Then When?’ finds The Native relinquishing their propulsive power for an introspective acoustic confessional which has the intimacy of a self-recorded demo.
The ‘Looking Back’ EP was produced by John Cornfield, whose expertise has helped guide legendary British rock bands including Oasis,Muse and The Stone Roses. The Grammy Award-winning Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse, Everything Everything) then provided mixing.
Featuring Charlie Noordewier (vocals, guitar), Ben Andrew (guitar), Tom Booth (bass), Harry Youngs (keys) and Fergus Segrove (drums), The Native’s summer schedule continues with their biggest gig of the summer after ‘Looking Back’ is released when they play the Reading and Leeds Festivals.
