Mt. Joy – Acrobats
L.A. based folk-rock group Mt. Joy were given the chance at stardom with their debut hit “Astrovan” back in 2016. Running with their momentum and overnight success, the five-piece released their debut self-titled record in 2018. After hitting the road with the likes of the Shins, Head and the Heart, and most recently, The Lumineers, the folk rockers are set to release their follow-up album Rearrange Us in June. From the upcoming collection is the new single “Acrobats”.
The last few years has been a whirlwind for the band. Building such a huge fanbase overnight, touring extensively, and heading back to the studio for their second album in two years has paid a bit of a toll on the group and the new song was written about their readjustment. “Acrobats” is about making the efforts to come down from the rush, anxiety, and ensuing panic attacks from dealing with the increased pressure of life. Focused around the lyrics “Realize your surroundings / Count five things in the room”, it slowly builds into a crescendoing and explosive end as the entire band comes together. Guitarist Sam Cooper explains:
“Acrobats started with my intro guitar and turned into our most collective band effort on the record. It was a song we’d had for a while and played with but could never find an arrangement that felt right. We shelved it for a while and when we revisited it, we found an arrangement where Sotiris’ unique drumming took it to another level and Matt’s vocals acted more like another instrument. It’s a slight departure from our typical sound but it is still feels very genuinely us.”
Playing with the more rock side of their sound, Mt. Joy take on the more plugged-in route for a folk band, holding many similarities to the propelling sound of Half Moon Run and modern-Mumford & Sons. Rushing guitars, percussive fervour, and climatic instrumentation gives “Acrobats” a unique place in their growing discography.
Listen to the single below, and head to their website for more music and to pre-order Rearrange Us. As well, you can hear this song and more on our Monthly Spotify playlist.
