Welsh Trio Broken Fires Adapt To The Big City On Charming Track “New Friends” From Upcoming EP
Welsh indie alt-folk trio Broken Fires are releasing their new EP New Friends on July 2nd. Serving as their first extended play in over five years, the band have shared the title track as the date approaches. A song about putting yourself out of your comfort zone and the challenges that come with trying to find a new life and purpose, “New Friends” was initially written after Tom from Broken Fires first made the move from Wales to London.
“Thinking back to that time when I moved to this crazy city. I met some people who talked a lot of shit and it took me a while to figure that out, and to figure out where I fit into things.” says Tom. Recalling the people, place and feelings of that time; the track has become synonymous in Tom’s mind with a cartoon by celebrated Glaswegian cartoonist David Shrigley that he had in his apartment at the time.
“It’s an illustration of a group of cartoon characters with tiny legs and big circular faces.” remembers Tom. “All apart from this one who has a square face. The circular shaped guys pick him up, hold his corners up to an angle grinder and shape him into a circle just like them. Sometimes you meet new people you homogenise… or something profound like that. ”
Adding to its relatable narrative and melancholic demeanour, Broken Fires share similarities with Frightened Rabbits and Manchester Orchestra on the track, with strong vocals and ethereal yet dominating folk rock instrumentation. The revolving chorus of twinkling guitars and acrobatic vocals draws back to the illustrative metaphor, as they sing “I always knew I would get found out / square pegs don’t fit the mould”.
With New Friends arriving on July 2nd, the band are also expected to release their sophomore album Hymn this Fall, so stay tuned for more music.
