Honeyglaze, an indie rock trio from South London, including members with Japanese roots, have released a new album.

Featuring the latest single “Ghost”

Photo by Kalpesh Lathigra

London-based trio Honeyglaze have just released their sophomore album, Real Deal, on Fat Possum, featuring the new track “Ghost.” Produced by Claudius Mittendorfer (Parkay Courts, Sorry, Interpol), the lead single from the album has already garnered rave reviews.

“A fusion of math rock and jangle pop”

by Paste

“Honey Glaze approaches everything it does with unwavering originality.”

by Clash

“A shocking return from a band on edge”

by The Fader

“‘Don’t’ is the undeniable calling card of ‘Real Deal'”

by The Line Of Best Fit

“One of the most raw and personal vocal performances of the year”

by So Young

“More melodic, more powerful hooks”

by DIY

“Honeyglaze is a London-based trio. They are artistic and technical,

They play very beautiful indie rock.”

by Stereogum

Vocalist and guitarist Anouska Sokolow had this to say about their latest single, “Ghost.”

“I imagined what it would be like to be completely detached from your body and observe your universal self. I couldn’t think of a good title for the song so I sent the band an early demo with a ghost emoji. Since then, the song has always been called ‘ghost emoji’ and eventually became ‘Ghost’. We like to play what the song demands, so on ‘Ghost’ we start off in the dream world of an epic ballad before settling into an industrial Portishead-esque groove.”

“Ghost (Live)”

Their second album, Real Deal, embodies the conflict and confidence, the intensity and catharsis that was hard won and reintroduces a new band.

“It was pretty reactionary,” Sokolow recalls. “Musically we were reacting to the first album and thinking, ‘How can we make this better?’

Emerging from South London with bassist Tim Curtis and drummer Yuri Shibuichi, Honeyglaze channel the tensions of Sokolow’s inner world, coming to a head during the warped, strange times of the pandemic.

“Pretty Girls”

Brought to the limelight by a release on Dan Carey’s scene-defining Speedy Wunderground label, their 2022 debut album Honeyglaze perfectly captured Sokolow’s journey into adulthood. It was written during that awkward limbo between adolescence and adulthood with no thought of reaching anyone. But with this new album, Real Deal, it’s made to be heard. The band really stepped into the ring and put on the gloves. Living in a local studio with Grammy-nominated producer Claudius Mittendorfer (Parkay Coats, Sorry, Interpol), they were able to explore new dimensions of their sound in their own way.

Released on the emerging Fat Possum label, the album perfectly captures the tension of their live performances: Shibuichi’s touring-hardened drumming explodes into sudden onslaughts on opening track “Hide,” while Curtis’ bass builds tension and makes Sokolow’s vocals feel all the more cathartic.

“We wanted to express a dark feeling not only through the lyrics, but also through the dynamics of the band, the distortion, the shock and the emotion,” Curtis explains.

“Don’t”

There’s a deliberate tonal shift from Side A to Side B. The dam breaks on “Don’t,” a masterpiece of tension and release that borrows from Beyoncé’s Destiny’s Child hit “Bills, Bills, Bills.” Sokolow’s conversational vocals sound quietly menacing, as Shibuichi’s drums rain down like a torment on the floor and jagged guitars play. She issues gentle warnings, then breaks down into neck-grabbing rage as the tension snaps and the bass falls silent. “Don’t interrupt me when I’m talking/You know I’m human too, I have things to say, I have feelings too.”

The band will then tour the UK, bringing the album to life and performing the songs for the first time.

■ Q&A with Yuri Shibuichi, a drummer with Japanese roots

–Can you tell us how you came to live in London?

I was born in Madrid, Spain, and moved to London with my family when I was about three years old, where I grew up. (I’ve never lived in Japan, but I’ve been there many times during summer vacations to visit my grandparents.)

–Who is your favorite drummer and why?

That’s a tough question. I’ve admired Brian Blade since I was very early on. His fluidity and touch on the drums was fascinating, and I loved the way he interacted with other musicians in creative ways. Valentina Magaletti (from the British psychedelic rock band Vanishing Twin) and Jaki Liebezeit (from the German Krautrock band CAN) are other drummers I admire in the same way. I’ve always been fascinated by the phrasing and subtlety they infuse into their music. Maybe I have a weakness for drummers who bring jazz drumming sensibilities to other genres.

–What kind of meaning or message is conveyed in the album cover photo?

We were inspired by a boxer named Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield. We love the symbolism of the boxing world, so we wanted a bold and ambitious visual to match the feel and sound of the album, which is why we chose this cover.

–If there are any highlights on the album, please let us know.

Everything! In the writing and recording of this album, we put out stronger and more aggressive parts in both the lyrics and the sound, such as “Don’t” and “Hide”, compared to the previous album. In songs like “I Feel It All”, we expressed the weakness, fragility, and depth of emotion that we had not been able to express as a band before. I want you to experience the extreme emotions of strength and weakness in the sound.

–Please give a message to your Japanese fans.

We are truly grateful to all our fans who support us. We look forward to coming to Japan soon and seeing you all at a live show. We appreciate your continued support.

Release Information

Honeyglaze

New album “Real Deal” now available

Label: Fat Possum

Streaming link:https://honeyglaze.ffm.to/realdeal.OYD

Tracklist

Hide
Cold Caller
Pretty Girls
Safety Pins
Don’t
TMJ
I Feel It All
Ghost
TV
Real Deal
Movies

Music Videos

“Ghost (Live)”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk-8RqoeV0s

“Pretty Girls”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDerXPn5jfY

“Don’t”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmXPXTuU97M

Follow Honeyglaze:

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@honeyglaze

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeyglaze_/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honeyglaze

X: https://x.com/honeyglaze

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeyglazemusic

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