Cult Australian folk band Ukulele Death Squad are embracing a funkadelic groove on their new EP, 'Baby Don't F... With Me'.
"We love sharing new music. This release is a new direction in the band's recorded sound but features songs we have played live for quite a while," band member, and founder Julian Ferguson says. "The R&B flavour really highlights our band member's individual expression and is very fun to dance to."Jazzy rock frolicking with pop-tastic soul the EP's lead track is 'Hands Tied', a rollicking, emotional ride that's the perfect anthem for hopeless romantics or those in the clutches of a toxic friendship.
Sassy, funky brass shines with a New Orleans R&B charm, while the intoxicatingly angelic lead vocals of Ashlee Randell infuse the song with an evocative personality, embracing both the distraught nature of a break-up (romantic or friendship) and the unyielding optimism of unflinching love.
There's a seductively gorgeous sax solo too that oozes unbridled lust as the pheromones leave a dusty trail of hope.
"'Hands Tied' to me is about the vulnerability, temptation and chaos of continuing to do things (or people) that don't serve you," Ashlee says. "The lies we tell ourselves to remain in that push-pull cycle instead of focusing on being fully and truly our freak-flag-flying selves!"
Ahead of its release tomorrow (1 June), scenestr is stoked to premiere the 'Hands Tied' music video today, which features Ukulele Death Squad singer Matthew Barker portraying the diva hero with classy aplomb. Enjoy.
The clip was filmed in Melbourne with Sam Osborn-Rassaby from Sassaby Creative, who shot and directed the video. "The video takes the song's meaning to news heights, exploring the experience of queerness in a world of straights," Ashlee says. "Matt embodies this tension with uneasy familiarity and when he loses it at the end I can't help but cheer 'f... yeah!'"
The film shoot also attracted the band some new fans. "We filmed a scene where I was accosting a vanilla couple at a coffee shop," Matt says.
"It was early in the morning in front of a yoga studio, and a mum and her daughters spontaneously offered to be in the film clip as extras! They ended up coming to our gig at the Brunswick Ballroom. I think we won them over."
Matt's wardrobe for filming also attracted an enquiry from a couple of inquisitive passersby. "I was wearing quite a few risqué outfits. See-through, chiffon-star nipple tassels and we were out in the street having a lot of fun. Two elderly women pulled over in their car and inquired whether it was a porn shoot!"
The life of 'Hands Tied' began five years ago when the band members – who live in different states – found themselves together in Adelaide after winning an award.
"The song came together in one of those rare moments where we were in the same room making music together," shares Matt. "Usually, due to us being split into different states, our music is developed via sending ideas to each other and testing them out when we meet up for gigs.
"In this case, we were all together in Adelaide in 2019 when we won an award for Best Folk Band. You can hear the sort of raw energy that went into the songwriting process. It is exciting."
The recording of the song also features a cool MacGyver moment. "My vocals were recorded in a bedroom with a clothes rack acting as a makeshift sound dampener," confesses Ash. "It was so fun, and I can't believe it sounds as good as it does."
The upbeat mood and infectious energy of the moment has created a song the band thoroughly enjoy playing, especially for a live audience. "['Hands Tied'] is a soul-pop anthem of sultry angst," Ash says.
"As the tension builds through the song it climaxes with a sexy sax solo and marks a new chapter for the freshly 'sexified' Ukulele Death Squad – and to be honest, it's just a whole lot of f...ing fun."
Ukulele Death Squad cult status recently levelled up when they were invited to play shows in Germany of all places. The eight-piece group will travel next month for seven shows in ten days including the main stage of Germany's largest folk and roots festival, Rudolstadt Festival.
"Our reception in Germany has been so unexpected," Julian says. "Last year when we played there, we were selling out 250 seater venues – in cities we had never played before."
Before they depart, the band will play two Australian shows this weekend: Croatian Wickham Sports Club (Newcastle) 1 June and a sold-out gig at Petersham Bowling Club (Sydney) 2 June.
