Lots of on-topic new music in the last little while which we will largely get to in time, but for now let’s ring in October with news of Whitelands’ second album. The London shoegazers teased the follow-up to their 2024 debut Night-Bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day back in June with “Heat Of The Summer”, which at the time could have been taken as just a salute to the changing seasons. But with the release yesterday of “Glance”, we now know that we were actually hearing the opening track of their new album, Sunlight Echoes.
Of the new record, which features guest vocals from shoegaze royalty Emma Anderson, ex of Lush, the band are saying:
“We’re coming back with a lot more maturity and realness,” says singer and guitarist Etienne Quartey-Papafio of their step up. “It shows in how much more emotional our music has become.”
“It’s been really cool to watch Etienne push through boundaries,” adds bassist Vanessa Govinden. “I like the direction we’ve taken on this album. We’re taking a risk. It’s half and half.”
“This album is one of enduring,” says Etienne of the overarching theme. “We had family that were dying, I was broke, there was a shortage of my ADHD medication… I was suffering, but not just me, everyone around me was too.”
“The last two years have been challenging,” concludes Vanessa. “The universe really fucked with us. That’s why there are themes of loss, disconnection, fragmentation and yearning, but on the other side there is also unity and hope.”
Whitelands / Sunlight Echoes @ Rough Trade
The second preview track represents the fruits of a bout of writer’s block, assisted by some former tourmates:
“Shortly before it was written I wasn’t really catching my stride with songs and I called up Neil Halstead [of Slowdive, who toured with Whitelands in 2024] for advice,” explains singer and guitarist Etienne Quartey-Papafio. “When I next saw him he asked if I had solved it and I told him yes, as I’d had my heart broken. He laughed and was like, ‘Yeah, that’ll do it’.”
“For me, ‘Glance’ is about the ‘what ifs’,” adds bassist Vanessa Govinden. “In that first glance between two random people in a real life physical space, it’s more than an attraction and lust, there’s instant familiarity and a glimpse of safety and home.”
Whitelands Announce New Album ‘Sunlight Echoes’ @ Clash Magazine
Further, they say of the song and accompanying video:
It’s a pop earworm about a chance meeting at a party and comes with a @cameronperryfilm-directed video starring acclaimed British actors @davidjonsson__ (currently in ‘The Long Walk’) and @honorswintonbyrne (‘The Souvenir’).
Whitelands @ Instagram
So expect a welcome dose of sunshine in the dead of Winter when the album comes out January 30.
