Listen to ‘Sofa’ HERE
Tāmaki Makaurau-based trio PAPERCITY have today released their soon-to-be smash hit ‘Sofa’!
An epic combination of electronic beats, gritty guitars, textural synths and a vulnerable message, ‘Sofa’ is yet another exciting hit from PAPERCITY (Alex Hargreaves, Sam Edmonds, Jack Rollinson), the group have cultivated a uniquely alternative synth-pop sound, with hints of emo and punk.
“It’s about the isolation of feeling hurt and the effort to keep your struggles hidden,” says lead singer and guitarist Alex - who also directed the track’s extraordinary music video - out 1 November!
‘Sofa’ follows the trio’s 2019 and 2020 singles ‘Plastic’ and ‘Feel’, the latter of which saw huge love across Aotearoa and abroad - placing on both the Hot NZ Singles Chart and the NZ iTunes Chart. The track saw radioplay across NZ, was added to BBC Radio One’s Hot New Music and Alt Indie & Electric Pop playlists, and the music video won the Top of the South Film Festival Best Music Video award.
Alongside their self-directed visuals, PAPERCITY are a truly grassroots project - with today’s track produced by Sam’s brother Josh Edmonds, recorded across the group’s hometown of Nelson and Josh’s home studio in Auckland. The group also collaborated with friend Ryan Beehre (Minuit) on the track, playing with new sonic textures and music that “feels really exciting to play live.”
“‘Sofa’ is one of those songs that you write in a dark room alone and then nervously play to the band a couple of months later,” says Alex. “We spent a lot of time recording lots of little synth parts for this song. There’s a lot of guitars that sound like synths and synths that sound like guitars in it.”
Alex has directed all of the group’s videos thus far - alongside directing music videos for the likes of Alien Weaponry, Jujulipps and Devilskin. Their epic upcoming clip is loosely based off the 1960’s science fiction TV series The Prisoner and was filmed across Tāmaki Makaurau and Queenstown.
“In The Prisoner, A guy wakes up in a strange village and, if he tries to leave, a great big orb chases him down and tries to swallow him,” explains Alex. “It ties into the feeling of your emotions or thoughts chasing you - but in the video, it’s the whole band trying to get away from the orb, because you’re not really alone.”
An incredible display of the group's multifaceted talent across music and storytelling, ‘Sofa’ is bound to take Aotearoa listeners by storm - so you won’t want to miss it!
Straight out of Nelson, NZ, PAPERCITY is a hard-edged pop band that packs a punch. They blend relatable lyrics with a dose of guitar-based aggression and unforgettable hooks, creating a sound that's both raw and infectious. Their live shows are a high-octane blast, charged with a distinctive punk-inspired energy that leaves a lasting impression.
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