We've been working hard over the past few years, writing, composing, recording and producing new music for your ears. We love exploring new musical and lyrical avenues, and this new song is a testament to that. Let us introduce you to 'Evangeline'.
Step into the surreal world of a superhero named Evangeline. By night, she is fighting back hordes of slugs and robot samurai, and stopping the barons of the city from dumping their toxic slime. By day, she is fighting landlords, the childcare system and even the trials of modern love. She doesn’t seem to fit into a world where people expect her to be quiet and agreeable in the face of corruption and injustice. Yet she persists, defending a society which struggles to comprehend her.
‘Evangeline’ came to life in part during the COVID pandemic. Unable to go outside, one escape was to look inside, and rekindle the imagination of a child dreaming up stories about their figurines. Principal songwriter James Mackay says, “the song is a homage to several different women in my life who are fierce, who stand up for themselves and others, and many of whom are often misunderstood, even by the people they love and support.”
We channelled everything from the psychedelic absurdism of The Flaming Lips, to the rootsy harmonic language of Carole King and the eccentricities of David Bowie. The middle of the song features a ‘rock-out’ honky-tonk section inspired by the soft rock and blues albums of Elton John (like Madman Across the Water), but juxtaposed over a Hollywood action scene complete with home-made Foley sound effects including metal rulers, lamp cables, chef’s knives, and even some dropped fruit. This surreal battle culminates in a New Orleans brass jam that can only be described as pure, unadulterated joy.
So, without further ado, we invite you to dive into the world of 'Evangeline' a musical journey that we couldn't be more thrilled to share with you.
James Mackay | Tenor Sax & Composer Simon Ghali | Drummer & Director (on behalf of team Hot Potato Band)