Greys’ frontman Shehzaad Jiwani unveiled his Golden Drag moniker earlier this year, and has so far released two singles under the name, the electronic Aphex Jim, and the sparkling millennial disenchantment anthem Caught Leaking Light. The project’s debut LP, ‘Pink Sky,’ is out now via Buzz Records, and the album is available for streaming in its entirety on YouTube – take a listen below.
Recorded over four days of experimental studio sessions with producer Josh Korody (Fucked Up, Weaves, Partner) the album explores different facets of Jiwani’s songwriting and dives deeper into influences that sat at the fringes of Greys’ recent releases, resulting in a collection of economical pop songs that engage with Broadcast-style electronic interludes, Stereolab’s motorik propulsion, and spidery Robert Fripp-esque guitar solos. Originally conceived of as a long-distance collaboration, the album retains a cooperative ethos, with contributions from members of Mannequin Pussy, Twist, PONY, Vallens, Glocca Morra, and more.
“Pink Sky came together in a ramshackle way,” Jiwani tells BrooklynVegan. “I had written these tunes while messing around at home with a bunch of synths, samplers and drum machines that I didn’t know the first thing about, then went into the studio with Josh Korody with the intention of pushing the tunes further outside the usual sonic palette of guitar-based indie rock. I wanted to take the early Eno approach by deconstructing these short, simple ‘pop’ songs and incorporating warmer, more colourful textures that you wouldn’t normally hear on a rock record. It resulted in this strange hybrid of ambient synths and chopped up breakbeats augmenting the live instruments that my friend Neil compared to the Velvet Underground being produced by RZA, which is a comparison I will gladly take.
“Lyrically, I tried to be a lot more abstract than I normally am with Greys, resulting in songs that are a lot less topical than they are situational. A lot of it has to do with reflecting on routines you find yourself stuck in as you stare down your thirties, being repulsed by the habits you develop over the course of your young adulthood while still finding comfort in them, and ultimately confronting them. What are your options when you are a broke millennial who is trying to pay rent in a city that is increasingly hostile towards your demographic and its lifestyle? Listen to the record, it’ll answer all these questions and more.”
Golden Drag’s ‘Pink Sky’ is out now via Buzz Records. You can grab it here.
Tracklist
1. Slow Explosions
2. Aphex Jim
3. Caught Leaking Light
4. Shoot The Breeze
5. Bad Timing/Neon Phase
6. ’17 to Infinity
7. Super Champs Theme Song
8. Fastball Special
9. Loom
