{"id":41819,"date":"2025-04-02T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=41819"},"modified":"2025-03-31T19:28:47","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T23:28:47","slug":"speedial-unveils-new-single-tourist-a-gritty-melodic-exploration-of-self-perception","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=41819","title":{"rendered":"Speedial unveils new single \u2018Tourist\u2019 \u2013 A gritty, melodic exploration of self-perception"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Emerging from London\u2019s vibrant alt-music scene, Speedial is a four-piece that weaves together post-rock, shoegaze, math rock, jazz fusion, and noise-rock into a uniquely hypnotic sound. Think the raw energy of Deerhoof, the emotional depth of Big Thief, and the intricate complexity of Radiohead, fused with the cinematic textures of David Bowie&#8217;s <em>Blackstar<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the heart of Speedial\u2019s sonic alchemy are dual vocalists <strong>Serena Garrod<\/strong> and <strong>Millie Kirby<\/strong>, whose harmonies float over a backdrop of meticulously crafted instrumental work. With <strong>Monarch Vavrechka\u2019s<\/strong> expressive saxophone and <strong>Joe William Killick\u2019s<\/strong> precise drumming, the band creates intricate compositions that defy convention. Produced by <strong>Joseph Futak<\/strong> (<em>Tapir!<\/em>, <em>lilo<\/em>), <em>Tourist<\/em> showcases their signature interplay, with Serena describing its lyrics as capturing \u201c<em>an exaggerated \u2018evil\u2019 version of myself.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/P1HHil1oEf0?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-CA&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>On <em>Tourist<\/em>, Serena shares:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cWhen I feel guilty about something, my mind spirals. One bad decision can suddenly make you think people see you in the worst possible way. Writing this song was cathartic\u2014it let me put those thoughts into words and realize that\u2019s not really me. I wanted the lyrics to be stark and direct. Normally, I get lost in flowery language and make my lyrics opaque, but for \u2018Tourist,\u2019 I refused to hide behind that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Band Forged in London\u2019s Alternative Scene<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Speedial isn\u2019t just another band\u2014they\u2019re a collective of musicians with a deep-rooted history of playing together. Their chemistry is unmistakable, a connection honed on the stages of London\u2019s underground venues like <strong>The Windmill, The George Tavern, and The Shacklewell Arms<\/strong>. They\u2019ve recently shared bills with <strong>Picture Parlour, Camera Picture (black midi), Ugly (UK), Dog Race, The Orchestra (For Now), Deep Tan, Automotion<\/strong>, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their songwriting is a slow-burn process of evolution\u2014ideas emerge in rehearsal rooms, tested and reshaped through live performance until they reach their final form. The band meticulously crafts every tempo shift, every dynamic build, ensuring that each track is the perfect balance of structure and emotional rawness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cMuch of our lyricism explores self-perception, villainy, yearning, and mental struggles\u2014contrasting ideas like retaliation vs. acceptance and isolation vs. suffocation. We wanted these themes to complement the complexity and atmosphere of our instrumentals.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Every Speedial song is a living, breathing entity, continuously refined through collaboration. Serena and Millie shape melodies and lyrics separately before bringing them back to the band, where the final pieces fall into place. This methodical, layered approach results in music that is as intricate as it is immersive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Catch Speedial Live<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Upcoming Shows:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>18th April<\/strong> \u2013 London, Sebright Arms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>20th April<\/strong> \u2013 London, Victoria Dalston (All-Dayer)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>6th June<\/strong> \u2013 Brighton, The Hope &amp; Ruin (<em>w\/ Pozi, For Breakfast<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>27th July<\/strong> \u2013 London, High Tide Festival<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tourist<\/em> is out now. <a href=\"https:\/\/singinglight.ffm.to\/tourist-speedial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Stream it<\/a>, watch it, and catch Speedial live to experience it in full force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Follow Speedial:<\/strong><br><a href=\"Instagram:\u00a0@speedialbandTikTok:\u00a0@speedialband\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Instagram: @speedialband<\/a><a href=\"Instagram:\u00a0@speedialbandTikTok:\u00a0@speedialband\"><br><\/a><a href=\"Instagram:\u00a0@speedialbandTikTok:\u00a0@speedialband\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">TikTok: @speedialband<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Emerging from London\u2019s vibrant alt-music scene, Speedial is a four-piece that weaves together post-rock, shoegaze, math rock, jazz fusion, and noise-rock into a uniquely hypnotic <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=41819\" title=\"Speedial unveils new single \u2018Tourist\u2019 \u2013 A gritty, melodic exploration of self-perception\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[22,23,25,28,29,30,1907],"tags":[12327,1245,8319],"class_list":["post-41819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guitar-rock","category-indie","category-live","category-music","category-music-video","category-new-release","category-news","tag-speedial","tag-tour-dates","tag-tourist"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/IMG_4171.jpeg?fit=1200%2C795&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2B2TV-aSv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":41760,"url":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=41760","url_meta":{"origin":41819,"position":0},"title":"Quaint unveils their next chapter with \u2018Turn Away\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"April 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"New single out April 11, 2025 Pre-save & Listen Here: linktr.ee\/quaint_ Glasgow\u2019s East End has a long history of producing raw, authentic talent, and Quaint is no exception. 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