What’s on ACSOM’s Stereo? HAARM with new single ‘Take Me Away’

Liverpool alt-pop songwriting team HAARM have released their latest single Take Me Away via all good digital service providers.

A stark juxtaposition to their usual sombre fare, Take Me Away is a “psycho-tropical” sunshine anthem packed full of steel drums, feel-good vibes, and escapism — the perfect sonic remedy for a springtime bursting into life whilst being stuck inside the house.

“We’ve predominantly written more melancholy songs in the past,” explains vocalist Jen Davies. “Our lyrics are usually centred around themes of isolation, self-destruction, failed relationships — all a little too close to home at the moment. Take Me Away is intended as a moment of euphoria; a release from those thoughts. Of course, we wrote it several months ago now, but it feels more important than ever to have written something uplifting in the current situation.”

Whether it’s read as a conversation between friends, or lovers, the track’s surrealist instrumentation and gospel-influenced middle 8 packs a religious undertone, with the repeated chant of “I felt you and I know you loved me” expressing faith in human connection.

Produced and mixed by Al Groves (Bring Me The Horizon, Paris Youth Foundation, Michael Kiwanuka) at the legendary Motor Museum recording studios on Lark Lane, Liverpool — which has given rise to smash hit records from The 1975, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, and many more — the track is the second of two singles that the trio have worked on with Groves to date, and was mastered by Mike Marsh at The Exchange.

The artwork for the single once again comes from long-time collaborator and ex-Hot Club de Paris frontman Paul Rafferty, who also recently announced his new Doomshakalaka solo project on Moshi Moshi Records.

The two previously-released singles from the band’s latest batch of tracks — Dahlia and Tell Me What You Want — both saw success on the airwaves, added to Radio X and XS Manchester evening playlists, with huge support from BBC Merseyside and Amazing Radio, as well as playlist additions and spot plays across a wide range of specialist online and regional shows.

Unfortunately, the band’s recent announcement of two rare live performances, one as part of fellow Scousers Circa Waves’ Circafest, and the other a very special intimate hometown headline show, are both now cancelled pending reschedule.

Take Me Away is out now via all good digital service providers.

HAARM online:

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
SPOTIFY

HAARM are:

Chris McIntosh – Guitar & vocals
Jen Davies – Keyboards & vocals
Olly Gorman – Drums

More about HAARM:

HAARM formed in 2016 in an underground tequila bar at 4am, and the trio began work immediately on writing and recording a set of songs with strong emphasis on melody and groove, all centered around Jen and Chris’ dual lush vocals.

Debut single Foxglove was followed by a second release, In the Wild, and between the two songs the band casually garnered 400,000 streams on Spotify, which led to multiple plays on BBC Radio 1 (Huw Stephens/Phil Taggart) and being added to the Xposure Playlist at Radio X.

The band supported Bloc Party during their February tour in 2017, culminating with two dates at esteemed London venue The Roundhouse. In May 2017, the band were selected by BBC Introducing to play Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Hull and were introduced onstage by Huw Stephens.

Their 2018 single Box of Bones was selected as the soundtrack for Sky Atlantic promo in the summer of 2018 which was broadcast across the Sky TV network, and in August 2018 the band were chosen as the sound of BT Sport’s 2018/19 Premiership Football coverage with their version of Manchester band Everything Everything’s song, I Believe It Now.

Autumn 2018 saw the release of the band’s heart-wrenching single, Better Friend, which received support from Nemone on the BBC6 Music Breakfast show, with the official music video directed by acclaimed film director, Daniel Fitzsimmons (Native).

Since then things have continued to go from strength to strength for HAARM with the band landing a high profile sync on Netflix Japan reality TV show Terrace House, and in January 2020 the band’s version of The Meters Hand Clapping Song was selected by BT Sport to soundtrack their Premier League Tonight show.