Toronto psych rockers Mother Tongues have a lot to celebrate today. Not only is it Chinese New Year, but the quintet, which includes members of Hooded Fang, Luna Li and Mimico, have just announced their signing to local label Buzz Records and are celebrating by sharing their latest single, "She's Gone."
In a written statement to Exclaim!, lead singer Lukas Cheung says, "I wrote the main melody of this song riding my bicycle home from a rehearsal years ago. It resurfaced a year or so ago when I was listening to a lot of Prince, '80s McCartney, and the Bee Gees' real pop anthems. I was playing with the idea of trying to write something in that vein."
Though Cheung admits the song is "quite a departure from our usual material," which typically features dense, progressive rock-influenced instrumentation and shifting song structures, he "couldn't fight the urge to throw in a last minute guitar solo."
The new single has been treated to a video by writer, animator and Governor General's Award recipient Trudy Erin Elmore. Setting the woozy, Tame Impala-recalling track to slow-moving, green-washed 3D animations inspired by "the dramatic narrative and theatrical posturing of classical painting," the video features the song's lyrics as translated into Chinese — appropriate enough, given the occasion.
"She's Gone" follows the band's previous single, "Fortunes," released last year, also in celebration of Chinese New Year. Mother Tongues will be performing at the MEGAPHONO festival in Ottawa this Saturday (February 9).
Watch the video for "She's Gone" below.
In a written statement to Exclaim!, lead singer Lukas Cheung says, "I wrote the main melody of this song riding my bicycle home from a rehearsal years ago. It resurfaced a year or so ago when I was listening to a lot of Prince, '80s McCartney, and the Bee Gees' real pop anthems. I was playing with the idea of trying to write something in that vein."
Though Cheung admits the song is "quite a departure from our usual material," which typically features dense, progressive rock-influenced instrumentation and shifting song structures, he "couldn't fight the urge to throw in a last minute guitar solo."
The new single has been treated to a video by writer, animator and Governor General's Award recipient Trudy Erin Elmore. Setting the woozy, Tame Impala-recalling track to slow-moving, green-washed 3D animations inspired by "the dramatic narrative and theatrical posturing of classical painting," the video features the song's lyrics as translated into Chinese — appropriate enough, given the occasion.
"She's Gone" follows the band's previous single, "Fortunes," released last year, also in celebration of Chinese New Year. Mother Tongues will be performing at the MEGAPHONO festival in Ottawa this Saturday (February 9).
Watch the video for "She's Gone" below.