Foals have released the Dan Carey remix of their track “2AM” as a teaser of what’s to come from their upcoming dub remix of their critically acclaimed 2022 album, Life is Yours.
The project, called Life is Dub, is set to be released as part of 2023’s Record Store Day exclusive releases on 22nd April 2023.
Foals revealed that they’d be teaming up with Dan Carey, founder of record label Speedy Wunderground and renowned producer, having worked with the likes of Fontaines D.C., Wet Leg and Slowthai.
Foals frontman Yanis Philippakis spoke to NME about the “2AM” release, saying, “This is the most interesting version. It’s one of the most full and dubbiest moments of the record. Some tracks are slightly dancier and in a more electronic place while others sound like full, sonic-heavy dubs.”
Philippakis continued, “Because ‘2AM’ is one of the biggest tracks off the record, it’s interesting how he managed to subvert it and have the lyrics take on a different flavour. It’s got more of a darker, late-night swagger than the original.”
“Now it’s 2AM, there are no buses, no streetlights working, and the streets are piled high with trash. I like it. It’s this kind of Knight Rider vibe to it.”
The band have been clear on their vision for the dub reimagining of Life is Yours, telling NME “It’s not like we’re going, ‘Oh, here are some extra tracks’ or, ‘Here’s the record remixed by a bunch of different people’. It’s just taking all of the material that’s there and getting deep with it.”
“It’s like being presented with a photograph of the album and this is the negative that you’ve never seen. It’s a total invert. If ‘Life Is Yours’ is a daytime summer record, full of light with these clean white lines, then this is literally a colour negative. It’s a sweaty and unclean flip of it.”
Foals decided to work with Dan Carey on this project as they believe him to be “an amazing chameleon” in his musical abilities.
Speaking on Carey, Philippakis said, “He’s got a renaissance ability to look at all aspects of music; especially with recording. He’s adaptable and can fit in with whatever an artist requires. He’s working a lot so he’s really in the groove. He never stops and that gives him this incredible rhythm and routine where he’s always on his game. ”
The band hope that they’ll reach a new audience with their new sound, and are keen to get “people into record shops” with their exclusive Record Store Day 2023 release.
Foals are set to headline Reading & Leeds Festival this summer. Purchase tickets here.
Stream Life Is Yours here.
