The new single from Hockeysmith, ‘Down Love’ has been released from 11th January 2021 with an accompanying music video. This is the second track to be released from a series of sessions recorded in Paris during the first lockdown. In collaboration with the Ed Banger producer, Borussia, this track will lift spirits to give us a brand new bop for Lockdown 3.0.
‘Down Love’ has been described as ‘warped pop’ (via @elcetronicsoundsofjoy), mixing the lyricism of the idyllic Cornwall scenery with electro-acidic bass. With a self-described sound of ‘Kylie on acid’, the new tracks lyrics are based partly on Maggie Nelson’s ‘Bluets’ – a book filled with lyrical essays focusing on personal and philosophical suffering – as well as going to ‘beautiful places in Cornwall.’ In an Instagram post, Hockeysmith stated, ‘I hope you like the song, I’ve been living with it for over a year now. I wrote the lyrics with my best friend Alice inspired by going to beautiful places in Cornwall.’
The video was created and choreographed by Ben Mandeville. He said the concept for the atmospheric video was the thought that “Maybe Alice in Wonderland grew up and started dancing…” giving viewers a sense of wonder and a vision of trippy colours that the video invokes.
The first track by Hockeysmith and Borussia was released back in 2020. ‘Hyper Kobra’ was based on the singers feelings during isolation. “The lyrics are fresh about my feelings during confinement. I was inspired by people like the writer Ali Smith: it’s current – it’s political – the virus is a poignant theme at the heart of the song. And cobras are thought to be one of the deadliest and the most magical members of the snake family. They represent many things besides danger, venom, death and malice: cobras are also seen as graceful, elegant and fast.”
Hockeysmith co-founded her own record label, EEL, with Lukasz Kucharski (@omoo_gosh). The label described the new single as ‘Colours, melody and movement collide to create an all mood wonder for the senses.” EEL was created to support the local Cornwall rave scene, supporting musicians and collaborators within electronic music. Hockeysmith stated “My vision is to bring a focus particularly to the electronic music from the region and to present it to the wider national and international stage.”
Hockeysmith was originally a duo group, comprised of sisters Annie and Georgie. The duo released a debut EP ‘But Blood’ in 2014, attracting fans for their use of post punk noise and electro beats. This was released by the indie music label, Double Denim. In 2019, Hockeysmith became a solo project with Annie being the sole face of the act, releasing EP ‘Tears At My Age’.
She also has a playlist named ‘Hockeysmith Picks’ on Spotify, featuring the singers top tracks. Described as ‘Old meets new – a mix of left field upbeat, with house / trap and slow / ambient tracks’, this playlist gives a sense of Hockeysmiths inspirations and the direction in which her music is going.
