Last year we premiered the thrilling single ‘RĀIN’ from Melbourne based queer Māori musician Samuel Gaskin and it wonderful to see him back with the new single ‘PRESSŪRE’. It’s been quite a year in the intervening time (the appalling Referendum result in Australia denying the First Nations peoples a voice to Parliament and the descent into wars elsewhere in the world), and Gaskin has delivered a paean to stoicism and resilience in the face of adversity. True to form it is expressed with a shimmering delicacy and a passion that smoulders.
Produced by Samuel Gaskin and Dean Tuza, ‘PRESSŪRE’ is a gentle reminder that we all experience the hopelessness of hard times. Gaskin says:
Releasing PRESSŪRE right now is the perfect response for me to the #GROSS referendum result and the feelings of hopelessness I’ve had watching a war unfold in horror. It’s crazy how things work, I wrote this song a long time ago BUT… PRESSŪRE speaks directly to the times we live through…
Gaskin expresses a kind of optimism and universal love that waters the eyes with the repetition of the words exhorting us to find a way. Gaskin says of the lyrics:
What I love about it is that whilst it directly addresses the struggles of life you can still feel the “hope” and the “love” and that’s what I will continue to lead with
His voice is like a salving lotion to the ears, the lyrics are a beautiful expression and the production meticulous and crystalline. Gaskin continues to show he is an important and potent force in the music industry:
‘PRESSŪRE’ is out now through Noisehive and available to download and stream here.
Upcoming Shows:
Friday 1st December
Special appearance with Kee’ahn
Northcote Social Club (Wurundjeri country)
Tickets
Feature Photograph: Michelle Grace Hunder
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