New York City guitarist, singer and songwriter Steve Conte has released a new single, co-written with Andy Partridge (XTC) titled ‘Fourth of July’. The track also features drummer Prairie Prince ( The Tubes & Todd Rundgren) who played on XTC’s classic album, ‘Skylarking.’ On bass is Steve’s brother John Conte, with Andrew Hollander on piano.
The track serves as a follow-up to his 2021 acclaimed solo album ‘Bronx Cheer’, read our review here, and offers an early preview of his upcoming new LP due out in 2024 via Steven Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records.
“Fourth of July” was written with one of my favourite songwriters of all time, from one of my fave bands – Andy Partridge of XTC. I feel blessed to be writing with one of my heroes…and to be recording for Little Steven Van Zandt’s label, Wicked Cool Records,” says Conte.
“With a title like “Fourth of July” I knew I didn’t want to make this song lyric at all patriotic American or about Independence Day – I wanted it to be about the sparks that fly, the fireworks that go off in a relationship. One with intense chemistry…love, fulfillment …bombs bursting in air, ya know? Explosions, yes – but no stars & stripes.
The chorus of the song is one that I’ve had kicking around since the 90s. I wrote the hook while getting ready to leave my NYC apartment for some July 4th event – I just started singing about what was happening that day. The hook was all there; chords, melody, the title lyric, the phrasing – complete with that odd timing. I thought it could be something special because I never forgot it.”
Rock n’ Roll done the old fashioned way, with big chords, tasty guitar licks and a vocal aged to perfection. It’s a track that oozes positivity and shines bright with a good time vibe. It’s good to live in a world where Conte feels the need to create music like this.
Check it out, here
Find out more via conte’s Website or Facebook
1 comment