“I learn to greet the day, with as much tenderness as if I were laying in your arms, learning how to be alone without you, and happy to be with me”. (Tenderness)
Tomorrow sees the release of the excellent second album, Tenderness by Montréal electronic pop duo Blue Hawaii and yesterday they shared its heartfelt third single ‘Do You Need Me’. A collaboration between Braids vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Raphaelle Standell Preston and DJ/Producer Alex Cowan, it’s their first album since 2013’s Untogether, the four years largely stemming from their relationship break up and the fact that both have been concentrating on their seperate musical forays. However, they remained close friends and desire to keep making their kaleidoscopic brand of dance infused electronic pop together never waned. Artistically reuniting and beginning the writing process for this album during 2016, they set about documenting Standell Preston’s emotional battles with navigating two long distance relationships she’d been experiencing and the inevitable difficulties of trying to maintain connection and intimacy online.
Having released two upbeat singles from it thus far, ‘No One Like You’ with its understated disco disposition and the 90’s house inspired ‘Versus Game’, the emotive and tender disposition of delicate third single, ‘Do You Need Me’ is illustrative not only of the diverse nature of Tenderness but the ability of Standell Preston in particular to convey deep poignancy and meaning within a pop context. Cowan’s light electronic touches match the mood perfectly and the enlistment of composer and multi-instrumentalist Owen Pallett on strings heightens the sensitivity. Indeed, Tenderness spans an entire gamut of emotions across its ten tracks and six interludes as the protagonist comes to realisation that her tenderness is never going to be appropriately reciprocated. Listen to ‘Do You Need Me’ below and in case you missed them the first two singles are there as well complete with their self directed music videos. Tenderness is out tomorrow October 6 on Arbutus Records. Buy it here.
Tracklist
1. Free At Last
2. No One Like You
3. Pregame
4. Versus Game
5. Belong To Myself
6. Prepare For Flight
7. Younger Heart
8. Strummin’
9. Make Love Stay
10. Big News
11. Blossoming From Your Shy
12. Searching For You
13. Do You Need Me
14. Tenderness
15. Giggles
16. Far Away Soon
Do You Need Me
Blue Hawaii (CAN)
From the album, ‘Tenderness’, Arbutus Records.
Blue Hawaii Facebook
Audio Stream
Versus Game
Blue Hawaii (CAN)
From the album, ‘Tenderness’, Arbutus Records.
Audio Stream
Official Video
No One Like You
Blue Hawaii (CAN)
From the album, ‘Tenderness’, Arbutus Records.
Audio Stream
Official Video