In 2017, the New York City-based septet Melt went viral with the release of “Sour Candy”. The single reached #5 on Billboard‘s US Viral 50 Chart and has since garnered over five million listens across streaming platforms. Over the last three years, Melt has released several additional singles, including “Inside”, “Oh Brother”, “Stupid in Love”, and “Shy”.
In the latter half of 2020, Melt shared “Waves” and “Don’t Want Me”, two tracks off the forthcoming studio EP that highlight the band’s psychedelic pop-soul sound—teeming with atmospheric vocals, a symphonic horn section, and a dominating rhythm section. The January, 2021 release of “Hours” continues the evolution of Melt’s sound, helping to shape the approaching EP.
“Hours” emphasizes Melt’s comfort and keenness in a studio setting. Noticeable from the first measure is, of course, the rhythm section comprised of Lucas Saur (bass) and Josh Greenzeig (drums). The bouncy bassline plays well with Greenzeig’s work behind the kit, laying the foundation for Eric Gabriel‘s melodic synth lines and vocals. Together with backing vocals from Veronica Stewart-Frommer, Gabriel sings a lover’s ballad. Horn accents from Nick Sare (saxophone) and Coulou (trumpet) fit nicely alongside reverberating guitar leads from Marlo Shankweiler, with the many different musicians forming a whole greater than the sum of their parts. Further, “Hours” shows diversity in the band’s sound, incorporating elements of indie rock, à la Bombay Bicycle Club, as well as distinct psychedelic rock influences.
“Hours”, along with “Don’t Want Me” and “Waves”, didn’t come easily. Like virtually all other musicians, the ongoing pandemic has created a host of challenges for Melt in terms of the creative process. Writing and perfecting songs under the unprecedented conditions created by nearly a year of quarantine threw a wrench in the proverbial wheels of creation, but as the saying goes, “there are no negatives in life, only challenges to overcome that will make you stronger.”
“Something unique about this project is that before we release new music, we normally test it live on tour and work it out,” said Stewart-Frommer. “Quarantine forced us to hunker down, write new songs, and create, without testing anything on the road.”
Said Eric Gabriel,
We recorded this track a few days after I showed it to the band and I love that you can hear the freshness of the song. “Hours” totally captures the energy and intoxication we feel working on something new. We wanted to convey that feeling of meeting someone—the excitement, but also the haziness and fantasy of it.
Below, listen to the new Melt single, “Hours”, produced, recorded, and engineered by Aaron Nevezie at The Bunker Studio in Brooklyn, NY, and featuring audio mixed by Michael Brauer and mastered by Heba Kadry.
Melt – “Hours”
[Video: Melt]
For more information on Melt, head to the band’s website here.
