Seven months on from their chart-topping sixth album, Human Design, Birds of Tokyo have emerged from the year that has been with the summery “Weekend”.
Released today, the new single sees Birds of Tokyo subverting expectations somewhat, offering up an anthemic cut that feels almost custom-made for lengthy roadtrips through the summer weekends.
“We like to keep trying new things so it was great to have a crack at something so different,” explained guitarist and producer Adam Spark. “After the year everyone’s had I think we all felt like making music that’s just kinda summery and light-hearted.”
Written and recorded during the lockdown of 2020, things were undoubtedly somewhat different for folks like singer Ian Kenny, whose time in Perth was spent in an environment with far fewer restrictions.
“The lyrics are pretty straightforward on this one,” Kenny explains. “It’s very much written from a W.A. perspective. Obviously we’ve been lucky to avoid most of the hardships that people elsewhere have suffered so I didn’t want to make light of that but it feels like everyone around Australia has earned a weekend or two at the beach after this crazy year … a Covid safe weekend of course!”
Notably, fans were given previously something of a tease that such a stylistic shift was on the way, with Spark explaining to Rolling Stone in April that the group’s next album might be far different to what was explored on Human Design.
“We’re talking about ‘what next’ and all that sort of thing,” he explained. “We joked about making a surf record. Pineapples and palm trees; we need a summer record [laughs].”
While it remains to be seen whether or not “Weekend” is indeed the first taste of the band’s potential “summer record”, the arrival of the new track comes at a perfect time to add some cool vibes while the country heats up.
Birds of Tokyo’s “Weekend” is out now via EMI.
Birds of Tokyo – Summer Tour Dates
Tuesday, November 24th, 2020
Great Southern Nights, Wollongong, NSW
Friday, January 8th, 2021 (Sold Out)
Fremantle Prison, Fremantle, WA
Saturday, January 9th, 2021 (Sold Out)
Fremantle Prison, Fremantle, WA
With the West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Thursday, January 14th, 2021 (Sold Out)
Perth Concert Hall, Perth, WA
Friday, January 15th, 2021 (Sold Out)
Perth Concert Hall, Perth, WA
Saturday, January 16th, 2021 (Sold Out)
Perth Concert Hall, Perth, WA
With the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Friday, January 22nd, 2021
Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday, January 23rd, 2021 (Sold Out)
Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall, Melbourne, VIC
With the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Thursday, February 4th, 2021
Sydney Town Hall, Sydney, NSW
Friday, February 5th, 2021
Sydney Town Hall, Sydney, NSW
Saturday, February 6th, 2021
Sydney Coliseum Theatre, West HQ, Sydney, NSW
With the Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Friday, February 12th, 2021 (Sold Out)
QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane, QLD
Saturday, February 13th, 2021 (Sold Out)
QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets on sale now from the Birds of Tokyo website
