This month is set to see beloved indie-rockers Children Collide releasing their fourth album (and first since 2013), Time Itself. However, before the full album arrives in just a few weeks, the group have some more surprises up their sleeves, unveiling a new single and a run of national tour dates.
Released today, new single “Man of The People” serves as the third new track from the group this year, and fifth song taken from their forthcoming album. First previewed at their comeback shows in late 2019, “Man of The People” is classic Children Collide, with its origins actually lying within another lifetime – having first emerged following the completion of the group’s 2013 album, Monument.
“Originally titled “Dark Bird” this was an instrumental I’d written just after Monument,” explains frontman Johnny Mackay of the track. “I pulled it out, dusted it off and wrote lyrics in New York at the height of the Trump presidency.
“I was having a bit of a rock bottom moment personally and my whole world felt like cocaine, mezcal and pathetic desperation against the backdrop of a Murdochian dystopia where the bastards had won. My reaction is always to stuff my hopelessness into an aural time capsule. I love how heavy Loren and Doug made it and the one take solo gives me anxiety when I listen back.”
Alongside the track, the group have also unveiled an accompanying music video, featuring Mackay in the director’s chair under his Lord Fascinator alter ago, with filming spearheaded by Nico White and Dave Meagher. Notably, Mackay explains that the clip is a fun, tongue-in-cheek creation, intended to serve as part of a trilogy made in the absence of touring.
“The closest any TV program ever got to transferring that true live band energy through the screen was Germany’s Beat Club which ran from ‘65-’72,” he explains. “I’ve done many deep dives on their YouTube Channel. Check out Sabbath, Can, Fanny, MC5, Canned Heat, there’s even one with NEU! & Kraftwerk jamming.
“Somehow the crude green screen and way it’s edited makes you feel something special, so I really wanted to go for that vibe with this video. The crash zooms referenced old Sonic Youth videos and I added in some funny old Star Wars wipes in the edit then stirred it all into a visual soup to hopefully give people a taste of that live energy in their screens.”
While Time Itself is set for release in just a few short weeks, Children Collide have also unveiled a 13-date national tour in support of the record’s arrival. Kicking off in Adelaide on November 19th, the tour will see the group hitting up Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT, and Queensland as they bring tracks such as “Man of The People” to the people.
Children Collide’s “Man of The People” is out now, while Time Itself will be released on August 27th, with pre-orders available now.
Children Collide – Time Itself Tour Dates
Friday, November 19th
Jive, Adelaide, SA
Saturday, November 20th
Lynott’s Lounge, Perth, WA
Sunday, November 21st
Mojos, Fremantle, WA
Thursday, November 25th
Sooki Lounge, Belgrave, VIC
Friday, November 26th
Howler, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday, November 27th
The Eastern, Ballarat, VIC
Wednesday, December 1st (Sold Out)
La La La’s, Wollongong, NSW
Thursday, December 2nd
Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, NSW
Friday, December 3rd
Kambri, Canberra, ACT
Saturday, December 4th
The Newy, Newcastle, NSW
Thursday, December 9th
The Zoo, Brisbane, QLD
Friday, December 10th
Eleven Dive Bar, Maroochydore, QLD
Saturday, December 11th
Studio 56 @ Miami Marketta, Gold Coast, QLD
Tickets on sale from 10am, Wednesday, August 4th
