Close to seven months on from the release of their second studio album, Victorian oddball icons Ocean Grove have unveiled an acoustic version of their track, “SHIMMER”.
Released on Flip Phone Fantasy back in March, “SHIMMER” didn’t receive the single treatment from the band, though it resonated with fans thanks to its hopeful lyrics and uplifting chorus of “You’re stronger than me/You’re stronger than you think you are.”
Now, as their latest album reaches over nine million streams, the group have offered up a new acoustic version of the track. Stripping it back and offering listeners a new insight into the group, frontman Dale Tanner explains that the track provides an opportunity for a greater level of intimacy between band and fan.
“Coming from the heavy music world (being very masculine in its nature), ‘SHIMMER’ marks a milestone in evolving manhood at which point one allows themselves to be fully seen; a sentiment perhaps not previously encouraged or canvassed in the scene Ocean Grove spawned from,” he explains.
“Dipping into our flip-phone-era rock influences, the track is an unapologetic love song, which seizes the opportunity to showcase another colour from the 69 shades of OG,” Tanner adds of the original version.
“But more than that, the track is pure in its intention: to inspire and empower the listener to realise their unlimited potential, seen through a lover’s lens. Every being on this planet is a crazy-ass shooting star without even knowing it, and Shimmer is the validation of that very essence and power within us all.”
Ocean Grove’s Flip Phone Fantasy peaked at number eight on the ARIA charts upon its release, and topped the vinyl albums chart. Unfortunately, promotional efforts for the record – including a run of meet-and-greet events – were cancelled after one of the group’s members tested positive for COVID-19.
Ocean Grove’s acoustic version of “SHIMMER” is out now, while the original version can be found on their Flip Phone Fantasy album, out now via UNFD.
