Brooklyn-native rock band Sunflower Bean released on Friday a pulsating new single titled “Human For.” The single is the latest release off the band’s highly anticipated sophomore album, “Twentytwo in Blue”, set to be released March 23rd on Mom + Pop Records. Previous tracks from the album include “I Was a Fool,” “Crisis Fest” and “Twentytwo.”
“Human For” steps away from the melodic tones found in these previous tracks and does something truly experimental. The gripping bass lines of bassist/lead singer Julia Cumming start the song off with a high energy that is only amplified by her powerful vocals and unapologetic lyrics. The song then takes a darkly psychedelic turn as dissonant chords begin to play and a sound bite of a reverend can be heard in the background, talking about “salvation” and “sanctification by the spirit.”
The previously released tracks have all tackled issues taken on by a person coming of age, and “Human For” is no different. Like the tracks preceding it, “Human For” tries to accurately describe a unique aspect of the transitional phase from teenager to adult. In this case, the single talks about the unlearning of a belief system in order to find self-meaning and a personal truth. In an interview with The Fader, Cumming spoke more in-depth about the lessons she learned while leaving her teens and about the single itself:
Something I’ve noticed about getting older, at least with myself, is accepting people and being able to comment on the world more. “Human For” is urgent to the point of desperation and not needing someone else’s idea of religion or whatever you need to protect yourself. You can make that yourself. You can find reason in your own meaning.
Sunflower Bean are currently on tour they play the Rescue Rooms on Saturday, and will be touring until the summer, in support of this forthcoming album.
Listen to the band’s latest single below, Then, revisit the music video for their previous single “Twentytwo”
The Fat Angel Sings 